Wu Life Journal - Volume 2

02.28.09 - 042

 

Quantum Perspectives

 

I have recently become really close to a fellow student here named Bo.  He's an older gentleman, in his 50's or so, and he came here to learn martial arts for the purpose of improving his health.  Bo is a fascinating man of amazing accomplishments.. but perhaps I can save that for another blog.

 

Anyway, I was spending some time with Bo in his climate controlled room to get schooled on the Lakota Medicine Wheel, a ritual ceremony that I found to reflect my Bagua practice.  Along with that, and a whole host of other topics, we also discussed some quantum theory.. and Bo blew my mind with what he shared.

 

In gist, our consciousness is present to far more than we think.  In any given moment, we ingest a ridiculous amount of data from our sense organs, yet only the smallest fraction of that data is actually processed though our conscious minds - that fraction directly reflects our intention and purpose of that moment. 

 

For example, lets say you are hungry.  There is a whole world out there to be observed, but your intention is to satisfy that hunger, so all your attention goes to finding food - thus, limiting your perspective of reality.  Make sense?  Well, this is the fun part.. even though your conscious mind is fixed with intent and purpose, your subconscious mind is still collecting the billions of bits of data that are still coming in through your senses.

 

This reminds me of the 'photo-reading' method I learned a couple years back.  Instead of consciously reading word by word, you take a sub-conscious 'photograph' of each page in the book, and then consciously access that subconscious data to get the gist of the document you are reading.  Sounds pretty crazy, I know, but it works!

 

Well, applying this same method, Bo shared a way of 'changing the past!' 

 

Now, granted, we can't hop in a Delorion and go back to the future to literally change some funky event in our history.. but, we can certainly change our personal perspectives.  By letting go of our limited views of past pains and traumas, we allow ourselves to access the countless other perspectives that were available to us in that moment.  From here, we can recreate any past torment into something empowering and uplifting.  Sound new age and hokey?  Perhaps.. but this idea is backed with solid mathematical logic.  Quantum Physics rocks.

 

As cool as all that was for me, it's nothing new.  Sages of the ages have told us this for eons.. but in the form of fables, metaphors, analects, and myth.  For whatever reason though, hearing it presented in the light of Quantum Physics really resonated with me. 

 

After the talk, I ran back to my room to meditate and relive all my old pains to find the jewels that my limited victim perspective may have missed.  Maybe you'd like to do the same.

 

 

david wei's room Feng Shui

02.27.09 - 041

 

Feng Shui

 

Back in college, my favorite professor, Dr. Santee, put me up on some basic feng shui principles.  Since learning about how to best facilitate the flow of a home, I have always applied the knowledge to every living space I have ever maintained.  The esoteric principals of feng shui work on an energetic level, as well as a practical level.. but whatever makes it work, good feng shui just feels right.

 

At any rate, I am especially proud of this new room of mine for I managed to tetris all my stuff in.  Granted, I don't have too much, but just books and winter clothes alone take up so much space, and with no closet, it gets tough.  Beyond that, I just moved back into the school from my three bedroom flat in town.. so to comfortably fit an entire apartment full of stuff into a single room is some serious feng shui.

 

Well, I must have done a good job because the other day the master's wife came in to check me out as she just happened to pass by.. 'Wow,' she said.. 'this looks like a girls room.'

 

Uh, thanks?

 

 

02.26.09 - 040

 

Fruit Fasting

 

It's been a minute since I took a good break from food for the purpose of cleansing my innards.. so, to celebrate the new moon, I felt it was appropriate to take three days to enjoy a short apple fast.

 

The first bit of daylight went by just fine, after all, I am quite used to the fasting practice by now.. but by night fall, the season's lingering chill took its toll on me - I was literally shivering - and the cooling nature of the apples certainly wasn't helping me much.  Upon sharing this with my lady in one of our daily chats, she suggested I just fast for the day instead of the intended three - sound advice.

 

Hopefully the next time the new moon rolls around the weather will be more appropriate for a full three day fruit adventure.

 

 

David Wei pushing hands with new student, Matt Push Hand Champion

02.24.09 - 039

 

Tui Shou Time

 

Tui Shou, or 'Push Hand' is an amazing two person exercise that helps you develop sensitivity - a sensitivity for both yourself, and your opponent.  Pushing hands helps you discover where your personal weak spots are, all while feeling for where your partner's weak spots are - it's basically like a game of kung fu 'patty cake.'

