After this one I figured out that I need to be a little closer to the stage!

Pretty cool stuff!

~BCP

The Shaolin Kung Fu Martial Art Show I saw was Amazing and Mind Blowing. They had coordinated the lights in a perfect way to give you an Eerie Special Effects.

Even though Kung Fu poses and movements were Major part of the Show, The Buddhism Religion was also given some thought and very tastefully presented.

The Kung Fu Show had Women, Children, and Elderly Masters Performing their Tricks.

Filmes de artes marciais são um problema. Sim, os fãs continuam pelo mundo todo e cada dia aumentam mais mas o estoque de talento está em crise há anos. Pra falar a verdade, desde sempre temos procurado na China e em Hong Kong por nossos lutadores, mas a época de ouro dos Irmãos Shaw, sempre preparando novos talentos; o Clã Yuen escolhendo a dedo os melhores novatos e a Ópera de Beijing trazendo artistas de baciada já passou há muito tempo.

Veja o que acontece em Hong Kong agora: Jet Li e Jackie Chan estão perdendo terreno por causa da idade e falando em se aposentar, deixando Donnie Yen como a primeira escolha como ator para filmes de luta.

A próxima geração?Com exceção de Wu Jing, simplesmente não existe, ou pelo menos ninguém se deu conta.

Se Você está procurando pelos novos punhos da fúria, é hora de olhar para outros lugares e outras pessoas porque as chances de aparecer um salvador desconhecido em Hong Kong para tirar Hong Kong do buraco parecem pequenas. Chegou a hora , meus amigos, de olhar para as outras nações.

A Tailândia já se tornou líder com Tony Jaa e Dan Chupong filmeando as histórias de um Jet Li e um Jackie Chan tailandeses respectivamente - O primeiro, um lutador nato; o segundo, um acrobata - e Chocolate com certerza trouxe um novo rosto para a cena com Jiya Yanin.

Mas quem mais temos por aí? Bom,aqui vamos nós! De cinco países diferentes, eu apresento cinco tipos de lutadores com potencial para - perdão pela piada - dar um pontapé na indústroa de filmes novamente.

1. Sasisa Jindamanee (Tailandia)

Começamos a lista com a unica garota nela, a pequena,mas furiosa Sasisa Jindamanee. Você ja deve tê-la visto como a garota que é jogada através do cenário e quebrando uma sacada de madeira em "Nascido Para Lutar" e com um papel maior em Som Tum, oposta ao monstro Nathan Jones. Fica claro que a Sahamongkol está preparando a jpvem lutadora de Muay Thai pra ser uma grande estrela. E é claro que ela aguenta o tranco. Sasisa pode ser jovem mas ela tem o dom. Capaz de jogar e - mais impressionante - aguentar um murro dos melhores. Ela tem anos pela frente e parece ficar melhor a cada um deles.

2. Mathis Landwehr (Alemanha)

Sabe todas aquelas vezes em "V de Vingança" quando Hugo Weaving estava se movendo de maneiras que Hugo Weaving não conseguiria se mover? Era Mathis Landwehr. O jovem talentoso de Berlin também foi a força motora para o primeiro - e único - filme de artes marcias alemão e está indo bem no circuito de filmes desse ano com o papel principal num curta chamado KINGZ. Ele é jovem, bonito, talentoso e - bom pra hollywood - fala inglês. Francamente, não sei porque ainda não pegaram o cara pra alguma coisa. Quem chegar primeiro vai ter um grande astro em mão.

3. Cyril Raffaelli (França)

Quem seria impressionante, saído de onde fazem aqueles filmes de luta com alta qualidade e cenas de ação grandiosas daqueles grandes filmes franceses, particularmente os que saem da produtora de Luc Besson? A reposta é Cyril Raffaelli. Exímio lutador, acrobata e coreógrafo de dublês, Raffaelli se tornou um dos mais requisitados caras por trás das cenas do mundo. Como requisitado? Quantas vezes você viu um branquelo como dublê num filme de Hong Kong? Raffaelli conseguiu. E ele é bom. Supreendentemente, o seu trabalho por trás das cenas ainda não se tornou mais do que algumas poucas aparições em frente às câmeras, uma coisa intrigante , se considerarmos que ele já saiu na mão com o Jet Li e levou nas costas sem problemas o filme "13º distrito". Pensei que seria um com bomeço pra ele, mas não. Apenas uma aparição nas telas em quatro anos. Caras, vocês tão perdendo dinheiro.

