China 7 months: The Week

This week has been up and down as I had a fantastic weekend but the week seemed, at times tedious and uneventful and I have been ill for most of it. I don't think my digestive system likes the food here, though it is better than I expected it isn't what I would call good. I really really want a steak! I have decided to cut the poisonous porridge from my diet as I think the boiled eggs will be better.

Beautiful

I sparred with Ori on Saturday and came to the conclusion that I need to sort my life out. I am fitter, stronger, leaner and faster but was being slapped about and for some reason I found it hard to hit him. It was not finding the target that was the problem but my brain would not let me cause harm to another human being. This is something I plan on rectifying.

Watching the *Ninjitsu class last Saturday it became clear to me that combat comes down to footwork, timing, distance, angles, technique and reaction. The speed of your reaction and the reaction you want your opponent to have i.e. do you want them to go backwards, forward, flex, extend, do want to break, push, remove or cause pain and psychology is probably the biggest factor because if you have all the physical requirements but your inner voice is screaming "no not the face, please not the face!" you will be beaten worse than a skin head at a Black Panther convention.

Timing, speed, footwork and to look good in black

A lot of question have been running through my head lately, like, what am going to do when I get back to London(if indeed i do go back), where do I want to live (country), who am I, career etc. There are so many things I would like to do but it comes down to money and time. The mountains create a perfect backdrop to having such thoughts run through your mind.

Best place to come and ask questions and sit waiting silently for the answer

Every Friday all the students get to do the stair run which is grueling to say the least especially in 35 degree heat. My time last week was 35:16 so was really hyped about smashing my time this Friday but my stomach was not really up to it, so instead i went to the cave where apparently Zen Buddhism started. I went before when I did the stair crawl with Tom but haven't been back since. It was great, after spending very little time meditating in the cave I left feeling completely relaxed and calm. I had no question to answer and everything made sense again. Those 8 Immortals really do have an affect or maybe the incense they use in the cave is "special".

The 8 Immortals

*Two of the students at the academy are quite accomplished in the art of Ninjitsu (2nd dan and 5th dan). They have kindly offered to teach once a week on Saturday.

I hope everyone is well.