Wednesday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #5

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:47.

I've got Shubal and Bobby V. coming to play music this afternoon from 2-4.

I only saw one Garter Snake by my garage this morning. It left as soon as I opened my garage door to get a Staff.

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with a round of Monkey Staff focused on Sequence and Techniques

Next I went up to my main training area

I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 5-8 focused on #5 [Phoenix].

 Next I did a round of Anyo Lima tuned into Applications, Sequence and Direction Of Techniques.

Next I did a round of Chinto Kata focused on Agility, Mobility, Spinning and Jumping.

Next I did a full round of The Original 10 Exercises.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II

Next I did all 8 Standing Postures and Healing Qigong

Tuesday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:46.

I've got a 10 am appointment in Pittsfield (with Darren Ricchi [audiologist] which is 1 hour and 45 minute drive from Leyden. Oy! Getting my TrueHearing insurance to kick in has taken months of effort; multiple phone calls and lot's of waiting. Hopefully this will work? Time will tell! 

I did it!! 1 hour and 45 minutes each way. I have to go back on Friday August 14th @ 3:30 in the afternoon. Ugh!! But I should be back in business after that. Fingers Crossed!!

The Practice:

I started inside with a brief Warm Up using #1 - #6 of The 10 Exercises. I substituted Knee Ups and Touch The Ground Standing on One Leg for #6. I started doing those in addition to #6's then felt that they were tightening up my hips....So I stopped. I may add them back when I do a 'Brief Warm Up'

Next I went to my main training area and did a Round (right side) observing the Taiji Classcis throughout the Round. I focused on Brush Knee Twist step 

Next I did a Brief Standing and Partial Healing Qigong.

It's was 8:15 and time to drive to Pittsfield. I needed to stop for gas. That took a while.

Monday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #4 in the rotation.

It's 71 at the house and it's raining (again). The sunrise was at 5:45.

I'm looking at the routes to my appointment in Pittsfield tomorrow morning. It looks like it's going to take me an hour and a half to get there! Oy Vey!! I confirmed my appointment with Darren Ricchi. 

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with a round of Taiji Staff (both sides) focused on Light Body, Full Squats, Health and Sequence (especially on the left side)

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 1-4 (both sides) focused on the Lion Walk, Doing the Changes in the correct Gua, reciting the Names of the Changes, Turning Fully to the Rear and Sequence.

Next I did a round of Anyo Apat focused on Sequence and Basics.

Next I did a round of Wansu Kata focused on Basics, Sequence and Applications.

Next I did a full round of The 10+ adding to #3, #4, #6, #7, #9 and #10. I did the Ba Shi after #7

Next I went inside to get a raincoat (it had started to sprinkle a little) afterwards I went back out to my main training area and did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II.

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong.

Sunday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #3

It's 70 at the house and humid. The sunrise was at 5:44.

We've got the Celebration of Life for my Mom at the Greenfield Moose Club from 1-4 today.

The Practice:

I started in my main practice area with a brief Warm Up.

Next I did a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Linking Palms Changes 5-8 (both sides) reciting the names of the postures when I could. 

Next I did a round of Anyo Tatlo focused on Sequence and Applications. 

Next I did round of Seiunchin Kata focused on Basics and Sequence.

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II

Next I did Standing and Healing Qigong

Saturday Practice - Day 9,162 -

 

The Details and Notes:

It's 60 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:43.

I've got a 10-11 video meeting with Jeff this morning.

We went to Chris and Jim's for lobster and corn last night. I got to visit with Eli and Molly, Katylin and Dylan, Walker and Jade too.....It was great to see them all.

The Practice:

I started with a brief Warm Up downstairs and then went up to The Loft

Next I did a Round on the right side. I wasn't sure which side today was supposed to be so I stuck with the right. I focused on Breathing through my nose and Deflect, Parry and Punch.

That's all I had for today. I spent an hour talking with Jeff over the internet.

Friday Practice

 

I had three garter snakes assisting me this morning. I couldn't get the third one in the frame but here's a photo of two of them

The Details and Notes:

Day #2 (again)

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:42.

I didn't sleep well last night. I got up late again. Ugh!

Not sure what I'll be doing this morning, besides my regular practices. Hmmm!

