Everybody wants kung-fu fighting

[batskeets]

SO! For quite a while, I've been rolling around the notion of, well, cross-training, for lack of a better word, in a martial art where I'd learn how to Fight For Reals. I've probably mentioned this before, but what I do in wushu is known as Taolu, which basically means that we do competition forms and choreographed sparring. Performance-type things. Sanda is what the folks who do Real Sparring practice, and in wushu, everyone specializes in one or the other.

Anyhoo, matrixleap wanted to check out some martial arts schools, so we'd talked about getting into something where there's a greater focus on practical applications, he did some research, and last night we went down to check out a traditional kung fu place not far from my house. I got to participate in a lot of the class, and they acknowledged that I was clearly able to learn quickly, and that I already had solid athletic skillz, so that was nice. And it was interesting to watch them practice sparring, so I'm equal parts curious and eager to jump in on that.

There are definitely small differences between what they do, and what I've been doing for 6 1/2 years, but I think that I'd do fine with deprogramming and working around my wushu habits, at first. Once I get comfy enough with the traditional that I start relying on muscle memory, though, all bets are off. ;) I'm not sure if I'll go back next week or not, because my calendar is so full up until Berkeley that committing to *anything* sounds terrifying. But I'm certainly considering it, and it'll probably be great in May and onward, once I've had some time to settle down from all the travels and such.

In other news, on Wednesday, I'll be jumping into my first D20 campaign in probably several years. We'll be doing a 1920s-era pulp adventure type of thing, and we plowed through character gen last night after kung fu. It apparently hasn't been long enough for me to forget how the whole thing works, because I could actually remember what some of the feats did, and all that. But, I think the last D20 game I did was Spycraft, and that was years ago! So, it should be interesting. :)

Anyhoo, wushu tonight will involve furiously adding more material to my nandao form, to get the performance time up to 1:20. Yes, this is happening 2 weeks before tournament. Yes, this is kind of a bad thing. XD But, eh, I'm a fast learner, and Master Chen knows it, so it's just a matter of practicing the new material until my legs are dead.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_dilate_/]

There are a few places on Lombard near my house- that might be right between you and Dusty geographically?

[skeets.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that would probably be more convenient for him! But I think he and I both need to figure out what we want the next step to be, and I'm probably going to have Tournament Brain until that's over. :)

[helloandie.livejournal.com]

In other news, on Wednesday, I'll be jumping into my first D20 campaign in probably several years.

WOOHOO! :D

[bodhranist.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who found that part particularly satisfying.

[skeets.livejournal.com]

Yeah! It's even going to be an every-two-weeks game, so it's probably the most-ambitious time commitment I've made to a game yet. :D

[marykae.livejournal.com]

I know you probably want to stick to Chinese martial arts, but if you ever want to try Karate, I am sure you would be welcome to join in on a couple of classes.

[skeets.livejournal.com]

I was actually looking at random shit like Muay Thai or Krav Maga, so I'm open to other styles. It might even be easier, because it'd be less similar to wushu and less likely to get confusingly intertwined in my brain :)

[marykae.livejournal.com]

well, let me know! I have classes Wednesday and Friday nights and I would just want to let the instructors know ahead of time, which I can't do day of since I have no access to facebook at work, and that's primarily how I contact both of them.

[starkodama.livejournal.com]

Fighting For Reals is AWESOME! It's such a rush and will probably give you confidence (on days where it goes well, anyway). I'm sure it'll help your wushu too. :)