Bagua Zhang Yin Fu Style 8 Palms Set with Sifu Ray Hayward

 

Eagle/Bear Palm - Yin Fu 8 Palms Set

Tuesday Practice

 

The details:

It's 47 at the house. The sunrise was at 7:03. The last low tide was at 4:39. It's going to be another cold one!

The Practice:

Yesterday afternoon:

I went out at 4:30 after a Bass and Acoustic Guitar practice session. I QW north to The Pelican Condos. I saw Elizabeth, Dave and Tonya. There was a strong north wind and it was chilly. It was much more pleasant when I turned around and walked south towards 21st Ave.

I did a round of Cheng Style Baguazhang 'Old 8 Palms Set'.  I did one circle in each direction  the changing on the correct spot on the circle; the cardinal directions and the corners add up to 8.

Today:

I started inside with acoustic guitar and drum set practice.

At 10 I went out to The Backyard and started with a modified round of The 10+ focused on self-discipline which leads to consistency. 

Next I did a Round of Taijiquan with a profound feeling of various Jin's moving down and up the 9 Zig Zag Path withing the JinLu. I could feel Song Jin moving downward with an instantaneous feeling of Peng Jin moving from my feet to my fingers. I focused on 'expressing energy (Jin)' with my hands and fingers. I reflected on lessons from William C. C. Chen and the idea that when you apply suction at the tip of a straw that is in liquid the suction draws the liquid up the straw. Song Jin is the suction, Peng Jin is the liquid (Jin/Qi) that then moves up the JinLu through the 9 Zig Zag Path.

Next I did a round of Anyo Dalawa focused on good quality basics and applications.

Next I did a round of Seisan Kata tuned into sparking it up with more focus and speed with the spirit of Karate! 

Monday Practice

                                      My thin/light wooden Broadsword with Scabbard.

The Details:

It's 50 at the house. Another cold morning! Oy!! The sunrise was at 7:02. The high tide is at 9:28. I'll be practicing in The Backyard later this morning.

The Practice:

Yesterday afternoon:

I QW The Beach in the late afternoon. I walked north against a fierce north wind up to The Pelican Condos. Walking south was much more pleasant. The cold and the strong north wind surely kept the tourists at bay! 

When I got back towards 21st Ave I did a round of Yin Fu 8 Palms concentrating on #3 Snake/Hawk Palm #4 Dragon Palm, #5 Phoenix Palm, #6 Unicorn/Bear Palm and #7 Eagle/Monkey Palm. I've been working towards incorporating the changes into my regular practice. It's coming along but slower than I'd like it to! I am especially aware that memorizing things just takes a bit more effort at 73... Oy!!

Next I did calisthenics on the Walkover - Stretching - Push-Ups and slow Side Kick/Roundhouse Kick combinations. 

Next I walked back to the house to start supper.

Today:

I started by reading a poem from Evidence by Marie Oliver. This is the first line of the poem "I Want" on page 56:

"I want to be

in partnership 

with the universe"

Next I did guitar practice working on Freight Train and assorted finger style exercises and I also put together the trash and recycling (it's Monday). We also put out the 'old' flat screen TV. It's hard to believe that the town will actually pick up the TV! Amazing!!

Next I did Drum Set practice using the 3rd page of exercises in the Syncopation book. I used a metronome set at 118 BPM.

I went out to The Backyard around 10:00 am and started with a round of Pa-Kua Knife and Taiji Dao forms. Self-Discipline is what makes consistency possible, that was my focus this morning.

Next I did a full round of The 10+ doing Yin Fu 8 Linking Palms Set focused on the 'kick ups' right before 'The Wild Goose Leaves The Flock'

After finishing The 10+ I did a Round of Taiji (left side) focused on using release to move body parts and maintaining a light and agile body throughout the Round.

Next I did SPT and Healing Qigong and a round of The 21 Qigong.

Next I did a round of Anyo Isa focused on 'sparking it up' with more focus and speed when punching and kicking

Next I did a round of Naihanchi Kata. The primary changes I'm making to this Kata are really coming into focus.

I'm finishing by writing about today's practice and more guitar practice.

Master Brendan Lai and school, late 1960s.

 

Master Brendan Lai and school, late 1960s.

Sunday Practice - Day 8,556

 

The Details:

It's 51 at the house. The sunrise was at 7:01. The next high tide was 8:06. It's another cold morning. I going to wait until it warms up a bit and then go out to The Backyard to practice.

The Practice:

Yesterday afternoon:

I started inside with Bass and Acoustic Guitar and Drum Set practice (s). Drum Set remains my main instrument but I'm concentrating on learning about finger style guitar and learning new songs on Bass Guitar as well as continuing to practice the 40-50 songs that I already know.  I'm interested in new material that stimulates neuroplasticity. I wish the new material would be easier to commit to memory but there is some benefit to reading TAB and Sheet Music which eventually leads to memorizing the song (s). I have to remind myself to be patient and to keep practicing even when I feel it's not coming quickly enough. 

I went down to QW The Beach at 4:30. I walked north against a stiff north wind up to The Pelican Condos where I met up with GG and Echo. The walk south was much more pleasant. Oy!

When I got back to 18th Ave I did a full round of Yin Fu 8 Palms Set using the Walkover as a wind block. I focused on the changes that I'm making and especially the Unicorn Stance before the Reverse Bow Stances (snake creeps down). When I got back to the 21st Ave Walkover I did some calisthenics before returning to the house. 

Today:

I started off by reading a poem from 'Evidence' by Marie Oliver "Philip's Birthday":

"You give, and you are given"

I also did a guitar practice session. I'm determined to memorize the song "Freight Train"! I wish it was coming along quicker, but I guess that's a big club! I remind myself of 1. Keep practicing 2. Be patient....It's a simple formula but difficult to pull off.

Next I did a brief Drum Set practice. I mostly worked on the 2nd page of exercises from Syncopation and Be Bop inspired grooves.

I went out to The Backyard and started with a round of Pa-Kua Knife focused on the correct sequence. It's feeling better and better with daily practice. Surprise, surprise!!

Next I used my wooden katana to do a round of Taiji Dao tuned into the timing of stance and strikes.

Next I did a full round of The 10+ at #9 I did a round of Yin Fu 8 Palms reciting the names of the postures when I could. I do not have them memorized....Yet!

Next I did a Round of Taijiquan. I started on the right side but segued to the left during the first section of Part III. I recited the Taiji Classics during Part I

Next I did SPT and Healing Qigong

Next I did a round of Anyo Walo using full extension and focus on my kicks and punches.

I finished with a round on Sanchin Kata focused on abdominal breathing (Taoist Longevity Breathing) and the connection from fist to the Tan T'ien (Hara in Japanese).