Friday, January 6, 2012

Mental discipline, turning the circle and other grinding

Because of my desire to improve that aspect of my Yin Style Bagua training and the resultant new year's resolution to turn more, I've been on the circle this week far more than what has (shamefully) been average in the last while. That, of course, has me thinking about turning more, and, for the purposes of this blog, that has me thinking about the challenges related to turning. Of course, these lessons are far more broadly applicable than this particular useful, if esoteric, practice.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

New Year's Turning Resolution, 2012

I know, it's been a long (read: looooooooong) time since I've posted. Frankly, I haven't been training much. I actually really hurt myself this time, and so I haven't been doing a whole lot since the start of November when I took my right shoulder from aggravated to "doesn't work without LOTS of pain." I'm finally getting a handle on that, mostly. In any case, I decided it's well enough, and it's high time that I start doing something right. Since He Jinbao didn't seem particularly pleased with my turning this year at our workshop, I figure I need a lot more attention on that aspect of training. Thus, my New Year's resolution for 2012 is to turn... a lot... and consistently (details below!).
"The most important thing when studying the martial arts is not to be lazy. These skills are not easily attained. For them, one must endure a lot of suffering." -He Jinbao