It’s not that serious, and neither am I,

– but I’ve been told on More than one occasion that I’m WAY TOO SERIOUS about Kung Fu.

          YES. AND?!?!?!??!       😉

I kinda think that I’m pretty relaxed about my Kung Fu lifestyle. I take the Practice seriously, but I don’t take Myself that seriously. Every chance I get, in class, if there’s a place in the day’s lesson or in a student’s progress where in the past I’ve made a mistake in technique or poor decision in practice, I Always bring it up – anywhere in my past where I “could’a, should’a, would’a” I point it out as a lesson learned, or as a place where I managed to have better judgement at a critical juncture, and what the outcome was when I chose incorrectly, or what could’ve gone drastically wrong when I somehow dodged a bullet. I just don’t take myself as seriously as some others I’ve met, I don’t Mind using myself as the example of how Not to do something if I think it’s going to help someone else out. In other words – it’s OK that I’m not perfect, it’s Not the end of the world, I’m Not suddenly going to lose all of my students to another instructor, and I’m not afraid of looking somehow Less than what I’m truly comprised of.

I’m sure at some other point I’ll really stretch this idea out into several entries in the future, but I have to get onto the Knife Fight at the Bar part of this 🙂

Knife Fight at the Bar

A few days ago, I went to a local upscale bar to grab a quick bite between classes (can’t beat their Haluski-!) and after an unusually extra-special welcome from the owner’s son (RUN MARC-! RUUUNNNNNnnnnn-!!!) he says to me

“Hey man, are you coming down tomorrow?”

“Uhhh, I Can…?”

“Like, around 5:30?”

“If I Do, I’m Sure I can Make it 5:30, probably Before.”

“A real good friend of mine is really into Kung Fu and he’s coming down tomorrow, so I thought about You, and…”

“….WHAT Man, What can I do for you/What Is it that you’re Asking for, man?” 🙂

“Welll, can you bring a sword down?”

“I own a Kung Fu School. I have Lots of swords, it shouldn’t be a problem to bring something down.”

“Ah, Great man, Thanks! The first rounds are on me!” A few minutes go by, and he comes back again with “Maybey you could just wear a Gi, or a robe, or something like that?”

“I should be able to do a little better than that. Lemmee make a call.”

So I Am able to get someone to do a short 2 Man, and a third cat to swing some blades around in a more formal fashion. A’Ight. It’s ON.

We took about 2 hours practice between the 3 of us that night (REALLY Short notice, but hey – Black Mountain SPIRIT, Baby!) prepping for a space about 4’x8′ INSIDE the bar. We get there the next day, we’re told we’re outside instead (not so bad) in the middle of the street. : / That is Not my happy face.

AAAAANYWAY, I take the Practice of my Kung Fu lifestyle pretty seriously, but I don’t take Myself that seriously, so we went out, prepared to be a little fast (we’re watching the cars slow down a few feet up the road from us, so I think we were All just trying to get the hell out of the street-!) a little sloppy compared to our normal quality (same reason), have some fun and then get DRINKS!

Here, for your viewing pleasure, and a Reminder to PRACTICE HARDER for those of us in the video, what I so endearingly refer to as our Dust Devils performance :):):):):)

And Before you ask –

– that Is a train going by as we started moving

– we Are constantly looking up the street at the cars backing up and eventually Getting Backed Up on the street we’re in the middle of

– Yes,….yes, we Did have our 2 Man Fighting set cut in half by the irate and incessant creeping closer-ever-closer of the cars

– and yes, at the end I Was going to hack the engine or driver’s head out of the first car as I walked towards it. I opted to move the chair instead 😉

 IF any of you want to see more swordplay, please post any comments below, and I’ll start adding Broadsword Fighting Applications videos!