Special Needs Hip Hop, Some More Hip Hop and I do Kung Fu

Monday.
This place I work, asks me to stay late and cover T every week, who I haven't seen since the week before the Emmy's. And before then it was every other week. In an effort to be extremely flexible, and a model employee... I eagerly say yes! Every time, while I sigh on the inside.

This class is...special. And by special, I mean it is a special needs hip hop class. Which every week I am not prepared for, and I have to make it up on the spot. 

If you remember my down syndrome diva story, you'll know that the group has two divas, in which one of them told me she needed to work on her solo. So of course the other had to as well. I'd put in enough time already that day, so much I wanted to flee the building...But there was no redirecting them.

"Ok." I mustered up my last bit of cheeriness. "Well do it really fast."

About 4:29 into the first solo, I began to question that the endless twirling and hair flipping might be all improvised.  Finally it ended with a dramatic split and the next diva handed me her CD.

I have no idea, Van Halen? Jimmi Hendricks? Whoever those guys are that play rock and roll? And at 4:59 I knew that she was making it up as she went along. There were signs. Repeated air guitar moments, when she came and and tried to sit on my lap, movement that really did not go with the song... I thought about fading out the music...But what would the repercussion be if  I did that? I finally asked during some snap, touch your toe, steps.

"Are you making this up as you go along?"

"You know it Baby!" And we clocked out just past 5 min and 30 sec.

Dear Lord. I just wasted 10 minutes I'll never get back.

Tuesday
So after Monday and watching some TED Talks. I decided I wanted to quit all my jobs. I didn't. But seriously, I was wilting on the inside from lack of inspiration and purpose. So I decided to go take my first dance class since... well I won't even tell you. I took hip hop. It was awesome. And I'm pretty sure the only reason I could keep up was because of Kung Fu :)

Tuesday Later
Back to Kung Fu. Wildly swinging fists. High kicks...though I didn't even care about fighting today. So I paired with gentlest, mild-aged lady who comes to Fu to escape her terrible job. Though the Sifu made sure I didn't go to fast and hit her by accident in the face.

Now that I think about it, maybe all of us are at Kung Fu, deep down trying to escape something... dun dun duuunnnnn! Haha. Seriously. The only thing that I look forward to is Kung Fu. Don't know how I made it in life for so long with out it.

Here is a picture from tonight of me sort of refusing to do Horse Stance correctly... that's like the only thing I don't like about Kung Fu lol. 

Horse Stance

Argentinian Tango, Gymnastics, and Kung Fu

ARGENTINIAN TANGO:
This is literally the 7th different introductory paragraph I've written for this post. And I'll just come out and say it. I probably was a bit too eager and enthusiastic in trying to connect with M and T, the Russian couple, from Russia. But now I am committed, in an unofficial barter contract, in which on the receiving end they are teaching me the Argentinian Tango.



 (Video is legit Argentine Tango, at least this is how the Russians do it.)

When the three of us work together, it's almost as if I am speaking Chinese, and they are speaking Russian, (even though we are both speaking English). And when you are standing as close as you do in the Argentinian Tango, that's quite a lot of decibels of Russian flying into your ear. And you have to stand really really close-

(SIDE STORY- This boy I went on dates with in HS tried to teach me ballroom at 6am this one time for an audition at my University, and I didn't know you had to stand so close in the waltz. The whole time I was thinking, "Are you sure your wife is okay with you dancing like this, with me?")

You guys know I always go in for the side hug, (save for those two people ;) Well in the Argentinian tango it's a boob hug embrace all the way. All the same I nodded, yes'ing, most eagerly, promising to practice all my steps. And so it will continue next week.

GYMNASTICS:
For the second Saturday in a row I found my self at the Gymnastics academy, kind of bummed out at the hours of wandering time I had before Kung Fu. I already spent enough time wandering the mall this week in between inconvenient teaching hours. So I decided to resume my Gymnastics training from September.

And after being spotted on some terrible back handsprings, I finally did some good ones. I really should just stay committed to my gymnastics training. It would make me better at Kung Fu, Dance and who isn't impressed by that one person who can do back handspring and back tucks? I'd be a shew in at any audition ;)

KUNG FU
I go public in Kung Fu March 22. And I will make a promise to my blog readers that by March 23, no matter how good or bad the performance is, I will post a video on my blog. (And if it's good, on Facebook lol.)

I spent Saturday fighting A, the Sifu's wife.  She's my height and youngerish, (like late 20's/ early 30's). I wouldn't say that our fighting is effective, no it's not at all. R finally came over to show us how it's done, and in faster than a second I was staring at ceiling. It happened so fast I hit my occipital lobe area lol. You don't want to meet R in a fight. I was standing there and he took me down before I knew what was happening.

My Favorite Martial Arts Story

The was a Karate Master named Mas Oyama, who hailed in the martial arts world known as "God's Hand". He sliced bottle-necks, broke rocks, killed bulls in a single blow, defeated hundrerds of martial arts masters around the world. He was one super human fighter.

He traveled to Hong Kong to meet a legendary Tai Chi master. When he arrived the Master was frail and looked as if he belonged in a nursing home. Oyama thought the Master would never except his challenge to fight, but the Master offered to spar with him. Oyama believed he could defeat the old man easily and quickly.

He was was unprepared for the task at hand.

 The Master was able to neutralize all the Karate attacks Oyama could deliver, using smooth circular, arc-like movement and techniques. On the other hand, when the Master counter-attacked, it was with a force that could not have come from a man his age. It was all Oyama could do to evade him, using linear, sometimes awkward movements. Seeing NO sign of fatigue in the old man, and having exhausted all his techniques, Oyama gave up, admitting that he could not beat the Tai Chi Master.

Oyama stayed with the Tai Chi Master to train and revise his personal Karate style.