4. Marko Zaror (Chile)

O gradalhão chileno ganhou prêmios por ser dublê de Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson e tem abalado o festival internacional com seus projetos made-in-Chile, "Kiltro" e "Mirageman". O segundo,em especial, parece estar ganhando prêmios onde quer que passa, então não espere que Zaror continue desconhecido - ou desempregado - por muito tempo.

5. Johnny Nguyen (Vietnam / USA)

Como Zaror, Raffaelli e Landwehr, Nguyen já pagou suas dividas por trás das cenas, contruindo um extenso e impressionante curriculo de dublê em grandes filmes. Ele é um dos únicos dois homens no mundo que podem dizer que já lutaram com Jet Li,Tony Jaa. E quem fez todas aquelas firulas nos dois primeiros filmes do Homem-Aranha? Com certeza não era Tobey Maguire usando a roupa, era Nguyen. Mas depois de anos tentando - e falhando - ganhar seu espaço em Hollywood, Nguyen finalmente tomou a decisão de mudar pro Vietnam - ta terra de sua familia, de onde ele fugiu quendo era apenas uma criança - e fazer um filme próprio. O resultado foi "The Rebel", um filme que Jhonny escreveu, produziu, estrelou e coreografou, enquanto seu irmao Chrlie dirigia. O filme se tornou o filme vietnamita mais violento de todos os tempos e ganhou muitos adeptos nos festivais de cinema. Novamente, Nguyen é extremamente dedicado, extremamente talentoso e extremamente motivado, Esperem mais dele. Muito mais.

-------------------------

Assim,opiniões à parte,muito do que está aí é verdade. Faz tempo que não sai nenhum Bruce Lee da vida pra arranacar de volta do inferno, aquela legião de pessoas que assistiram Wu Tang Clan, As 36 Câmaras do Kung Fu, o Jogo da Morte e tantos outros clássicos. Cinema é diversão e desde o início dos tempos, violência É diversão.

Pode parecer até bobeira,mas quando eu ficar velhaco mesmo,não sei se vou poder ir um cinema poquento de algum lugar escondido ver algum filme de luta extremamente antigo, como eu fazia quando tinha 13 anos de idade e conheci essa porcaria toda...

Juro que se eu tivesse grana eu comprava a filmografia toda de Takeshi Miike,Irmãos Shaw,Clã Yuen,Wong Kar Hai,Tsui Hark e etc só pra passar num galpãozinho meia boca e não deixar esses filmes morrerem...

Lekabel não se lembra mais quem mostrou "Os 13 grão-mestres" nem "Os Sete Samurais" pra ele,mas agradece encarecidamente toda vez que falam de Wushia e Chambara e ele sabe o que é.

2. When punching at your chin na partner punch through their body or head like you would if you really were attacking them. On this point my partner and I were corrected on. Senior student said that if you train to arrest your punch short you do your partner a disservice if he or she ever really has to use chin na. What you end up doing is conditioning them to respond to a punch that comes up inches short. He then told a story about his old sifu. Apparently if any students ever pulled their punches short like some styles teach this guy would just lean forward and rest his nose on their fist and ask: "What is that?"

:-)

~BCP

He told me that he's taught people from karate and taekwondo before. Anyone who has had 3-5 years in either are MUCH harder to teach Mantis to than someone with zero martial arts experience. Most of the problem is with the footwork and apparently Mantis is drastically different than karate or taekwondo. So he has to spend an inordinate amount of time teaching you how to unlearn that which you already know.

Another problem: It takes about 3 years to test out of basic Mantis. You are not taught two man sets or much sticking until you get basic down. Also, the chin na is minimal--especially at basic.

If I knew I'd be in this area another 10 years I might commit. As it stands I'm better off maintaining my striking skills in dojang garage and practicing my forms. In the meantime my goal is to test out of chin na basic which takes a year. I get tons more chin na than Mantis and it fits almost seamlessly with the striking I know. It also covers a weakness that taekwondo has: In-fighting.

When (and if) we move I'll see what fate brings me. For now chin na is a darn good place holder until I move on to my next martial art!

Now on to chin na!

We reviewed wrap hands 1 & 2. The funny thing is just as soon as I think I've learned something they add a new level to the techniques in the next class. Tonight's correction: I was not stepping far enough to the side before applying the locks. The way I was doing it left my groin open which is not a good thing. I was also showed how you can still block a punch from the side while in mid-grip.

