Peterbe.com

I just found out that I have passed my latest grading that I took on the 11th of Jan (2004). Now my highest pattern is: SI MEN DOU DI - Four Doors/Five Elements. Cool!

See this blog about the previous grading.

This weekend was great. The Fujian White Crane Kung Fu club held a competition in Guildford just south-east of London. In fact, it was my club, the City & Islington (of Dave Courtney Jones) that hosted it. The reason it was held outside London was that it would have been too expensive to have in in central London.

Our club performed really well. We collected seven gold medals which I think is pretty good compared to the other clubs. I personally collected 2 gold and 1 silver. The two golds were for the senior Suan Yang form (looks like T'ai Chi) and the demo (a group effort, we performed like a play). The silver was for heavy-weight semi-contact sparring. I won my first two fights but had to stop the third fight because I got a kick above the eye and another blow could break more blood vessels and that could be very dangerous for the eye. Black-eyed

All together I am very pleased with the competition. It was loads of fun despite all the nervousity and the light injury. (last competition I broke a toe and received no medals so it's clearly an improvement). I made many friends and this kung fu hobby of mine is not only about self-dense in a dark alley but also a very prosperous social club.

I will try to collect more photos and put them here. Sadly I ran out of batteries in my digital camera.

Today the Fujian White Crane Kung Fu competition starts. All actual events don't start until tomorrow morning actually.

I will compete in Patterns, Suan Yang, Semi contact sparring and Demo.

Wish me luck!

Yesterday Sunday I went to one of Dennis Kung Fu camps in St Albans. It was a beautiful day with a chilled breeze.

We practised a two-man-pattern that I've never even seen before and it was great fun.

Just as it was getting dark I was just about the only one left in the field practising my patterns. (A pattern is a combination of movements you perform on your own to remember and learn your kung fu principles.) After a few runs I notice a strange thing. One of my ears got really hot. My forehead was normal and the other ear was really cold as normal. It was just like when you're about to get a fever except it was only the ear.

Strange but interesting since I've never experienced this. And no, there is no simple geometric explanation for it. It's got to be internal; or?

I have now trained with Dave at FWC City & Islington for two years.

It's been great so far and I plan to stay on and train even harder.

To celebrate I accept donations such as a car, a woman or a video

I'm back from my training camp and with me I have some nice photos

Enjoy and give feedback here or on the private kungfu-taichi.com private forum.