My body felt ready for a good push today. I did each form twice and then did two reps of part of Wallum Second Form I know between each form. 38 reps of forms in all. Great cardio and strength push. I came home and stretched for forty minutes. Solid training day.

This past week I was able to perform my Cougars form for Sifu Bronson and it was approved! We filmed it yesterday and I have begun working on the next form in the series - Wallum 2nd Form. It was fun to have something to celebrate, a small milestone accomplished, as our seasonal weather comes. Stay dry and stay focused. Time for a second round of reps today with my new material.

I am approaching the time frame Sifu Bronson gave me for presenting my form. I created the base of the form in early June, added some dynamic sequences in early July, and changed one move slightly in mid-August and have been working to increase my speed and power in the form ever since. It has been a fantastic exercise of visualizing and feeling how my body wants to react and respond to different scenarios given my tool kit of movement gained through training in the Mountain Warrior Kung Fu…

Today I settled into what may be my new rhythm for awhile. I did each of the first 12 forms giving attention to technical detail. Once that was completed I did the first form at tai chi speed until it flowed nicely. I then did the first form as fast I as could until found a way to control my breathing while going fast. I will continue with the same rhythm in two days and focus on the second form in the same manner. This way I get to both visit each form and explore depth in one…

This past weekend my wife earned her black belt at a school that must not be named and I took my 2nd forms test on my way to the 2nd degree black belt at Mountain Warrior Kung Fu Academy. Both my wife and I have found great joy in the pursuit of milestones during our lives. Milestones can take many shapes and forms and these two tests are important ones for us. We are already setting our sites on our next martial art milestones.

Milestones gives us something to go after,…

I set an audacious goal for doing 60 forms three out of every four days a few weeks ago. I haven't made one day with 60 reps since I set that goal. Spring break hit and we went on the mountain, to the beach, and to the gorge. I was able to get two reps of each form a day and a little staff work, but wasn't able/rather chose not to/ make the space to get the reps in. It was good to take a break. Since spring break, I have been doing two reps of each form a day given that we have four weeks…

For the past couple of weeks I have been doing the following rhythm with forms:

Two reps of Basic Wushu

Two reps of 8 Chained Punch

Three reps of Wallum staff

Two reps of Hammer strike

Two reps of Yut Yee

Three reps of Wallum Big first form

Two reps of Standing Horse

Two reps of Mantis Grab

Three reps of 7 Kicks (I knew half of the form up to yesterday)

Two reps of Poi Choi

Two reps of Yut Sum

Three reps of…

I received my last pieces of the Wollum Big form this past week and have been working it into neurological strength before speeding it up and focusing on adding power. Today I did the following work-out:

Two reps of form 1

Two reps of form 2

3 reps of Wollum Big form

Two reps of form 3

Two reps of form 4

3 reps of Wollum Big form

Two reps of form 5

Two reps of form 6

3 reps of Wollum Big form

I then spent 30 minutes…

Here is a little update on my work-outs as I continue to move towards the second forms test. Yesterday I was able to work through each of my first nine forms technically three times working on position and stance. I was then able to do each of my first nine forms as fast as I could seven times each. Today was a rest day and tomorrow will be my staff form work and staff basics. I am landing on a three day rhythm of workout with staff form and basics still at slow speed, then first nine forms…

When more sand comes to the shores of our lives, we need to adjust. I was reminded of that personally this holiday season, as well as with my pursuit towards my forms test.

I have been able to get my basic staff flow drills and most of the staff form at the 2nd level of forms. It is so fun, but when combined with my nine other forms, I have too much to go over and keep strong in one day. I haven't found the right rhythm for this season just yet, but I am playing with doing my…

It has now been a week and a half since I passed my first level forms test. It was a great workout and confirmation that my practice of the forms has led to greater strength, power, and flow ... though very much at beginner levels still. This past Wednesday I received the the first three basic staff drills and have enjoyed beginning again with new material. I am trying to go through the drills twice a day for 15 minutes to begin getting them solid at a slower speed. I subconsciously speed up…

I have completed one week of my new rotation of forms. It has been great training and I have had some new insights. After four days, I was about ready to call Mr. Bronson and ask him if we could schedule the test earlier rather than later because my familiarity with the forms felt good. I decided to give it a full week and before my second go through of the fast forms I gave some thought as to what curves Mr. Bronson my throw at me in the test. One of the thoughts I had was to practice doing…

I was able to achieve my last goal of working through 100 reps of my last form before seeing Mr. Bronson again this week. I ended up doing it at 112 times. After 112 times I felt like a good beginner with the form. Today I met with Mr. Bronson for a private lesson to review my forms and I walked away with 15 refinements that will make the forms more powerful, sharp, and smooth. In two or three weeks I will be testing for the first level of forms. In order to integrate these new refinements…

This past week I received the last part of my final form for the first level test. I love the Wah Lum Little First Form. I am hoping to meet again with Mr. Bronson for a private on Wednesday to refine all nine of the forms. In order for Wah Lum Little First Form to be ready I have made a goal of doing it 100 times before we meet again. Since that Wednesday every day I have worked through the following work-out to make that goal.

2 reps of Wah Lum Little First Form

2…

Yesterday I worked through my forms again with great intensity. In my last private lesson, I was able to get the moves needed to complete the eighth form. My workout with the forms was threefold. First I did each form twice focusing on technical placement and timing (Mr. Bronson gave me six things to work on with my forms to sharpen my technique). I then did each of the eight forms twice at tai chi speed - which was more difficult than I anticipated by the eighth form. I then did each of the…

Today is a rest day, but yesterday was a doozy of a workout. I would do one rep of my first six forms and then five reps of the seventh form and five reps on what I know of the eighth form. In an hour and seven minutes I did five reps of the first through sixth forms and twenty five reps of the seventh and eighth partial form. All in all, I did 80 forms in just over an hour. Mental focus and leg strength were being pushed to levels in the end.

I finally have some time, space, and meager funds to give a go at the 2nd journey of forms. I picked up my 6th form this week and I am finding great joy and meaning in working the forms with greater precision, flow, and strength ... though I have a long way to go before they have formed me in the ways they intend. This past private lesson with Mr. Bronson, he alluded to the fact that if my hips were more flexible, I would get more out of the forms. After some reflection, I am going to…

It has been awhile since I last posted about my life and training. Hard to imagine that it has been a year and a half since I was a regular attender of evening classes with other Mountain Warriors. Training continues in martial arts and life for me even though I don't get to be a part of the great classes together.

I have been working on my goals for this next year for the past month. I think I have them settled now. 

Educational Goal: Complete doctorate program in March. Our…

This past week I was asked to travel to New Mexico to present our research at a young adult think tank. It was three days of sitting from 8:00am to 7:00pm talking about fascinating and depressing realities. My body was itching to move and my mind was itching to let go, but I didn't have space to do so. Since I was there on their dime, I honored there rhythm while in community with this group of people, but in Newberg on Thursday morning I found myself up early seeking a quiet place for the…

The past four months I have been training pretty hard to get ready for the mountains. I am close to being in the best shape of my life I believe. I have been consistent with good work with my Kung Fu material (save the dummy sequence), P90X personal work-out, cardio, stretching, and loading my backpack up with books to get ready for the coming beauty and adventures. In the midst of enjoying this boastful state of fitness, I found myself one afternoon with access to a heavy bag much like the…