 

There are countless variations of push hand drills depending on the style of martial art you do, but all of them pretty much serve the same purpose - developing sensitivity.  However, finding the style of push hand that suits you is relatively easy compared to trying to find the right partner.   Like any other game, there has to be a winner and a loser, and often times people are more concerned with 'winning' then developing their sensitivity.. mixing this attitude with kung fu, can often lead to some nasty exchanges.  Not fun.

 

Well, we recently got a new student from the UK.  Over the last week or so, I've gotten a chance to get a feel for him, and he's certainly a good guy.  One day in class, he asked if we pushed hands much, I took his question as an invitation and started to play with him.  It was soft and gentle at first, and full of smiles.  He then introduced me to his method of push hand, a style I was completely unfamiliar with.. and as such, I got worked really bad.  But, eager to develop my sensitivity, I brushed each loss off with a smile and in the end, thanked him for the exchange.

 

Each practice there after, I always set aside time to push hands.. and I just couldn't get the better hand.  In time though, the learning curve leveled and I figured it out.  Once it clicked, I would win each and every time.  Now, normally, this would trigger a bad attitude, but, brother from the UK took it in stride and was happy to show me more advanced variations.  Now, a week later, we're at it full steam.  Pressure points, skin grabs, punches, and elbows have all been thrown in the mix, and all the while we're both laughing and having a blast.

 

Our new classmate has committed to 4 months here.. I'm looking forward to a lot of Tui Shou.

 

 

02.23.09 - 038

 

So Sickly

 

Everyone here is sick right now.  Half of the Chinese students are all deathly ill.. and nearly two thirds of the foreign students are sick too.  It's crazy!  We just got three new students here, and each of them have caught something nasty as well.  What is going on?

 

The worst case seems to be my brother Jeff.  Poor guy, in his two plus years here, he has NEVER missed a whole day of class.  Maybe one class here or there due to some crazy circumstance.. but he is known as the staple here in our school - he is ALWAYS in class.  Well.. now he isn't, so you know it's bad.

 

There are just a small handful of us that, for whatever reason, have not fallen victim to this nasty bug that's floating around.. which is quite the miracle, considering that we share facilities and food everyday.  For now, I'm still in the clear.. but I've bumped up my herbs and vitamin intake just to be safe.  I can't wait for the spring heat to finally come and burn all this nasty bug stuff away.

 

 

02.22.09 - 037

 

Stamina Break Through

 

Endurance has always been an issue for me.  No matter the sport, I've always been quick to get winded.  As a youth, I never really thought much of it.. In football, I figured it was because I smoked so much.. even early on in kung fu, I just figured it was because I had so much weight to move around - whatever the case may be, I've never been able to keep up in the stamina category.

 

Well, in today's class, my master, seeing that my practice has been progressing, instructed me to start practicing my Baji Quan.. Eight Extremes Fist.  For those of you that remember my blogs from last year, you would remember me going on about how taxing this form can be.  At any rate, I have never been able to do the form without having to take big heaves of breath afterward - but upon finishing my first set in practice, my master ordered me to do it ten times non stop!

 

Just the thought of doing the form twice in a row is enough to make me get short of breath.. needless to say, by the fourth rep, I was exhausted.  But, by round six, something happened.  I found a rhythm with my breath, and I was able to push through.  Astonished by the discovery, I did the form five more times than instructed.. I had done it.. I had made a breakthrough in my stamina.  The secret - proper breath control.

 

I realized that whenever I was being active prior, all my attention was placed on the action itself.. so much so, that I would forget to breath - and any breath that I did take, was shallow and small.  So this time, I allowed muscle memory take control of my movements while I placed all my focus on breathing - and that was it.  Breath was the key to my stamina enigma.  I'm so eager to put it into practice.

 

 

Zhang Gao fresh out of bed Would Rather be Sleeping

02.20.09 - 036

 

Early Bird Hits the Snooze.

 

This week marks the start of our full time training schedule.  Now, each day we have 8 hours of class time.. an hour and a half class in the early morning, three more hours after breakfast, two hours in the afternoon, and another hour and a half in the evening before bed.  Beyond that, we are expected to do our own training in the downtimes.  It's no joke.. kung fu is a full time gig here.