Two new techniques:

• White Crane Covers Its Wings
• Forward Turning Elbow

Crane is new finger chin na that has you grabbing fingers and stepping off to the side while turning in and down. While doing that you slide your free hand under their arm and press down on your gripping hand. When you do this with full intent the attacker ends up with broken fingers. Oh and it still hurts like hell if you don't break! (trust me on that observation!)

Forward has you sticking to a punch and sliding towards the meaty part of the attacker's hand while they attempt to retract. When you get hold of the meaty part you ride the retraction in and goose neck their wrist while controlling their elbow with your other hand. The press comes from pressing the goose neck against your body while slightly twisting the wrist and maintaining their elbow. Done correctly this one hurts like hell too. I'm not sure I could break the wrist on this one but from the way it was taught the intent seems to be destroying ligaments. This I can see.

Past that my fingers and wrists are sore!

:-)

~BCP

Das Capoeira-Summermeeting lockt seit über 20 Jahren Fans der brasilianischen Kampfkunst aus aller Welt nach Hamburg. Zusammen mit Meister Paulo Siqueira und den zahlreich geladenen Meistern aus Brasilien wird hier mit viel Training und Musik Capoeira gefeiert. Das Treffen gipfelt traditionell mit der spektakulären Capoeira-Show und Party im Knust Hamburg (Schlachthof).

In diesem Jahr findet der Workshop in der traditionsreichen Hamburger Kampfsportschule TAIYO SPORTCENTER in Kooperation mit dem fünffachen Kung Fu Weltmeister Emanuel Bettencourt statt. Die Zusammenarbeit wird auch Teil der Show im Knust, die in diesem Jahr im Zeichen der Afro-Asiatischen Kampfsportarten und generell der Bewegungskünste steht: Neben Capoeira wird dort auch Kung Fu (Wun Hop Kuen Do) der philippinische Stockkampf Escrima, Afrodance, Breakdance und Hip Hop präsentiert. So verbinden die Organisatoren Paulo Siqueira und Emanuel Bettencourt die afrikanischen Roots der Capoeira mit aktuellen Bewegungskünsten. After the Show is the Afterparty: Das Capoeira Soundsystem bringt Euch mit einem extrem tanzbaren Mix aus Hip Hop, Funk, Samba, Bossa und Reggae zum schwitzen noch bevor die Kämpfer trocken sind... Alljährlich gilt das Motto: Rechtzeitig einen guten Platz sichern und eine handfeste Grundlage gegen einen durch Caipirinha übersäuerten Magen aufbauen...

1st Afro Asiatic Martial Arts Magic Night:
Capoeira Do Brasil Performance 2008
DJ-Team: Capoeira Sound System
Einlass: 20.00 Uhr

weitere Informationen:

www.taiyosportcenter.deaawww.capoeuropa.com

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• Try two continious knee strikes then switch step and keep repeating
• Try adding ankle weights

I imagine you could mix in other exercises besides push-ups between the five minute intervals, too.

Taekwondo is the same old kick. With no goal in mind I'm really just holding ground, polishing, and helping get the remaining students ready for their last test. I have had time to work on that Korean short stick form that I picked up at a seminar. The bad news is we've just not had time to practice the techniques and strikes much. However, the form is something that can be worked alone. The first three legs of the form are static. Once you have that down you are challenged to create your own fourth leg. I've done that by integrating some kicks and strikes. I'm also getting close to taping it just for the hell of it. Maybe by the end of August I'll feel good enough about it to throw it out there.

I've long since integrated forms, fundamentals, and bag work into my normal at-home workout. So for the immediate future most of what I learned in taekwondo will not degrade. However, if I get serious about another martial art that has forms I'm not sure I can keep it all straight. I suppose we shall see. I am looking long and hard at Praying Mantis. I can't afford Chin Na and Mantis at the same time so it's one or the other. Tonight in Chin Na I'll talk to the instructor. I know Mantis has some Chin Na. It also has two person sets, sticking and flowing, lots of forms, and a somewhat unorthodox way of striking.

Practitioners of the Seven Star Praying Mantis system don’t just learn the forms and two-man sets to become proficient at this style’s default fighting range. They practice a free style exercise called "sticky hands" that takes all the theory, concepts and techniques and puts them into practice in the realm of trapping.

