White Sash Stylin

There was a "Test" for Kung Fu.

I forgot to channel my inner Korra, so I looked pretty weak and free flow 'ish.

But I did advance to the rank of white sash, rather than being a "no" sash so guess I am an officially official part-time student of Kung Fu. lol (Though I have been wondering if the sash "awards" and color denotations is a Western idea. Make sure those American's feel good about themselves, by giving them recognition every few months.)

About to "fight" K during the test.

I really feel like we over award things in America. I can't even tell you how silly I think it is that we give out medals, ribbons, and certificates to celebrate our mediocrity. Honestly my Kung Fu performance was sub par and I wouldn't have given myself any sort of recognition.

But I am now on my way to earning the elusive and coveted black belt :)

5'1 Bulldog and Sanda

I was fighting S. He's kind of an old man.  I mean he can throw punches and definitely has left some good bruises the last few months, but an older guy none the less. He's usually my partner.

We are working on form applications, and Sifu came over came over and told S he needed to keep his punches closer and smaller...(I'm pretty sure Sifu has legit concern I'm going to get injured one day, and I think he sees me as this walking liability.)

Well S, in his defense, told Sifu, "I'm fighting a five foot bulldog here. I'm gonna get hurt."

Yup. That's a new one. When I was in HS everyone called me Princess Chloe. And one time this boy was trying to be enduring and called me a piglet, but bulldog is a new one.

So I maybe turned down the effort 1%. 

After class I always rush over, lose the Nike's for flats, don my sweater with the puffed sleeves, and wrap up my scarf.  I feel like its my ritual for reclaiming the part of my princess self, and maybe to make sure they don't think I'm too butch or anything.

The Sifu called me back over, commenting that I always "dress up" when he still wants to work the form with me.

We went back on the floor and he took a step back. I advanced. He stepped back again. I kept advancing, until he asked me what I was doing. "Oh, I thought we were gonna fight..."

I really just like all the fighting stuff. 

Speaking of fighting. I haven't been back to Sanda for a while. Sifu wants to take his fighters to Italy for the world championships. And I was curious of course. I asked about the rate of injury, and the rate of death was brought up.

I don't think I'll aspire to become a Sanda fighter. (Though I just watched a bunch of youtube girls doing Sanda and now have this renewed idea that I could be legit.)

I told my mom about people dying in Sanda. She said "why don't you stop, and go on a mission instead." pshh. Are you serious? Um no. Kung Fu is awesome. Sanda is awesome.

(I would rather live in a Chinese Kung Fu convent if I had the choice.)