China 7 months: Syringes, Cups and Lies

Ori has been having trouble with his rib cage on the left side and low back for a while. He also managed to drop a rock on his foot whilst helping build a new training area, and it hasn't stopped bleeding for three days. His rib and back have been causing him disrupted sleep at night. On Tuesday he went to the hospital for acupuncture to see if that could help with at least with the pain.

Ori, Nick and Joakim arrived at the hospital that I went to previously for massage. Apparently the acupuncture department doesn't work on Tuesdays so the cab driver took them to another hospital. They arrived and explained the problems. Nick was first to receive treatment. Nick had injured his knee the week before and has been unable to train. The doctor inspected the knee then wrote a prescription for him. Nick went down stairs, paid for the prescription and brought it back up. It was 3 vials of liquid. The doctor proceeded to mix them together to make a fluorescent pink liquid then brought a syringe with a 3 inch needle. Sucked it up then injected the unknown substance into his knee. Later that day when I saw him he was hobbling, but before it was impossible to tell if he was injured. Joakim had nothing wrong with him but went along for the ride just to try out the acupuncture. Instead of acupuncture he got suction cups. Basically the doctor lights a flame by the cup to use up all the air and then quickly places the cup on precise parts of the body where because of the lack of air, creates suction. He had two cups and everything was fine. The doctor recommended that Ori have the cup treatment to. So he did but with a difference. The doctor made little incision before placing the cup. So when the cup was on, it sucked blood out! When I saw Ori later he looked like he had giant pepperonis on his back and left ribcage. The treatment did not seem to do anything but cause pain and discomfort.

Not Ori

I am having Karate Kid moments. Just like Daniel (Karate kid) didn't understand the training or its purpose until his teacher showed him that painting railings and washing cars were actually blocks. I am having similar occasions of clarity and understanding in regards to my form that I have been learning. Unexpentanctly during sparring, the forms movements, with out any pre-determined intention display themselves to us (Seb to) automatically during an attack. It all just started to make sense and is continuing to do so. Even during Ninjitsu class the form movements are easy to apply. This is helped as Praying Mantis and Ninjitsu have similar principles and application.

We have water back. It is a relief. The rivers look so much healthier.

During the weekend I had acupuncture. Their were about 15 needles sticking out of my back. I had bought my own needles as I am not really comfortable with using the hospitals. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. I felt as if i couldn't move.

In Ninjitsu we practiced disarming someone with a gun. It was not really disarming but more like how to have the attacker shoot themselves, which was really cool. I really like Ninjitsu and am really looking forward to practicing it in Japan.

Over the weekend 15 new students turned up. A lot of newbies. I do not mind new people but because of the sheer number, and that their are now 3 to a room instead of 2 which was originally placed on the website. Their seems to be a slight resentment and has created a lot of tension among some. Ori and I are still waiting for are 3rd room mate. A lot of people are going to leave simply because their has been one thing after another. There is a distinct lack of communication and professionalism showed by Su (academy owner). This lacking has caused students to question his true intentions, and is leaving students thinking he is a liar and is simply taking the piss out of them. None of this bothers me as just keep training and I know I will be out of here in just over a month.


Keep cool everyone

Michael