There was an old saying in 19th century Chinese martial arts circle, "Tai Chi is the hardest kung fu to master, but once it's understood, it is the master of all kung fu's..." 

http://indomaster.nl/taichi-karate.html
Source that I partially plagiarized from lol

Down Sydrome Divas Defy Disabilities.

This is not Kung Fu related  but I thought everyone might enjoy a laugh.

Names have been changed though :)

What is unique and amazing about the school's program is they take these special needs adults, train them, and then take them all over the world to perform. I work with the top students once a week on a ballet piece. Within those top performers there are two Down Syndrome Divas. Karolyn is one, and so is Dani. This is a story about how we lifted Dani ;)

"We are going to do a lift." I said. "I know you have done it before, so we are going try lifting people to see who lifts best."

"Does everyone get a turn to be lifted?" Dani asked in her soft vowel way of speaking.

"Um, well....we'll see. Maybe we can all have a turn. I...just... I really need you as a "lift'er", because I can count on you to be strong." I blundered. I always have to be careful how I speak, turning every "no" into a compliment.

"But I've never been lifted." Dani protested.

I could only shrug and directed my efforts to others in the group. After several attempts, I made up my mind. We were lifting a girl named Kate. To deflect the curious and eager stares of the others, I casually told them, "I was going to think about." And let them know next week.

Dani was insistent. "You said that WE ALL can have a turn." She wasn't going to let me out of it. Clearly there were others in the group we would not attempt lifting. They weren't complaining. Why did Dani have to be such a diva?

Lainey, the most renowned and strongest of the group, turned to me and blatantly said. "We have to lift her. If we don't, she won't stop. Let's just get it over with."

"Ok, but I'm going to spot her." I resolved, thinking of the injury liability I may be forcing on these special needs women. Dani, though known for her immense and amazing flexibility, was not known for being particularly petite.

I placed my hands on her hip bones. The bones were they taught the men to hold in partnering, took the male ballet second, remembering to lift with the legs and not the back. And together me and 6 special needs women hoisted Dani off the ground.

Her eyes lit up, and in a moment was gently placed back on the ground.

"Yes! Finally! I did it." Her face gleaned with unbridled happiness one only feels defying gravity.

"Well, I made my decision. We are going to lift Kate, and wow look, it's time to go." I said before anyone else got any ideas.

I grabbed my things, and passed the owner in the office.

"Great day today. We worked on a lift." I said grinning.

"Did Dani ask to be lifted?" the owner smiled.

Casually, I replied. "Yeaahhhh, we tried it, but we are going with Kate."

This week in Kung Fu.

Proving there is no attractive way to photo an arm ;)

Kung Fu was good this week. Lots of Fighting.

As you can see by lack of arm muscle tone and slight bruising. I have not developed the monk's legendary qi-gong. Qi-gong is energy that can be released to any part of the body making it stronger and more powerful.

This energy release can make any part of the body harder. For example the scull of a Shaolin monk can be up to 4x's stronger than that of a regular person. This is after hours a day of banging their heads against something hard for years ;)

This hardening of certain parts of the body is known as "Ironing". So you can have an Iron Scull, Iron Neck, Iron Forearms, and hey guess what guys? You can even have Iron Crotch. Video below for your amusement. (Disclaimer. I do not participate in any Qi-gong training :)




I fought "R" for most of the time Thursday. Was way more intense and exciting than usual. Though, I was slightly concerned about one of us loosing some teeth, snapping an Achilles, or neck strain, or a snapped olecranon process. Definitely was clipped in the jaw once. It was fine, just surprising. I slightly hit "R" in the face like 5 times. I sometimes don't have control of my wildly swinging fists. But I know if ever had to really fight "R", I would probably lose.

Saturday Class was much more basic. Line drills, form work, minimal partner drills. I did almost run "S" off the floor. I wasn't trying to plow him down, I was just trying to do it right and not hit like a girl. Pun intended.

Disneyland and Kung Fu

I normally go to Disneyland on MLK day.

Thank goodness I've found something that is almost as good as going to Disneyland.
Key word ALMOST.

And hopefully when I am a legitimate Kung Fu Master I can join the Jedi Training Academy at Disneyland. Just like these girls.

Ballet and Kung Fu Dance Partner

Had to drag myself to Kung Fu. Literally had to will my legs to carry me in.  Like those days when the last thing you want to do is strip down and do ballet... But then those classes are the best ever. Same thing in Kung Fu.

We always start with stretches. I've taken quite a few dance classes that start with stretching. And honestly, I've always felt stretching in the beginning of a class a nuisance. Does nothing for me unless I'm warmed up.

Then across the floor for line drills usually starting with front stretch kicks (aka battements). I always try to kick as high as I can, even though my legs protest cause they've been conditioned to only kick so high after plié, tenu, degagé, rond de jambe...etc etc etc. My left quad started protesting through uncontrolled spasms past 110˙, so I was forced to kick lower.

I like to watch people do their line drills, and figure out who would make the best dance partner. Cause I miss partnering (not pas de duex...no pointe blah) but modern partnering. "R's" kicks were really high, he'd probably make a good dance partner.

Then punches twice down the line. I went first. Remembering how I always tried to go first in dance. Except the one difference is I knew the terminology in dance and could recall movement through verbal instructions. In Kung Fu...I'm like, "Um I can't speak mandarin." But yes I'm still gonna go first.

I worked with "R" on form applications. It was great because "R" is pretty good...really good. So I can actually kind of attempt to do damage and he'll block it. He actually told me to go in for the strike rather then bush softly or mark it. Though I am going to need to work on my iron forearms because I am still sporting bruises on my arms a week later.

"R" would make a good dance partner. hehe

There is an off Broadway Show that is all Kung Fu and Dance and Partnering. I want to see it.