Bai Si! Everybody was Kung Fu fighting!

Yesterday I went to the Bai Si ceremony, wherein a group of my friends and training brothers and sisters received black sashes of many levels. This is the first such ceremony in fifteen years. Sifu always makes a point of saying that black sashes are not for sale. It's not a McDojo (as I call them,) where you go in there and a year or two later (or less) you have a blackbelt. We've had blackbelts from all other martial arts schools come to our school and think we were insane for all the work we do there. We've had blackbelts from other schools walk out because it was too hard. We've also had blackbelts from other school try some classes with us and then decide to stay because they realized that their own blackbelt wasn't really worth that much. That's not frustrating to me at all; that's actually very heartening. I know that even a green sash (with a black stripe, lol!) is no small matter at this school and I know that when I go up a level it means something.

So to see this group of people get their black sashes at all different levels was very meaningful. There were some people there I had never met, but I knew most of them. Among them were Tristan, Mike and Alex from the other school, and Raquel and Chris from our school.

The entire ceremony was very moving. Sifu read a short bio of the people who were up there getting their sashes and said that they were the best of the best. And they are; they are regional champions. He spoke at length of Raquel, telling of how she broke all the martial arts barriers by insisting on fighting the men in various tournaments and then actually beating them and coming in first place.

There were these awesome ceremonies that they all had to do, too, like bringing tea to Sifu, bowing to the shrine among other archaic and venerable symbols. We even had a lion dance! I love the lion dance and it was a total surprise to me! Here is part of the lion dance: ( under the cut: )

Another surprise was Chris getting his black sash. He deserves it so much, but no one, not even Chris, knew that he was getting it that day.

Some videos of two of my best friends, Raquel and Chris each getting their sashes, ( clicketywhee! )

The ceremony lasted about two and a half hours (and for most of it, the disciples had to kneel and sit back on their heels; my legs were aching in sympathy!) and then after that they all did a demonstration of forms, self defense and sparring. For me, that was the most amazing part. It was so humbling to see the forms and techniques that I struggle with done the right way, and also so inspiring, because now I know what it looks like to be that good and I can try harder to do it that way.

Also in the demonstrations was a guy from the other school (I didn't catch his name) doing the rope dart form. He wasn't getting his sash that day but Sifu wanted us all to see the rope dart form and it is so amazingly impressive. The rope dart form:
( under the cut: )

The whole thing was so emotional and so draining for the students who were up there. Afterwards they were all so exhausted, not just physically, but totally wiped out. They had prepared so much for this and it was hard-earned.

After the ceremony we all went out to dinner at a beautiful and quaint Chinese restaurant on Montauk Highway. The decor was part archaic and part avante-guard and the music was just full on weird. I sat at a little booth with Chris, Raquel, Mike and his lovely and sweet girlfriend Kerry. She trains in Kung Fu as well and has for much longer than I have. She is also a licensed massage therapist and she would love to go into accupuncture and herbal medicine, which is exactly what I'm about to do. And she's a vegan as well. We had a lot in common and talked much of the night. And no night out with my Kung Fu brothers and sisters is complete for me without spending time with Chris and Raquel. I usually have more time with Alex and Lee, but Alex was at a table with his family and Lee had to leave early. Mike is always energetic and effervescent (okay, let's call it: he's always totally hyper!) and Chris was in such a fine mood that at one point in the evening he made Kerry and I fall about laughing. (Mike and Raq were off talking to their friends and families at that time.)

Alex's father made a very lovely toast to all of us, even those who were not there that night. He is such a smart guy and he and his wife are raising a fine young person. Then Sifu made another speech and this one was mostly to Tristan, who is his "best friend and confidante," in his words. It was a long speech and very touching. "There's no party without Tristan," he said. :) And he showed us all the wooden penis he had got as a gift--I can only assume it came from Lee--and remarked that it wasn't a vulgar artifact and we as Americans were so uptight and should see it as the symbol it was: one of fertility and prosperity. Then he said it was 60-80 years old and a few people shouted out, "AND IT'S STILL HARD!" I know I can't be mature about things like that and I'm glad I'm not the only one. Sifu also spoke of breaking barriers again. He talked about our new president and said that he was so glad for it, and he hoped for a better future for all of us. It was very touching and also unexpected from someone who is usually not so effusive about subjects like this.