As I started Part II of my Round this morning it started to rain....Hard! I stopped, got the Lexus out and went to find GG and Echo. I didn't really know where they walked to but I took a guess and it happened to be right! I found them trying to stay out of the downpour in the apron of Susan Cohen's garage. They appreciated the ride.

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with a round of Yin Style Baguazhang 8 Linking Palms (w/ kick ups) Changes 1-4 focused on Balance and Even Twisting from Bottom to Top.

Next I did a round of Taiji Jian using my metal (Lung Ching) sword. I recited the names of the postures wherever I could (98%).

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa focused on Basics, Sequence and Applications.

Next I did a round of Naihanchi Kata exploring the changes that I'm making to this Kata.

Next I did a full round of the original 10 Exercises focused on Consistency and Health.

Next I went up to my main practice area weeding as I went.

Next I did a Round stopping at the beginning of Part II to go rescue GG and Echo from the downpour. I recited the Taiji Classics during Part I

Next I came back in finished my Round just inside my garage.

I love the sound of the rain hitting the metal roof.

Thursday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #2

It's 64 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:41.

The Practice:

I started in The Driveway with two rounds of Taiji Dao using Master Liang's Broadsword.

Next I did a round of Pa-Kua Knife focused on Sequence and Agility/Mobility and Cognition.

Next I did a round of Taiji Jian reciting the names of the postures throughout. (I realized that on day #2 I should have done Taiji Jian)

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa focused on Basics, Sequence (cognition) and Applications

Next I did a round of Naihanchi Kata focused on the Changes I've made to this Kata.

Next I did a bit of weeding as I went up to my main practice area.

Next I went up to my main training area and did a Round focused on using the correct side for today's Round....Left Side.

That's all I had time for today. I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to docu sign a form from Jimmy Morris' office. Oy Vey!

Wednesday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #1 in the rotation.

It's 62 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:40.

I've got music this afternoon from 2-4. 

It's forecast to be very rainy later today.

Zack Avery (landscaping) is coming to get paid this morning. The rain will give the driveway drainage a test. 

It's my first day without taking Atorvastatin. I'm skeptical about taking it. I need to talk to Dr. Van Dyck about the side effects vs the need to take it.  

The Practice:

I went up into The Loft to practice (raining outside)

I started with a full round of the original 10, focused on health and consistency.

Next I did a round of Anyo Isa tuned into using good quality Basics and Sequence.

Next I did a round of Seisan Kata focused on Health, Sequence and Applications.

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang Yin/Yang Circle Walking, focused on Hook Step and Swing Step.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting The Taiji Classics during Part I. I remained focused on:

 Hang The Muscles, 

Open The Joints

Next I did a full round of Standing and Healing Qigong

Tuesday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:37.

It's Travis' 56th birthday today!

I've got a 10:00 am appointment at Cherry Rum to get 4 new tires on the Lexus.

We've got a trip to the dump and a session at the YMCA and then grocery shopping at Big Y, this morning. Whew!

The Practice:

I went out on The Deck to practice before going to town this morning.

I started with a Brief Warm Up.

Next I did a Round (left side) focused on Consistency and Staying on the Left Side as well as Health and waist movement when Punching.

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

That's all I had time and energy for today......

Monday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

Day #8

It's 61 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:36. 

I've got a few phone calls to make this morning to verify medical appointments.

Zack and his crew are here (finally) to help with spreading the mulch and to re-do the driveway.

We've got grocery shopping to do this morning. 

The Practice:

I started inside with a full round of The 10+ adding to #3, #4, #6, #7, #9 and #10 focused on Consistency and Health.

Next I went outside on the east side of The Shed to get some privacy.

I started with a Round reciting the Taiji Classics during Parts I & II. I remained focused on:

Hang the muscles,

Open the joints.

and

Slow is Smooth,

Smooth is Fast!

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

Next I did a round of Anyo Walo focused on the quality of my Techniques and Sequence.

Next I did a round of Sanchin Kata focused on Abdominal Breathing and Sequence.

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang Old 8 Palms focused on Opening my Joints.

That's it for this morning......

Sunday Practice

  

The Details and Notes:

It's a cool 60 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:35. 

Jeff is came up at 10:00 and we practiced until 12:10 then he visited inside with GG and I until 1:00 ish

Great time at the Lyle Lovett concert at Look Park last night. Leland Sklar was on Bass!! Wow!