 

Luckily, the early morning and late night classes are a bit softer.. but getting out of bed in the morning amidst the bitter cold is so hard.  This time of year, the sun isn't even out yet, and we're already 45 minutes into our training.. it's crazy.  But, this is what I signed up for, and I love it!  More kung fu please.

 

 

david wei is cold Winter is not a Punk

02.17.09 - 035

 

Weird Weather

 

The climate here has been really funky lately.  One day it's 90+ degrees outside.. then just two days later, the temp drops down below the 20's.  Not fun at all.  Just when I was ready to pack up my heavy clothes in preperation for the heat of Spring.. we get hit with a week of super cold and tons of rain.  Not fun at all.  A fellow student here, who monitors the forecast regularly, said that this is going to be Winter's last stand.. and to quote him..  'He (Papa Winter) is gonna prove that he ain't going out like a punk.'  Well, I never said Winter was a punk.. but I am certainly ready for the Spring to step up!

 

 

Wudang student executing flying split kick Kung Fu Acrobatics

02.15.09 - 034

 

Somersaults and butterfly kicks.

 

So, the combat training was a big stretch for me, and I'm ok with it.. but now we're doing acrobatics, and I don't like it at all.  Sure, jumping and flipping in the air is fun and looks cool.. there is a certain degree of athleticism that goes into it.. it develops awareness of self within a physical space.. it develops a lightness of body.. and it builds core strength and torque.. all very good to have.. but not so much for a China Giant.

 

For me, maybe if I was five or ten years younger I'd be up for it, but here I am rounding thirty.. I feel doing these crazy acrobatics is only inviting injury.  Beyond that.. my body has already made an amazing transformation from being a stiff and sloppy 300 something pounds.. to try and push it even further at this point doesn't seem very wise.  Finally, my practice is for spiritual growth and evolution.. for learning to heal myself and others.. for developing the will and capacity to relieve pain and suffering from the shoulders of my beloved community - I really don't see how doing 540 spinning jump kicks is in line with those intentions. 

 

Maybe my perspective is narrow here.. and quite often it is.. but I'm going to have to talk to my master about this one.

 

 

Master Yuan Xiu Gang San Da Training

02.13.09 - 033

 

Concentration, Coordination, Power.

 

San Da, 'Chinese kickboxing,' has recently been introduced to our regiment.  So now, on top of our standard routine, we are also doing more combative style exercises.. such as footwork and timing drills, and various attack combos that mix up punches and kicks with stutter steps and flying knee strikes. 

 

The hardest exercise, however, is this variation of combat concentration.  It is so difficult.  Basically, it's like a game of 'simon says' mixed with a game of 'red-light green-light' mixed with kung fu.  For now, there are seven commands: right jab, left jab, right hook, left hook, forward advance, retreat, and turn.. but, chances are, more commands will be added to the mix as we progress.  Anyway, Shifu yells a command, in Chinese, and it is up to us to respond with the appropriate movement as quickly as possible.  SO HARD!  Especially when we are all tired and run down from a full hour or so of drills.  Though I don't really vibe too well with the fight training, this has been a great opportunity to build upon three major areas of practice.. concentration, coordination, and power.

 

Yuan Shifu spoke on this.. 'When you are tired, the mind is the first thing to go.. so it is important that you keep your focus in practice - the body may get fatigued, but your mind can never give up.  Also, when you have to respond to a command in this drill, you may not be in the best position to execute the movement that is asked for - this builds your coordination, so that you can still move your body correctly even from an awkward space.  When you have concentration and coordination together, than power comes naturally.  Of course you cannot go fast at first, but you must still focus on your concentration and coordination so that your power can come through.. in time, as you improve, the speed will come also.  This is how you must practice.'

 

Word. 

 

 

demonstration day Tai Yi Wu Xing Quan

02.11.09 - 032

 

Demo Day

 

Every Wednesday, all the students at our school demonstrate for master Yuan.  This gives our master a chance to see every one's progress and to see if there are any major underlining problems that the group shares as a whole.  At first, I really hated demo days because I was scared to mess up in front of my master.. but after doing it every week for the last year or so, I've really grown to enjoy it.