The party broke at around 6:30 but it felt much later than that. Most of the people left, but a small group of us stood outside in the chilly damp evening listening to Mike tell us crazy stories. He's got a way of delivering these stories that makes him very entertaining and fun. It was the same group of people who straggled out together at Raquel's party: Chris, Raq, Larry, Mike, Kerry and me.

I was home by eight, totally overwhelmed with this idea of what real Kung Fu is and determined to keep trying harder! I sorted out my pics and videos and I have lots of them to share. The videos more or less really suck, because I was apparently having focusing problems, not to mention that were I was seated the goddamn stupid pillar blocked the view anytime someone went to the center of the room. It was so maddening.

Anyway, the videos show true Kung Fu at its best.

( A small section of Tristan's butterfly sword form: )

( Alex's Small Wheel form: )

(That was so eye-opening for me. I've been struggling to make that look right for nigh on two years now.)

( Raquel doing a hand form: )

( Chris's hand form! )

Makes me tired and achy just watching that!

( Raquel's broadsword form.  )

Amazing! I do the same form, and trust me, it looks nothing like that. I feel so lame! ^_^

Then, some brief clips of sparring.

( Mike and Chris. )

I would have taped more but my camera didn't want to focus.

( Mike and Alex, a brief clip: )

He's so intimidating, because he just comes at you like a wall of terror! Yet he's such a nice guy.

( Mike and Raquel. )

I like this one because you get a sense of how fast she can move, and how she thinks around the corner in order to accomplish those fast moves.

Some pictures. I won't 'name them all, just throw them all up here so I don't have to keep doing lj cuts. ^_^

( Onto the pics! )

( Then later, at the party: )

The whole thing was so fantastic and although I do want to try harder and I hope to keep getting better at Kung Fu, I didn't envy any of the students that were up there yesterday. In the end, though, they were all prepared for the trials and deserving of the reward.

Bai Si! Everybody was Kung Fu fighting!

Yesterday I went to the Bai Si ceremony, wherein a group of my friends and training brothers and sisters received black sashes of many levels. This is the first such ceremony in fifteen years. Sifu always makes a point of saying that black sashes are not for sale. It's not a McDojo (as I call them,) where you go in there and a year or two later (or less) you have a blackbelt. We've had blackbelts from all other martial arts schools come to our school and think we were insane for all the work we do there. We've had blackbelts from other schools walk out because it was too hard. We've also had blackbelts from other school try some classes with us and then decide to stay because they realized that their own blackbelt wasn't really worth that much. That's not frustrating to me at all; that's actually very heartening. I know that even a green sash (with a black stripe, lol!) is no small matter at this school and I know that when I go up a level it means something.

So to see this group of people get their black sashes at all different levels was very meaningful. There were some people there I had never met, but I knew most of them. Among them were Tristan, Mike and Alex from the other school, and Raquel and Chris from our school.

The entire ceremony was very moving. Sifu read a short bio of the people who were up there getting their sashes and said that they were the best of the best. And they are; they are regional champions. He spoke at length of Raquel, telling of how she broke all the martial arts barriers by insisting on fighting the men in various tournaments and then actually beating them and coming in first place.

There were these awesome ceremonies that they all had to do, too, like bringing tea to Sifu, bowing to the shrine among other archaic and venerable symbols. We even had a lion dance! I love the lion dance and it was a total surprise to me! Here is part of the lion dance: ( under the cut: )

Another surprise was Chris getting his black sash. He deserves it so much, but no one, not even Chris, knew that he was getting it that day.

Some videos of two of my best friends, Raquel and Chris each getting their sashes, ( clicketywhee! )

The ceremony lasted about two and a half hours (and for most of it, the disciples had to kneel and sit back on their heels; my legs were aching in sympathy!) and then after that they all did a demonstration of forms, self defense and sparring. For me, that was the most amazing part. It was so humbling to see the forms and techniques that I struggle with done the right way, and also so inspiring, because now I know what it looks like to be that good and I can try harder to do it that way.