Russ Kunkel on drum set. The whole band were seasoned Pros. but the bottom end was truly fabulous.

The Practice:

I started with finger exercises and a brief Warm Up

Next I did a Round (left side) before Jeff came. 

Next I did a round of Standing and Healing Qi

After Jeff arrived and we drank tea and chatted a bit we started with Lower Deflect Parry and Punch with Whole Body whenever issuing power and when to shit weight and when to bring the waist around to the front

Next we did a couple of rounds of San Shou (The Taiji Dance)  (both sides) The Sequence is getting more familiar and we worked on a few Taiji principles during the first round. One specific we worked on is the proper extension (hinge/triangle) at the Elbow and Shoulder. Jeff was straightening his arm too much.

Next we did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Alternating sided Changes 1-6. We focused on the sequence's for #5 (Pheonix) & #6 (Rooster)

We also worked on Cheng Style Baguazhang's Yin/Yang Circle Walking. Especially the introduction.

Saturday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

It's 60 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:34.

Jeff has conflicts this morning so we are going to meet at 10:00 tomorrow morning here in Leyden.

We're going to see Lyle Lovett and his large small band at Look Park this evening. We are meeting with Gerri and George in Noho for a picnic before the concert. 

The Practice:

I started in my main practice area with The Finger Exercises

Next I did a round of all 4 Modern Arnis Cane Anyo (both sides) I think I've flushed out #4 on the left side. Yay!

Next I did a round of Anyo Pito focused on Sequence, Direction and Techniques.

Next I did a round of Sunsu focused on Correct Direction. I think I've flushed out the Correct Ending. Yay!

Next I did a brief Warm Up using the first 4 of The 10, adding to #3 and #4.

Next I did a Round. I recited the Taiji Classics during Part I & II. I started on the right side and 1/2 way through Part II I realized I had inadvertently switched to the left. I tried to remember 1. Which side I did yesterday 2. Which side I started on today. I switched back to the right side. Oy!

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

That's all I had juice for today......

Friday Practice

 The Details and Notes:

It's 56 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:33.

Chris is coming up at 10 to work on the picture boards for Mom's service next weekend.

The Practice:

I practiced in my main practice area this morning.

I started with a round of all 4 Modern Arnis Cane Anyo's 1-4 (both sides) I did #4 several times on the left side focused on Sequence and Direction.

Next I did a brief Warm Up using the first 4 of The 10. Adding to #3 and #4

Next I did a Round (left side) reciting the Taiji Classics during Part I and II. I focused on staying on the left side and Sequence (especially in Part III)

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

Next I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 5-8 focused on Sequence and the overall quality of my Walk and Changes.

That's it for today......

Thursday Practice

 

The Details and Notes:

I'm counting this as Day #7 in the rotation. I need another day in #7 to really get the proper sequences of the Kata and Weapons Forms.

It's a cool 60 at the house. The sunrise was at 5:32.

Govt' Mule at the Tree House last night with Ron and Cindy, Peter and Susan and Tom. Great show!

We got stopped by a very nice MA State Police Officer on I91 last night for having our lights out. I received a warning.

Ron and Cindy stayed with us last night. We got up and made Bacon, Scrabbled Eggs and Toast. Yum!

Later we went to SYC and had lunch (sandwiches from the Guilford Country Store.

The Practice:

GG and Cindy took Echo for a long walk. Ron was on The Deck looking for bear and wild life and I went out to my main practice area and started with a full round of The 10+.

Next I did a Round (right side) reciting my version of The Taiji Classics during Parts I & II. I remained focused on Staying Soft and Smooth and Breathing in and out through my nose, Sequence and staying of the right side.

Next I did a brief Standing and Healing Qigong.

Next I did a round of Anyo Pito focused on Sequence and Techniques.

Next I did a round of Sunsu Kata tuned into Sequence. I did the end several times to solidify the end and directions. I got a little confused right at the end but after several repetitions I think I flushed it out. I'll do it again tomorrow morning.

Next I did Cheng Style Baguazhang 8 Animal Palms Changes 5-8 tuned in to Stance Work, Fully Turning to the Rear and Sequence.

Next I went down to the Driveway and did a round of Double Dao focused on Technique and Sequence