![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
batskeetsThanks to this past weekend's trip, I've been introduced to Dr. Tran. Bwahaha.
Anyway, to elaborate on yesterday's short-short CMAT recap:
In-N-Out = tasty
After missing out on this tradition two years in a row, we finally went there for dinner on Friday!! I had my first In-N-Out cheeseburger when I was a lowly beginner in wushu, and now I make it a point to stop and have one every time I go to California (which, admittedly, is only once or twice a year), because it's GOOOOD. The animal-style burger is a thing of beauty (sauteed onions!!), but I'm a little intimidated by the animal-style fries, heh.
Sleep = not enough
6 hours of sleep on Friday night, sharing a big futon with Cassie and Tom. Yes, cramming 22 people into one house results in cramped sleeping quarters, but hell if I was going to sleep on the floor. I was still waking up constantly throughout the whole night, because my sleeping bag was too hot, and Tom is a fidgety sleeper. Got 5 hours of Magical Beer Sleep on Saturday night, and fitful 15-minute naps in the van on Sunday afternoon.
I didn't even sleep all that much on Sunday night, either, because people dragged their butts leaving Cody's house on Sunday morning, so I didn't get home until after 11:30pm, and then I wanted to stay up and talk to Ben instead of just going to sleep. (yeah, I know, that last part is my fault ;p)
Feiyues = falling apart
A chunk came out of the sole of my left wushu shoe about a week ago, which was way too late to even consider ordering a new pair of shoes and breaking them in. There was also a seam on the right shoe that was giving way, but nothing was falling off yet. Shortly before doing one of my weapons events, I noticed a big split in the sole of my right shoe, and I was all, "hold together, man, hold together!!" Fortunately, they did. I got a pair of black Feiyues to replace them, and they gave me $2 off, because I helped Cassie pick out the broadsword she bought from them. :D I love discounts.
Changquan = ass
In spite of my determination to Not Care about my results, I got really nervous anyway, blargh. The really glaring error, from my perspective, was losing my balance on the back sweep and putting my hand down an extra time. Loss of balance resulting in putting your hands down = 0.3 deduction = OUCH.
The really glaring from everyone else's perspective? I looked more like I was thinking really hard on an exam than trying to beat someone up. ;p I *was* thinking really hard, though, because I didn't have enough practice time to compose my form until about a month ago, so I had to make sure I remembered all of it. I did get comments that I improved a lot, though, even from non-Oregon people that I met at last year's CMAT, so that was nice to hear, even if the scores didn't show it.
Broadsword = 2nd place
After biffing it on changquan, I figured that for broadsword I'd probably just come in last, get a gimme medal, and go home, but I went out there all determined-like, anyway. The gift of Not Caring is powerful for me, apparently, because it was actually going really well! ...until I hit myself in the face with my sword about 1/3rd of the way through the form. XD
Needless to say, that *really* threw me for a loop, and it was hard to re-focus. Byron had just cut his hand doing broadsword mere minutes before, so I was busy wondering if my face was still attached. My sword techniques were clunkier than usual after that, but I pushed through and finished, and... wound up coming in second! :O Busted out the most solid split I've done in months, too. Booyah! I think I would've won if I hadn't clocked myself in the head, but eh, things happen sometimes.
Staff = 1st place
This was craziness. I didn't have time to learn a more complicated staff form, so I basically just did a basic staff form, with some additional flowers (spins) and holds. I didn't expect to place, and I certainly didn't expect to win, because I wasn't very confident with staff, and basically just did the event for giggles. I didn't score super-high, obviously, because I didn't have a lot of crazy difficulties, and I bobbled the ending a bit, but otherwise, the form itself was pretty good.
Lina went after me, and she'd bruised her hand really badly during changquan, but she pushed through like a champ. The girl who went after her did compulsory staff--the form I plan to learn next, which is more difficult and has more jumps--and she did it all right, but after the judges' scores, she and I were tied for 1st. There's some funny recalculation of scores that happens in the event of a tie, in order to determine who wins, and I won the tiebreaker! :O
Afterparty = drunk
I usually don't get drunk at the afterparty, because I don't feel like it, or there's only crappy beer in a can left, or there's no alcohol left at *all* because we arrive too late. This year, we were one of the first groups there, so I got pulled in on a few shots, and there was also the jungle juice. The quickest way to get me plastered is to give me something sweet that barely seems like drinking alcohol, and jungle juice is definitely that.