Also in the demonstrations was a guy from the other school (I didn't catch his name) doing the rope dart form. He wasn't getting his sash that day but Sifu wanted us all to see the rope dart form and it is so amazingly impressive. The rope dart form:
( under the cut: )

The whole thing was so emotional and so draining for the students who were up there. Afterwards they were all so exhausted, not just physically, but totally wiped out. They had prepared so much for this and it was hard-earned.

After the ceremony we all went out to dinner at a beautiful and quaint Chinese restaurant on Montauk Highway. The decor was part archaic and part avante-guard and the music was just full on weird. I sat at a little booth with Chris, Raquel, Mike and his lovely and sweet girlfriend Kerry. She trains in Kung Fu as well and has for much longer than I have. She is also a licensed massage therapist and she would love to go into accupuncture and herbal medicine, which is exactly what I'm about to do. And she's a vegan as well. We had a lot in common and talked much of the night. And no night out with my Kung Fu brothers and sisters is complete for me without spending time with Chris and Raquel. I usually have more time with Alex and Lee, but Alex was at a table with his family and Lee had to leave early. Mike is always energetic and effervescent (okay, let's call it: he's always totally hyper!) and Chris was in such a fine mood that at one point in the evening he made Kerry and I fall about laughing. (Mike and Raq were off talking to their friends and families at that time.)

Alex's father made a very lovely toast to all of us, even those who were not there that night. He is such a smart guy and he and his wife are raising a fine young person. Then Sifu made another speech and this one was mostly to Tristan, who is his "best friend and confidante," in his words. It was a long speech and very touching. "There's no party without Tristan," he said. :) And he showed us all the wooden penis he had got as a gift--I can only assume it came from Lee--and remarked that it wasn't a vulgar artifact and we as Americans were so uptight and should see it as the symbol it was: one of fertility and prosperity. Then he said it was 60-80 years old and a few people shouted out, "AND IT'S STILL HARD!" I know I can't be mature about things like that and I'm glad I'm not the only one. Sifu also spoke of breaking barriers again. He talked about our new president and said that he was so glad for it, and he hoped for a better future for all of us. It was very touching and also unexpected from someone who is usually not so effusive about subjects like this.

The party broke at around 6:30 but it felt much later than that. Most of the people left, but a small group of us stood outside in the chilly damp evening listening to Mike tell us crazy stories. He's got a way of delivering these stories that makes him very entertaining and fun. It was the same group of people who straggled out together at Raquel's party: Chris, Raq, Larry, Mike, Kerry and me.

I was home by eight, totally overwhelmed with this idea of what real Kung Fu is and determined to keep trying harder! I sorted out my pics and videos and I have lots of them to share. The videos more or less really suck, because I was apparently having focusing problems, not to mention that were I was seated the goddamn stupid pillar blocked the view anytime someone went to the center of the room. It was so maddening.

Anyway, the videos show true Kung Fu at its best.

( A small section of Tristan's butterfly sword form: )

( Alex's Small Wheel form: )

(That was so eye-opening for me. I've been struggling to make that look right for nigh on two years now.)

( Raquel doing a hand form: )

( Chris's hand form! )

Makes me tired and achy just watching that!

( Raquel's broadsword form.  )

Amazing! I do the same form, and trust me, it looks nothing like that. I feel so lame! ^_^

Then, some brief clips of sparring.

( Mike and Chris. )

I would have taped more but my camera didn't want to focus.

( Mike and Alex, a brief clip: )

He's so intimidating, because he just comes at you like a wall of terror! Yet he's such a nice guy.

( Mike and Raquel. )

I like this one because you get a sense of how fast she can move, and how she thinks around the corner in order to accomplish those fast moves.

Some pictures. I won't 'name them all, just throw them all up here so I don't have to keep doing lj cuts. ^_^

( Onto the pics! )

( Then later, at the party: )

The whole thing was so fantastic and although I do want to try harder and I hope to keep getting better at Kung Fu, I didn't envy any of the students that were up there yesterday. In the end, though, they were all prepared for the trials and deserving of the reward.