 

This week's demo was pretty cool.  I rocked the basic fist set, a tai yi set, the taiji set, and my bagua.  What I found interesting is that of everything I preformed, it was the bagua that I did the worst on.. funny thing is, that's the only thing I've been practicing!  How bazaar.  Perhaps I should take a break for a week and see how I do next time. 

 

I managed to get videos of all of us.. maybe I can post them on Youtube soon for you guys to enjoy.

 

 

lunar eclipse Wave Maker

02.10.09 - 031

 

Did You Catch the Eclipse?

 

Not only was last night the Red Lantern Festival, but apparently there was a lunar eclipse last night also!  I'm a bit salty because I have been waiting for it and I checked in nearly every twenty minutes.. but no eclipse.. I did notice that the moon was especially bright last night though.  So lovely.

 

The lunar eclipse always serves as a friendly reminder for me,.. the moon didn't go anywhere, it's just that the earth is blocking the sun and casting a shadow that just so happens to block the moon,..  and just like the lunar eclipse.. sometimes I can get in my own way.. be it through my attitude, limited perspective, or just plain ignorance - sometimes I forget I'm blocking my own light.  But, in time, perspectives change, and the light shines through once again. 

 

I may have missed last night's eclipse, but there is a bright horizon ahead.

 

 

View of Wudang Town Red Lantern Festival

02.09.09 - 030

 

This Little Light of Mine.

 

Exactly fifteen days after the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration is a holiday called 'Shang Yuan Jie,' or 'Lantern Festival'.  This night hosts the first full moon of the new year and it officially marks the end of all the new year festivities.  Traditionally, on this night little kids would go out to the temples and run around with their little red lanterns, answer riddles, and eat sweet treats.  Today, this holiday is simply celebrated with letting off lots of fireworks and eating delicious, glutinous rice ball desserts called 'yuan xiao.' 

 

Since days of old, one thing that hasn't changed though, is that on this day, it is appropriate to honor one's close friends and loved ones.. how fitting!

 

After the events that have come to pass over the last month, I have really grown to appreciate the amazing friends that I am blessed to have.  My community is one of respect, integrity, dedication, hard work, loyalty, authenticity, brilliance, intelligence, inspiration, and love.  If one is to be judged by the company they keep, then I must be in good shape to be surrounded by such amazingly remarkable individuals.

 

I love you. 

 

 

David Wei in Bagua Posture Doing Good, Feeling Great

02.08.09 - 029

 

MMMM.. Not Bad.

 

Dong Hai Chuan, the famed creator of Bagua Zhang, was a very accomplished master.  One day, while traveling through the mountains, he happened to cross a Daoist monk circling a tree.  Curious, he stepped in for a closer look.. the monk, taking notice of Master Dong - who was obviously a fighter - invited him to try and 'touch his shirt.'  Master Dong, never one to back down from a challenge, gave it a shot.. but after several attempts, he was unable to even get close to the monk, let alone touch his shirt.  Defeated, Master Dong bowed down and asked to be instructed. 

 

The monk proceeded to teach him circle walking.. and instructed Master Dong to circle the tree until 'the trees chased him.'  For seven years, Master Dong circled the tree until he finally experienced the sensation of the 'tree chasing him.'   The monk, already aware of his attainment, then instructed him to circle two trees in a figure eight pattern.. in essence, making a yin yang symbol.  He practiced for another three years until he experienced the 'trees chasing him' once more.  From there, the monk showed Master Dong a few simple redirectional changes, along with some complimentary movements, and thus completed his training.  Master Dong later returned home to compile the teachings into a solid system and named it Bagua Zhang.

 

A variation of this story was recently shared with me by my college professor, and one of my first martial art masters, Dr. Santee.  The point of the story is to illustrate the importance of bagua circle walking as it is the foundation to the system and the key to understanding its secrets.  Walking the circle focuses the mind, aligns the body, and clears the heart.. simply put, it is the door to the Dao.  But the Chinese were not the only ones to know this.. African tribal dances, Native American pow-wows, Stone Circle Druids, Shamanistic ritual ceremonies, Spinning Sufis, all utilize this powerful tool to channel intentions and to bring about a desired change.  As once shared by an older practitioner, 'Walking the circle is like climbing the spiral staircase to heaven.'