Most of the evening was a complete blur, because I was really drunk... drunk enough that the next morning, Colin got everyone in the group to try and convince me that I was flashing people at the afterparty. I *didn't* flash anybody, of course, and my B.S. detection skills are 100 times better than my wushu, so I didn't fall for their lies. They might've fooled me if they'd stuck to it long enough, though. ::rotfl::
Team Hidden Sand = best ever
Usually, I end up in the van where everyone sleeps for the whole ride, and I sit in the back, knitting and reading and being generally bored. This year, I somehow ended up in the fun van, so there was a lot of clowning around and silliness:
--Nelson and DT trying to moon the other van (failed, because none of them were looking out the window)
--DT = Doctor Tran
--That pesky highway alphabet game (we didn't find a word starting with "X" until we got to the toll booth near SF)
--Led Zep songs and videos from WushuOneFamily on Colin's laptop!
--A stampede of Nelsons
--Nathan's terrible afterparty pickup line
--Huy is an alien
--Belting out Disney songs
--Mackynze's terrifying bathroom experience
--Twister in the van ("right foot, ceiling!")
--and STRONG BAD TECHNO ::rotfl::
First-Years = awesome
The first-years were great. I was up in the stands practically squeeing as we watched them compete; many of them did the best I've ever seen them do, and some hadn't ever competed before, so I'm sure they were really, really nervous. They were awesome, and they did me proud! It's great to know that they were able to hold up under the pressure and do their very best. <3
Vets = also awesome
The first-years wouldn't have done so well without the help of the vets, and they'd been shouldering a lot of the burden teaching weapons so that I could have more time to work on my own forms. They did well for themselves at the tournament, too, and put in solid performances in spite of having limited time, injuries, and a lot of stress. They're always talking about "wushu family," and they brought the group together as a team and made it a reality.
Me = proud
See previous two items. Wheeee. :D
So, what am I going to do next? Well, I'm going to actually practice nanquan and perform it next time I compete, because it's practically my signature event. Compulsory staff, for sure. BUILD MORE STAMINA. Get back to running regularly. Lose a bit more weight and get back to strength training, to help with my quad tendinitis. Do parkour/tricking with the first-years, and build up to doing awesome nandu.
That's all! Back to work.
Anyway, to elaborate on yesterday's short-short CMAT recap:
In-N-Out = tasty
After missing out on this tradition two years in a row, we finally went there for dinner on Friday!! I had my first In-N-Out cheeseburger when I was a lowly beginner in wushu, and now I make it a point to stop and have one every time I go to California (which, admittedly, is only once or twice a year), because it's GOOOOD. The animal-style burger is a thing of beauty (sauteed onions!!), but I'm a little intimidated by the animal-style fries, heh.
Sleep = not enough
6 hours of sleep on Friday night, sharing a big futon with Cassie and Tom. Yes, cramming 22 people into one house results in cramped sleeping quarters, but hell if I was going to sleep on the floor. I was still waking up constantly throughout the whole night, because my sleeping bag was too hot, and Tom is a fidgety sleeper. Got 5 hours of Magical Beer Sleep on Saturday night, and fitful 15-minute naps in the van on Sunday afternoon.
I didn't even sleep all that much on Sunday night, either, because people dragged their butts leaving Cody's house on Sunday morning, so I didn't get home until after 11:30pm, and then I wanted to stay up and talk to Ben instead of just going to sleep. (yeah, I know, that last part is my fault ;p)
Feiyues = falling apart
A chunk came out of the sole of my left wushu shoe about a week ago, which was way too late to even consider ordering a new pair of shoes and breaking them in. There was also a seam on the right shoe that was giving way, but nothing was falling off yet. Shortly before doing one of my weapons events, I noticed a big split in the sole of my right shoe, and I was all, "hold together, man, hold together!!" Fortunately, they did. I got a pair of black Feiyues to replace them, and they gave me $2 off, because I helped Cassie pick out the broadsword she bought from them. :D I love discounts.
Changquan = ass
In spite of my determination to Not Care about my results, I got really nervous anyway, blargh. The really glaring error, from my perspective, was losing my balance on the back sweep and putting my hand down an extra time. Loss of balance resulting in putting your hands down = 0.3 deduction = OUCH.