~BCP

When people learn this, the usual reaction is incredulity - followed by lots of questions. My favorite response was from my friend Shannon, who simply said, "That makes total sense. Seems like something that you always wanted. It'll be good for you." Thank you, Shannon - your response was refreshing, and makes me glad that someone knew this little twist in my personality.

At first glance, I might not seem like the type to become a kung fu master. That's ok, many of the people don't fit the mold, but are on the path toward becoming better and have tons of fun.

I enjoy the class. It inspires to me maintain a work-out schedule - fear of public humiliation can be a great motivator. I am developing self-discipline, and have learned so much.

Why Kung Fu, as opposed to other martial arts?  Well, there are weapons, it is more aggressive than other martial arts, and is the combination of elements from other kinds. The real reason, though, is that two friends of mine were joining it, and things like this are much easier with companions. We started slow, going one day a week, but now we are raising the stakes, going to twice a week. 

So, be nice and watch out! Pretty soon I will be able to completely kick your... butt.

Oh, and I still hate Jackie Chan, just like always.

It was only a few weeks ago that China fell in love with Dreamworks' Kung Fu Panda:

From the Independent

Kung Fu Panda , which opened on 20 June, passed the 100-million-yuan (£7.4m) threshold in the box offices at Chinese cinemas this week, a major milestone for a Hollywood film that was always going to be controversial in the home of kung fu. By Wednesday, the amusing tale about an overweight panda-cum-noodle chef who aspires to be a kung fu master had taken in 110 million Chinese yuan (£8.1m).

Grown-ups interviewed after the screening said they felt the film was a sensitive and amusing depiction of a Chinese story. The children, once they stopped high-kicking and neck-chopping each other, said they thought the kung fu was really cool.

Lu Chuan, a leading Chinese director, said in his blog that Kung Fu Panda was a challenge to the Chinese film industry to make a film as good. "From a production standpoint, the movie is nearly perfect. Its American creators showed a very sincere attitude about Chinese culture," he wrote.

And opinions like those have ruffled some feathers - especially those of performance artist Zhao Bandi, who thinks that the movie is in bad taste, being disrespectful to the martial arts and to China's national symbol: the panda.

So much so, he's taking Dreamworks to court.

again, from The Independent

The Beijing court drama, which began this week, includes a call for a full apology from the Hollywood studio for its apparent slur on the panda. Mr Zhao, who carries a stuffed panda in public and whose art revolves around motifs of the animal, has expressed his outrage at the fact that Po's father is a duck in the film. This, he interprets as offensive characterization which amounts to an insult to the Chinese. Moreover, the panda's eyes are green, which, Zhao points out, represents an evil colour.

"Designing the panda with green eyes is a conspiracy," he said. "A panda with green eyes has the feeling of evil. I have studied oil painting, and we would never use green eyes to describe a kind-hearted figure. So I ask them to open their creative meeting records of this film and explain why the green eyes? Next, why is the panda's father is a duck? Many foreigners think the giant panda is not just China's symbol, but also the Chinese people's symbol. Drawing the father of the giant panda as a duck is an insult to the Chinese people. In a few years' time, I'm worried some young Chinese people will think their ancestor is Donald Duck."

Mr Zhao said he was not seeking financial remuneration and merely wanted an apology from the film-makers. He said Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court had accepted his lawsuit. In his blog, he said the court's decision to proceed with his case showed it could not be interpreted as a publicity stunt.

But is this just a case of sour-grapes - that Hollywood has beaten Zhao to the punch? Zhao's depictions of the panda can't always be considered 'tasteful.'

...Zhao Bandi, best known for carrying around a toy panda and using panda images in his work, including clothes designs for panda prostitutes and panda concubines, called for a boycott of the film. He said it was in poor taste and disrespectful to victims of the 12 May earthquake in which 90,000 died or are missing.

Because of Zhao's complaints, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the state body which tightly controls the entertainment business, decided to delay the film's release in the Sichuan earthquake zone, fearing it might offend victims. This prompted a huge online backlash. "Ridiculous! It is a very good film. Why do they not think about the reasons that Chinese people cannot produce such a film?" wrote one blogger.

An editorial in the Shanghai Evening Post asked: "Why the boycott? What's with the postponement? Is it about Zhao's own fragility, or does he genuinely believe that the quake-hit victims are too sensitive? The panda is cute, the kung fu is Chinese, the story is hilarious, and the theme is inspiring! Is this not what the people in the disaster area need most right now?"

Sure enough, audiences in the quake zone loved the movie.