 

I've always recognized the value of this practice, so it came as no surprise that I fell back to circle walking in this critical time of transformation that I am currently working through.  But as good as I felt about it, I was still not sure about how my master felt about me doing nothing but bagua each class while all the other students followed the standard regiment.  Then, as if he knew I was weary.. Yuan Shifu walked by me as I was capping off a two hour walk session with a bit of standing meditation.  In passing, he said with a grunt.. 'MMMM.. ni lien de bu cuo..' ..or.. 'MMMM.. your practice isn't bad.'

 

Now as a disciple.. RARELY do I get such a compliment.. I'm more likely to get a stern knuckle wrap to the head followed by a sharp stink eye than anything else.. and I most certainly will never hear 'good job' or 'now you got it.'  So a 'not bad' is like making the dean's list at MIT for me.  I couldn't be happier.

 

 

tread left from circle walking Going in Circles

02.06.09 - 028

 

Bagua Benefits.

 

It's been about two or three weeks since I've been back now, and I have been bagua circle walking nonstop.  My method is simple,.. 100 steps one way, change direction, 100 steps the other way, change direction.. 105 steps one way, change direction, 105 steps the other way, change direction.. 110 steps one way.. and so on, and so on.  I can be at it for up to two hours straight each class.. making a good four hours of bagua a day.  Prompted by my classmates to do the math on it, I'd say I'm walking about 27,440 steps a day - which is around 6.9 km.. pretty ridiculous.  It's crazy.. but I love it. 

 

For those of you keeping up, you must know that I'm currently working through one of my roughest spots ever.  Well.. bagua has proven to be of tremendous benefit.  It's the only practice I can do right now.  My punches and kicks are backed with rage, and that's no good.. my movements and forms directly reflect my mental state, which is a wreck.. and I can't clear my mind long enough to enjoy qigong or meditation.. so my practice has really been suffering.  But bagua has proven to be the key.

 

First off, counting my steps occupies my mind, forces me to concentrate, and keeps me from dwelling on my recent pains and traumas.  Next, walking in a circle kind of metaphorically 'contains' my issue as opposed to having it all chaotic and scattered.. which helps as well.  Moreover, the circle walking reminds me to analyze my space from all angles to get the full picture of the matter at hand.  All of this has made for a very theraputic practice.  Though I'm sure I look crazy for pacing in a circle for hours on end, day in and day out.. this is quite possibly the very practice that has kept me sane. 

 

It makes me think back to the old Disney cartoon, 'Duck Tails' ..where Uncle Scrooge would retreat to his 'worry room' and pace in circles to sort out his thoughts in rough spots.  He, too, had left a tread in the ground from pacing so much.. and here I am doing the same.  Funny.

 

Wudang Shan Tablet Wu Life XP - Home Edition

02.05.09 - 027

 

New and Improved.

 

As you can plainly see, my website has just been revamped and upgraded.. Wu Life 3000..  I no longer have the 'jimdo' in my domain name, and I also got a sleek new layout..  All White!  I chose the color white for simple aesthetics, yes, but there is also some special symbolism to it..  one, for the 'white light' reflection party that my dear friend Kathy - the western bridge - got me present to.. and two, for the metal element from the Daoist generation cycle - which has tremendous relevance to the current space I'm in now.  Please allow me to elaborate.

 

First and foremost, the metal element has a 'condensing' energy.. as opposed to the 'rising' nature of fire, the 'sinking' nature of water, the 'expanding' nature of wood, or the 'stabilizing' nature of earth.  I am currently in a space of deep reflection and serious introspection.. this is a time for me to draw my attention inward and take a critical look in to my character - flaws and all.  For quite some time now, I've spread myself thin with all this networking, traveling, and exploring.. but now is the time to really minimize and bring my practice to a central point of focus - like the tip of a nail.. very metal.

 

Next, metal cuts.. and this is a time for me to 'prune off my loose ends,' so to speak.  It's time to cut off old attitudes, beliefs, perspectives, language, habits, and ways of being that no longer serve me, my purpose, or my path.. but not just for me, for I have recently learned that the smallest of actions can have a drastic impact on a whole network of individuals,.. therefore, it is important to tailor my character, for my own growth, yes, but also for my entire community.. both intimate and extended.

