Today

Just got home from a wonderful partner work day with my teacher in South London. 18 of us were doing lots of spiralling, Ta Lu and sensitivity work. Folks from other schools now come along whenever they can to get the 'missing links', as they put it. There's a great atmosphere and a really good working vibe. I am feeling very lucky to be studying with such colleagues and in such a rich tradition. Next week I'll miss my garden and my lessons.

I was just sent this text below from Nils Klug in Hannover re next year's push hands festival. I very much hope to attend. If anyone is free, let's go together. I have written a review of this year's event which will be printed in the forthcoming 'T'ai Chi Magazine'.

"9th International Push Hands Meeting
14-22 February 2009 in Hannover
With continuous classes for beginners as well, and with new teachers!"

Sunday class 1st June

This week's drop in class is from 2-5pm at Paolo and Davina's.

Partnerwork Day in London

All are welcome to the latest of these continuing workshops on Saturday 31st May 1-7pm with my teacher Mark Raudva. Go to http://www.thetaichicentre.co.uk/ for details.

I shall be away from 1st- 10th June walking in the Dolomite mountains. Except a few weekends at the seaside on the South coast, it'll be my first holiday in 7 years! I can be reached by text in emergencies only on my usual number. David Knight will be taking all my classes in my absence.

I have not been blogging much recently as the 3D delights of the real world with actual people, plants, creatures and face-to-face interactions are so much more thrilling for me. I realise this is an unfashionable view these days...

Huntly and Gartly Classes

Just a reminder :
there will be no class in the Tin Hut, Gartly this Wednesday 28th or in the Library, Huntly this Thursday 29th.
the Tuesday session in the Huntly Resource Centre is also cancelled next week on 3rd June.
normal service resumes on 4th June (Gartly), 5th (Huntly Library) and 10th (the Resource Centre).

Sunday class 25th May

This week's drop in class is from 2-5pm at Paolo and Davina's. Please email davina [at] greatrivertaichi [dot] co [dot] uk if you need directions.

Aberdeenshire Thursday class

The Thursday Long Form class will continue at the Masonic Hall 7:30-9:30pm until 29th May. £3.
We'll be back at Heather's T'ai Chi studio from 5th June onwards.

Introduction to Shiatsu - Saturday 24th May

Neil will be holding an Introduction to Shiatsu on Saturday 24th May. 10am-4pm at the Love Yoga Studio, 42 Union Terrace, Aberdeen. Cost is £40. More information is available here.

Burma Appeals

A good friend of my teacher's has worked for a long time with international agencies in Burma. I asked him this week who to donate money to, so that it would really get there and help with post-cyclone relief efforts. He emailed me back with Save the Children, and Merlin. Links are below for anyone else who is interested.

<http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/32_5455.htm>
<http://www.merlin.org.uk/Lists/News-Detail.aspx?id=687>

Bump Consciousness

Richmond Park April 2008

Hackney Round Chapel Class news 2008

Classes resumed yesterday on 9th April and continue unbroken until 30th July, recommencing after the summer break on 3rd September.

Classes run from 7-9pm for beginners and intermediate students. At 9pm we have a short break for jasmine tea then practise partnerwork followed by sabre form. All students of whatever level are welcome to stay for the partnerwork part to gain experience of double pushing hands, talu, wapu, knocking, san shou, etc. Class ends at 10pm. I will not be starting a beginners group again until autumn at the earliest. Those keen to start may come along and join in any time with the beginners who started earlier this year and can book a 121 with me to 'catch up' if they feel they need to. Much more important than anything else are willingness to engage with the work and an open attitude.

Due to the annual Hackney Schools Music Festival, the hall will not be available on two evenings this summer, so we have booked the hall next door, to the left of the Round Chapel, belonging to the church. The church charge far more for their halls, so we only have it from 7-9pm on 2nd July and 9th July. We will do without a tea break and have sabre practice from 8.35pm running concurrently with anyone who wants to stay on and do partnerwork (there will be room!).