The really glaring from everyone else's perspective? I looked more like I was thinking really hard on an exam than trying to beat someone up. ;p I *was* thinking really hard, though, because I didn't have enough practice time to compose my form until about a month ago, so I had to make sure I remembered all of it. I did get comments that I improved a lot, though, even from non-Oregon people that I met at last year's CMAT, so that was nice to hear, even if the scores didn't show it.
Broadsword = 2nd place
After biffing it on changquan, I figured that for broadsword I'd probably just come in last, get a gimme medal, and go home, but I went out there all determined-like, anyway. The gift of Not Caring is powerful for me, apparently, because it was actually going really well! ...until I hit myself in the face with my sword about 1/3rd of the way through the form. XD
Needless to say, that *really* threw me for a loop, and it was hard to re-focus. Byron had just cut his hand doing broadsword mere minutes before, so I was busy wondering if my face was still attached. My sword techniques were clunkier than usual after that, but I pushed through and finished, and... wound up coming in second! :O Busted out the most solid split I've done in months, too. Booyah! I think I would've won if I hadn't clocked myself in the head, but eh, things happen sometimes.
Staff = 1st place
This was craziness. I didn't have time to learn a more complicated staff form, so I basically just did a basic staff form, with some additional flowers (spins) and holds. I didn't expect to place, and I certainly didn't expect to win, because I wasn't very confident with staff, and basically just did the event for giggles. I didn't score super-high, obviously, because I didn't have a lot of crazy difficulties, and I bobbled the ending a bit, but otherwise, the form itself was pretty good.
Lina went after me, and she'd bruised her hand really badly during changquan, but she pushed through like a champ. The girl who went after her did compulsory staff--the form I plan to learn next, which is more difficult and has more jumps--and she did it all right, but after the judges' scores, she and I were tied for 1st. There's some funny recalculation of scores that happens in the event of a tie, in order to determine who wins, and I won the tiebreaker! :O
Afterparty = drunk
I usually don't get drunk at the afterparty, because I don't feel like it, or there's only crappy beer in a can left, or there's no alcohol left at *all* because we arrive too late. This year, we were one of the first groups there, so I got pulled in on a few shots, and there was also the jungle juice. The quickest way to get me plastered is to give me something sweet that barely seems like drinking alcohol, and jungle juice is definitely that.
Most of the evening was a complete blur, because I was really drunk... drunk enough that the next morning, Colin got everyone in the group to try and convince me that I was flashing people at the afterparty. I *didn't* flash anybody, of course, and my B.S. detection skills are 100 times better than my wushu, so I didn't fall for their lies. They might've fooled me if they'd stuck to it long enough, though. ::rotfl::
Team Hidden Sand = best ever
Usually, I end up in the van where everyone sleeps for the whole ride, and I sit in the back, knitting and reading and being generally bored. This year, I somehow ended up in the fun van, so there was a lot of clowning around and silliness:
--Nelson and DT trying to moon the other van (failed, because none of them were looking out the window)
--DT = Doctor Tran
--That pesky highway alphabet game (we didn't find a word starting with "X" until we got to the toll booth near SF)
--Led Zep songs and videos from WushuOneFamily on Colin's laptop!
--A stampede of Nelsons
--Nathan's terrible afterparty pickup line
--Huy is an alien
--Belting out Disney songs
--Mackynze's terrifying bathroom experience
--Twister in the van ("right foot, ceiling!")
--and STRONG BAD TECHNO ::rotfl::
First-Years = awesome
The first-years were great. I was up in the stands practically squeeing as we watched them compete; many of them did the best I've ever seen them do, and some hadn't ever competed before, so I'm sure they were really, really nervous. They were awesome, and they did me proud! It's great to know that they were able to hold up under the pressure and do their very best. <3
Vets = also awesome
The first-years wouldn't have done so well without the help of the vets, and they'd been shouldering a lot of the burden teaching weapons so that I could have more time to work on my own forms. They did well for themselves at the tournament, too, and put in solid performances in spite of having limited time, injuries, and a lot of stress. They're always talking about "wushu family," and they brought the group together as a team and made it a reality.
Me = proud
See previous two items. Wheeee. :D
So, what am I going to do next? Well, I'm going to actually practice nanquan and perform it next time I compete, because it's practically my signature event. Compulsory staff, for sure. BUILD MORE STAMINA. Get back to running regularly. Lose a bit more weight and get back to strength training, to help with my quad tendinitis. Do parkour/tricking with the first-years, and build up to doing awesome nandu.
That's all! Back to work.