 

Then, there is the metal element of the body.. which is manifested through the lungs and large intestines.  These amazing organs have a dual purpose.. the lungs both take in breath for life, and expel poisonous carbon dioxide,.. likewise, the large intestines both absorb vital nutrients for health, but they also eliminate toxic wastes as well.  This speaks to the actions of discernment and discrimination.. and now is a time for me to develop the acceptance to take in that which is beneficial and nurturing.. find the strength to eliminate that which is negative and toxic.. and to discover the wisdom to know the difference between the two.

 

Finally, the metal element is often interchangeable with the element of 'air.'  Obviously, air is one of the most vital ingredients to life.. even in Genisis, 'God molded man from clay, and breathed life into him.'  ..but beyond the physical necessity of air for life, I have recently been in the space of seeing each breath as a blessing - as mentioned in last month's journal.  So, the new white layout also serves as a friendly reminder for me to continually express gratitude for this precious gift of life, to selflessly share my bountiful blessings, and to generously extend my joys to all.

 

White - it's the new black.

 

 

 

kuan yin statue Namo Kuan Shi Yin Pu Sa

02.03.09 - 026

 

The Allstate Slogan Comes to Mind..

 

I am in such good hands.  Gratitude and appreciation fail as words to illustrate just how thankful I feel these days.  Goodness.. everyone is happy and healthy, my community is solid and strong, my practice is back in order, and MY VISA IS SECURE!!!  The local governemnt here in Wudang set me up for the next three months, and there are rumors of six month visas to be available here as well.  BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF.

 

Stepping into tomorrow.. big things are on the horizon.

 

 

David Wei doing Bagua Big Circle Walking Party

02.02.09 - 025

 

Ring around the Rosey.

 

Ahhhh.. practice.  I love it.  Now that I'm back in the mix, I've really kicked up my training.. and my focus for the moment.. Bagua Zhang.  Each morning after warming up, I circle walk for about two hours straight, then I spend the rest of class working on Bagua basics.  Then, for afternoon class, I circle walk for another hour, and finish off the session with standing.

 

It feels SO GOOD.  I've circle walked so much this last week that I have literally etched a circle into the concrete (there is a picture of it in the photo gallery).  I love it.  When I finish, my body is so hot that steam bellows off me like a humidifier.. it's nuts.  Hopefully I can get a picture of that for you guys to see.. it's unreal.

 

The best part is the pooping!  With all the turns and torques of the style, my intestines are getting quite the massage - my Chi Nei Tsang teacher would be so proud!

 

Bagua Rocks!

 

 

Vegetables do a body good. Protein Efficient

02.01.09 - 024

 

Look Up in the Sky!

 

This is now my fourth year training here, and one thing I've noticed is that I have the most AMAZING dream life here.  Each dream is so vivid and life like.  I've had more lucid dreams here then I have ever had in my life, and it's not just me - all of the students here seem to have similar experiences.  It's nuts.  Thing is, most of my dreams have at least a bit of relevance to my waking life, but last night's dream was very bazaar. 

 

In this dream, I wasn't even involved.. it was more like a television show or movie than a dream.  Anyway, I dreamt about some evil female scientist that was creating these super cyborg, human like, robocop soldiers for the sole purpose of war.  Her first attempt, named DOOM, turned out to be too compassionate to be a killing machine, so she chose to keep it as an assistant as opposed to scrapping it completely.   I then saw the whole labratory facility, room by room, and saw all the half done, or funky mistake machines that were kept in each department.  Really weird.  At any rate, one of the prototype robot soldiers was picking on DOOM, and DOOM snapped!  He turned on the evil scientist lady, destroyed the labratory, and saved the world from the evil war machine project.. but DOOM wasn't done.  In his rage, he began to let loose on the common population too.. and then, out of nowhere comes Spiderman, of all people, to stop DOOM and save the city.  SO RANDOM.

 

Well.. as cool as the dream was, I just couldn't see how it applied to my life.. but then it hit me.  Every Batman needs a Joker.. every Superman needs a Lex Luther.  If a hero doesn't have a villian, or at the very least, a cause to champion, what good is it to have super powers?  Now, I just survived the hardest month of my life, and it took all my will and might to pull through.  I've grown so much, and learned loads of valuable lessons.  David Wei is feeling mighty super.

 

Expect big things this year.