David Knight, my fellow student of Mark Raudva, will kindly be taking the class on these 3 dates: 4th June, 16th July, 30th July.

T'ai Chi Weekend 15th-18th May

Here are the details for Caroline's classes this weekend. All Great River students are welcome.

Thursday 15th May
7:30-9:30pm Long Form £5/3. Masonic Hall, Inverurie.

Saturday 17th May
2-5pm Partnerwork (Ta Lu, push hands, uprooting, Heartwork, ...) £10/6 Friendship room, rear of Kemnay Village Hall.
5-7pm All welcome to share food, Paolo & Davina's, 5 mins from Kemnay
7-10pm Northern Sabre £10/6 Kemnay Village Hall

Sunday 18th May
2-6pm 'Sunday class' open to all students at whatever level, bring questions and we will look at any Short and Long form as well as any partnerwork topics. Heather's T'ai Chi studio.
7-8pm Caroline will give an hour's introduction to T'ai Chi standing (zhan zhuang / standing pole / standing like a tree) and sitting (meditation) practice that will support and deepen our T'ai Chi practice, strengthen the body, rooting and quieten the mind. Free of charge.

Sunday class 11th May

This week's drop in class is from 2-5pm at Paolo and Davina's. We're hoping for the fine weather to continue so we can work outside. Please email davina [at] greatrivertaichi [dot] co [dot] uk if you need directions.

Spring

The view as we did warmups and Short Form at Turriff this evening.

Sunday class 4th May

This week, Sunday class will be 2-5pm at Paolo and Davina's place.

Tassles and Silk Scarves

This is really not an important posting... but some students have been asking about the silks I have on my sabre, and about tassles traditionally found on Chinese swords. If using the correct movements done with smoothness and even pace, tassles and silks should sinuously follow the movement of the blade, rather than getting tangled up. Some postures in the Northern Sabre Form, such as Phoenix Fist, appear stealthily from behind the silks, so they have a real use at that moment.

Anyway, it's a matter of personal choice, so if you intend attaching silks to your sabre here's a few guidelines. Do not tie your silks or scarf to the ring of the handle; this would be extremely foolish in a martial situation as all anyone would need to do to disarm you would be to pull the scarf! Also, keep the size of the scarves to less than 12". Anything dangling more than that will get in the way rather than show you how smoothly you are moving. On my sabre I have 2 x 12' squares. I made them from light, fine silk from Liberty's and then hemmed them by machine. They are attached to the nut inside the end ring by means of the little loop of wire that previously held the gaudy gold chain to the scabbard, strong florist's wire would do the job. It is important that, if pulled, the silks will come away from the sabre, for the reasons mentioned above. Tassles are appropriate for straight swords and are usually knotted from just one continuous piece of cord, which is considered auspicious. These can be bought inexpensively on the web from any martial arts weapons supplier. If you are a crafter, you could even download instructions for knotting your own.

Students also asked about the leather wrapping on my sabre handle. When I bought my sabre it had the standard lacquered finish: very slippy and highly impractical. Mark cut leather from a charity shop jacket and glued it spiral-wise onto the handle after removing the jagged gold metal end piece by the guard. The new sabres with wooden handles don't need this treatment as the wood is lovely to hold and does not slip. The 'super gold Chinese metal' fittings that are so popular on weapons of this grade are a bit 'bling' for me, so you'll notice they've been antiqued. The fittings were all removed (except the genuine brass guard) and Nitromors applied to remove the lacquer. Then they were rubbed with salt and stood in a little salty water, turning every few hours, rubbing them occasionally and re salting. Adding vinegar gives a slightly too corroded look. After a day or two they were looking great. They were cleaned and re-fitted and now look alot more tasteful. I guess you could say that we 'un-pimped my sabre'.

Now, I must get back to counting those angels dancing on the head of a pin.