-- UPDATE --

It turns out that I was right about "sour grapes." This from The Times, Nov 2007:

Panda couture took China Fashion Week by storm with models sporting black and white negligées and fluffy ears, but censors failed to see its funny side. They were so incensed by the pictures, considered demeaning to an animal that has become a symbol, that any more uncomplimentary images will be banned under a draft law.

They were moved to act against the self-styled panda artist Zhao Bandi, whose trademark is a cap designed to resemble a panda cub and who is often photographed with scantily clad models in panda-ear head-dresses. His Bandi-Panda fashion show at China Fashion Week sparked nationwide concern that the panda’s image as a friendly symbol was being abused.

The fashion designer said it was most unexpected that his styles could be outlawed. “To me human beings are always more important than pandas. I have no intention of making fun of pandas. I am a fan of pandas. People deem giant pandas to be China’s state treasure. I am also a treasure for China, no less significant than the panda.”

So it's hubris that takes him to court...

Foram duas horas e meia de discurso sobre o mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre do filho do mestre do mestre do mestre do Sul da China que foi perseguido pelos romanos? por Adolph Hitler? por Mao Tsé Tung? por Hi Pin Choy Quae Lin Fut Iet Tchek, na dinastia Vader, em 12 mil a.C. Uma história cheia de emoção, angústia e carneirinhos pulando a cerca, contada em inglês com sotaque chinês e traduzida simultaneamente para o português pelo Sifu.

Saudade do Pai Mei...

O caso é que o Grão Mestre é tipo um filho do filho do filho do filho do filho do filho de uma suruba entre a Glória Maria, o Renato Gaúcho e o Fidel Castro. Isso porque o cara fala mais que a boca, nunca revela a idade e se acha o rei da cocada preta. Mas como a gente sempre deve dividir conhecimento, trouxe para vocês as melhores frases da tarde/noite/madrugada:

"Eu sou o máximo"

"Eu sou o melhor"

"Eu fui escolhido para disseminar o Kung Fu pelo mundo porque eu sou um modelo de atleta"

"Vejam meus músculos"

"Toquem nos meus músculos. Ou melhor, não me toquem"

"Eu não vou dizer a minha idade, mas veja como o Kung Fu nos conserva. Eu não sou um sujeito belo?"

"Trouxe fotos autografadas para entregar a vocês no final"

"O Kung Fu nos torna mais bonitos e mais espertos. Eu viajo pelo mundo por causa do Kung Fu. Sou belo e esperto"

"Meu time é uma bosta, fui eu que cheguei na final da Libertadores sozinho"

"Eu como muitas verduras, legumes e peixes, que pesco com minhas poderosas mãos"

"O nosso estilo de Kung Fu é o melhor"

"Eu sou o melhor. Já mencionei isso?"

***

Juro que saí de lá feliz, comendo uma caixa de BIS, pensando nos meus míseros conhecimentos de Kung Fu e na meia dúzia de lugares que já fui. Porque às vezes eu prefiro ser só legal, em toda a minha mediocridade.

***

Será que escrever tudo isso é considerado falta de respeito pelo mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre do mestre dos magos?

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Kadr z filmu "Kung Fu Panda"

"Kung Fu Panda" to historia niezgrabnej pandy, która chce zostać prawdziwym mistrzem kung-fu, by uratować Dolinę Pokoju przed panterą śnieżną Tai Lung. Akcja rozgrywa się w starożytnych Chinach. Panda Po realizuje swoje marzenie, bo wierzy w siebie, a przede wszystkim w to, że może osiągnąć wszystko.

Chiński performer Zhao Bandi (wym. Czao Pan-ti), słynący z wykorzystywania w swojej twórczości wizerunku pandy, m.in. w projektach odzieży, zaskarżył wytwórnię Dreamworks.

W tym tygodniu rozpoczął się w Pekinie proces, w którym Zhao domaga się przeprosin ze strony wytwórni za oczernianie pandy.

Zhao nie podoba się, że w filmie ojcem pandy Po jest kaczor. Według niego kaczy ojciec pandy, jednego z narodowych symboli Chin, ma charakter oszczerczy i jest dla Chińczyków obrazą. Co więcej panda Po ma zielone oczy, a zieleń jest kolorem symbolizującym zło.

"Projektowanie pandy z zielonymi oczyma to spisek - oburza się Zhao. - Panda z zielonymi oczyma niesie w sobie zło. Studiowałem malarstwo i nigdy nie użylibyśmy zielonych oczu, aby przedstawić postać o dobrym sercu".

