More Beijing

Ah well....never made it to Wangfujang.............it started to rain....when I got into the Taxi....the driver told me he did not know how to get there!!   So we all ended up in Starbucks again.........right next to the school in Lotus Lane.  Last night met with Master Wang.....the Team's Uniform maker......hard to imagine he's been making uniforms for me for more than 20 years.....still looks the same....................he also made uniforms for Getwushu for awhile.............got some pants and uniforms made for my Team.  Afterwards hung out at the Wushu Guan with Coach Zhu....and watch her new students.............many of her old students have left..........but in a good way, moved up to the A and B Teams..........that's quite an accomplishment for her..........taking beginning level students to the professional level........... ......she's a very hand on coach...who cares about her students and they respond to her very well............I am probably going to have her coach my students should we go  next year to Shichahai.  Also, went with her to the Hakka Restaurant at Lotus Lane......superb food........Nixon and Clinton both ate here on there visits to Beijing.  So far I haven't been able to beat anyone to the bill...............no one will let me pay!!  Madame Zhu proved too fast for me!  Best thing I had at the Hakka Resturant..............Beef stew with silver noodles in a crock pot..........hmmm, yummy!!

This afternoon went to the Xichung Cultural Center to work out with Chen Xiang........again the Taxi Cabbie said he had me no idea where it was!!  Master Chen said the Cultural Center has been finished for two years.......the driver just didn't want to take me there!!  The Xichung Cultural Center is a neat place....it has Peking Opera, Tennis Courts, Dance Classes, ping pong, and Taiji.....the facilities for Taiji are excellent.........has a training hall with mirrors and a nice hardwood floor...and stretch bars.........................this was built by China to promote sports and culture for the local Beijing residents.  Master Chen works here and has access to it's facilities........so we used a studio to practice......then he took Glenn and I to have noodles ..he also was very fast grabbing the bill(!)... then we attended his evening class and worked on Chen24, Taiji Sword and Broadsword.  He stressed the need to practice basics........Taiji Qigong and the Taiji ruler. We also......... ......worked on 24 Paochui.................... which I learned  10 years ago but at that time a Master Feng did not allow me to teach it to the public.  But at his last birthday, Master Feng demonstrated it for the students and has it now posted on youtube..............he is very concern about making the "secrets" available to the next generation fearing that it may become lost.  That is in retrospect why I am taking part in the Bagua Disciple Ceremony...besides being an honor....it also shows that the Wushu Masters in China are concerned about the future of Traditional Wushu........the legacy and the techniques may be lost........if they don't start teaching them.  Traditional Wushu like any traditional art in China has to be pass from teacher to disciple.........to ensure quality but also, many ideas cannot be understood just by reading or learning a form.  Tomorrow is training with the Russians....they want to learn the 64 Palms of Bagua........and were sent to see Master Zhao.........so might go and hang out and watch or workout.  Anyways, going to go downstairs now to  the School Store and get an ice cream............I am gonna try  different one every day!!  Cya!