Times are a Changing

That was a slogan from the 60's...as the world went thru some big changes........now, after the Olympics........it begins with a $700 billion debt to save Wall Street and the Banks........so nice they make a profit and we pay for their mistakes................in China, we see what this type of profit can lead to as another problem with the food they supply appears...over 50,000 children sick from the contaminated powder milk........that's what happens when profit is more important than health.......and yet on the other hand, Chin...Read more

Paralympics Closing

I have been busy getting our students prepared for their promotional tests.....and then organizing the event itself.........I think , while perhaps the students don't, that this has been a very positive experience.......I know people don't like tests....but it is a way of pushing the students to practice harder and try to reach the next level.  In the beginning it's just about learning the form itself.....then, trying to figure out the Qi flow........and the specific flavor of each form......this is often the most difficult th...Read more

The Disciples of Tibetan White Crane

Tibetan White Crane is a style of Southern Traditional Wushu, most popular nowadays in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.........and while popular in San Francisco Chinatown....the White Crane School here is better known for their lion dancing not their Wushu.  In this day and age...............it is getting more and more difficult to preserve the martial arts from the past............

an art that traces it's history hundreds of years into  the past and represents the creation of the people of China.......mor...Read more

Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Hope you got a chance to see the Opening Ceremony for the Paralympics in Beijing at the Bird's Nest Stadium.......China pulled out all stops with a 3 hour extravaganza......no less spectacular than the Olympics itself.........two events with the same reception.  The Paralympics Ceremony did not focus just on China but on the athletes........with many of them playing parts in the ceremony............250 deaf dancers performing,  to the final lighting of the Torch in the Stadium by a wheelchair athlete who had to lift himself u...Read more

Paralympics

The opening ceremony for the Beijing Paralympics is just 1 day away.....already over 7000 athletes from 148 countries have arrived in Beijing to take part in the Paralympic Games.......the Olympic Village required a little modification to get it ready for the handicapped athletes.....one very encouraging aspect of the construction of the Village was that it followed the building codes and handicapped requirements of the State of California...making it eathquake safe and handicapped friendly.  Early arriving athletes have already begun training to...Read more

Beijing Paralympics

Now that the Olympics are over you notice how there is no mention anywhere that the Paralympics are going on in Beijing.  The disabled get no love.........in many ways this event is very much in the spirit of the Olympics.....to encourage people to strive against all odds and do their best.   there are some 23 events....including wheel chair basketball, rugby, judo, powerlifting, wheelchair ping pong, equestrian,cycling,rowing, sailing. wheelchair fencing, swimming,etc........never realized their were so many events......but so important ...Read more

Fall begins

Now that the Olympics is over it's back to the present and getting into gear for the new semester at City College........which I am really happy that they finally have finished most of the renovation on campus..........the school is  finally  using up the money voted  for capital development ........we got a new recreation facility.....which I have inquired into the possibility of having classes in.......normally my Taiji Class on Campus practices in the Cloud Circle Plaza..........which newly renovated is very spacious.........but it lacks s...Read more

Friendship first, Competition second

This has been an amazing Olympic Games with some of the greatest athletes in this era competing against each other.  Superb athletes come from every corner of the world.....we have also seen in this Games that there is a lot of training in different countries and athletes changing countries in order to have a better chance to compete........it is no longer only large countries that will dominate in sports but small countries can also compete.......Jamaica has burst onto the world stage as a track power..........some thing...Read more

Olympics Wind Down

while there are still events to go....it's amazing that so much has gone on and the end is coming soon.  The Wushu Exhibition is also coming to an end......as they are finishing up the Sanda Events and the Taiji and Taijijian Events. One of my favorite events was Ping Pong.........it's not the game we play here for recreation.........but a highly athletic sport..........one of my high school students was on the US Team.........it actually helped his wushu....he learned to be quick and light on his feet and was able to jump and hang...Read more

Raining Gold

Well even the rain could not stop Misty May and Kerri Walsh from winning the Gold in Beach Volley Ball........China gave them a good battle....but the American Duo definitely best in the world............I am surprise tho that China also claimed both Silver and Bronze medals.....hehe I didn't even know China was a Beach Volleyball Power............!  The Redeem Team also continued their winning ways defeating Australia in the quarterfinals.....116-85, with Kobe scoring 25 points......next opponent will be tough Argentina. China will meet Bra...Read more