Zaś przedstawienie ojca pandy wielkiej jako kaczki to obraza narodu chińskiego. "Boję się, że za kilka lat młodzi Chińczycy będą sądzić, że ich przodkiem był Kaczor Donald!" - powiedział.

W zeszłym miesiącu Zhao nawoływał do bojkotu filmu, ponieważ obawiał się, że film może zirytować ofiary majowego trzęsienia ziemi w Syczuanie, gdzie znajdują się najbardziej znane rezerwaty pand.

W rezultacie tej kampanii w strefie dotkniętej trzęsieniem ziemi opóźniono prezentację filmu, który pobił w Chinach kasowe rekordy od wejścia 20 czerwca na ekrany.(onet) ]]> http://lynxthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=724 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:17:15 +0000 kannik http://lynxthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=724 What a frikken ridiculously amazing week.

Twice got to have dinner with some friends I rarely see, catching up and having a grand old time. Had a whole bunch of amazing conversations throughout the week. Was crazy-capable and confident in a couple of project meetings at work. Did some great training of new hires. Had a breakthrough versus my pack-ratting during the office cleanup. Awesome feedback from Sifu during class on Tuesday, and I asked him a bunch of questions and I picked up several chunks of understanding I didn’t have before. Saw The Dark Knight midnight showing with a very enthusiastic co-worker and had fun in the charged atmosphere (mini-review: Pretty damn nice and complex and nuanced, great Heath Ledger in-characterness, missing was contrast and rhythm vs a continuing climax). And then there was Joss Whedon's surprise Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog, previewed in full for free, funny pure Joss with fantastico witty dialogue, great timing, an ambiguous ending, surprising depth and some tunes that are way too catchy. Nicely done.

Saturday night was especially wicked as I went to see Eddie Izzard performing at the Orpheum. Wow. No surprise, really, just 2 hours of much, much laughter. This is a man at ease on the stage, having lots of fun. I can't remember all he said, but it was certainly damn funny. The only alas for me was no crazy nifty outfit /getup/dress this time -- he was (as he says in the show) undercover in fairly tame male clothing (albeit with a crazy pianist-like jacket).

The piece-de-résistance, however came this evening, when I got to deliver the George Bernard Shaw 'poem' (that I posted here back last march) in front of 150+ people. That in itself was a heady experience. Afterwards, equally heady, many a person came to comment on how well I created it. Including, get this, one person who is related to George Bernard Shaw (and who's also related to the first prime minister of New Zealand) and who was also someone with very long stage acting credentials. In all her time, she said, she had never heard those lines delivered with the intensity, passion and authenticity than I had generated today. Pointing upward, she said "George really liked it."

A splendid torch indeed.

Want some excitement in your life? Take a lesson from the guy above...

Sorry to be so megalodramatic. It's just a three week business trip to Dubai, but I am surprised how aimless I feel. I got a bit soggy at the airport. If the floor hadn't been dirty, I would have thrown my arms about Andrew's legs and begged him to stay.

If this all sounds pathetically codependent - hey, I'm not about to argue. In my defence, Andrew and I have lived and worked together every day for the last six months. He comes grocery shopping with me and entices me into Mitre 10. Joint decisions include whether to put on another jumper. We schedule summit meetings on what to cook for dinner. So is it surprising that my universe features a great, big, silent Andrew-shaped hole? Or that I'm a bit chilly?

I haven't yet resorted to sniffing his clothes, but I have a fleece top on emergency standby. It harbours three weeks of Andrew's skin cells.

(On second thought I might put that in the wash.)

The only way I can fully express myself is via the medium of dance, which is what I did at Fairy Falls yesterday. I think this covers how I feel about my husband, whilst also conveying my longing, anguish and despair:-

We got talking and I told him I would love to do a session at the beach and have him do some of the Shaolin poses. He was more than up for it! He brought along some of the weapons that are used in the martial arts and did some really cool poses along the rocks of Leo Carrillo. 

Mark offers a wide variety of services, personal training, self defense, a variety of martial arts, massage therapy, and great spiritual guidance. If you are interested in any of his services, or have any questions regarding anything he does, here is his website where you can contact him:

http://www.thewayofshaolin.com/

Here are some of my favorite shots from the session

Before you start doing random punches and kicks to the air(or people you just plain don't like), You should first come up with

Read: How to Master Martial Arts with Ease