China 7 months: Kunyu and Leaving Day

Kunyu and leaving day

Though the academy was not what I thought it would be like I still enjoyed my experience at Kunyu Shan very much. The people were great, the surroundings stunningly beautiful and the Masters, though sometimes flawed in character are good at their jobs. The main disappointment was simply the running of the academy by Su. He employed no real structure, has no vision and has the honesty of a politician with the communication skills of one too. I dislike him as he has the opportunity to do something great with this place but instead behaves like a small minded, unprofessional idiot who only fixates on the short term profit forgoing any professionalism and moral conduct.

Kunyu academy is like an international hostel with beautiful surroundings and Kung fu. You can expect at its worst, chocolate, biscuits, Soft drinks, DVD watching, brothels, karaoke, drinking, smoking, miscommunication, deceit, the feeling of being ripped off, girls walking around wearing make up, and witnessing students whom should of spent some time training before they came to China. At its best it is an eclectic mix of students who are interesting, friendly and sociable with some hardcore dudes, surroundings that are tranquil, inspiring, enlightening, the mood can be fun, good kung-fu and a place you can call home.

I enjoyed my time there but towards the end i just found myself frustrated with the limitations of the facilities and the lack of decent management. Their is so much that could be improved upon but nontheless a very interesting and memorable experience.

It took me 2min to pack as all I brought was a small backpack. I had a taxi booked at 12:30. About 12:20 went outside and chilled with a group of people who had come to send me off. They all seemed impressed that all I had was the small back pack. Said goodbye to everyone. I know I should of said more but I just shook everyones hand and left. Jeremy and Megan joined me in the cab. We picked up Hanah, Ori and Alan. Said goodbye to Ori and Alan at the hotsprings then picked up my ticket. We went to nice coffee place in Yantai. Which their isn't many as coffee shops are not big in China. But it was very nice. Arrived at the train station, hugged everyone, said my goodbyes and off I went. As soon as I turned away from everyone I felt alone, it was great.

"facing what consumes you, is the only way to be free" Hatebreed

Michael

China 7 months: Leaving Party 2

Every Friday almost the whole school goes out in there individual cliques. As their was a duel leaving (Craig and myself) alot of people went to "Caro", a restaurant. The Mantis crew; Seb, Simon and Frank were there, as well as Jeremy, Megan, Hannah, Ori and a number of other students.

I had 2 huge bottles of beer, 2 plates of fried chicken, 2 plates of kung pow chicken and about 70 "meat on a sticks". It was good! Everyone was merry and having a good time and even students from the other academy were there. I ate, like everybody else, like an animal and between us all it came to a grand total of about a one pound each.

Off to karaoke we went. I did the mandatory drunk Michael thing and again carried Hannah into the Karaoke place. This time the room was filled to the brim with Lawoi. Already drunk and singing away. Sang Faith by Limp Bizkit with Jeremy but this time I moshed hard and screamed more. Swinged danced with Megan again. The crowd seemed to be impressed as we were given applause. But I was not as drunk as before and so realised I was stepping on her feet a lot. Not as good as I thought. In my inebriated head I thought I was a cross between Patrick Swayze and John Travolta. Thanks Megan for not mentioning it. Though at one point she did stand on my feet while we danced so as to protect hers.

Later when the crowds had left and there were only about 5 or 6 of us, Hannah gave a little speech about me leaving. I can't really remember the words but I do remember the sentiment and my appreciation of it at the time. Thank you Hannah.

Shaolin students "letting their hair down".

Megan and I trying to choose a song to sing

I think about 2am Jeremy, megan and I decided to call it a night and said goodbye to the hardcore crew of Karaoke Militia in which Welshy seemed to be the leader, fyi named that as he is from Wales.

Carried Megan to the taxi in the pouring rain. I could of slipped but my Mantis stance training and the fact I'm a bit of Ninja made sure I didn't. The night was great and I would like to give a big thank you to "James the Aristocrat" for paying for the karaoke bill. I tip my virtual reality top hat to you oh kind sir.

It's thanks and recognition time. Thanks to the Mantis crew: Sauded Seb, Mad Franky Fredericks and Psycho Singing Simon. Thanks to Seb for getting me through the repetitive forms training and generally being a good guy. Franky for being some one to bounce my crazy side off and being very enthusiastic about his training. Simon for simply being a psycho and singing. All are great guys.

Frankie

Seb

Thanks to Ninja Matt and Dangerous Dave for introducing me to Ninjitsu.

Thanks to Jeremy, Hannah, Meagan and Ori.

Jeremy for being a cool looking arian version of John Travolta and having a typical Hollywood smile with a cool laid back southern American accent. If he does not make it as a kung fu master he should head for Hollywood. Also for being a great guy.


Hannah for being a good conversationalist, an interesting character and a having a kind heart.


I spent more time with Megan than anyone when outside of training. So I would like to thank her for keeping me company, our interesting conversations, making me laugh and being a beautiful person.


Ori for being a good friend and a fantastic room mate.

Good thoughts for you all are heading your way.


Trust in God and Tie Your Camel Up (Sufi saying)

Michael

China 7 months: Leaving Party n.o 1

1st leaving party



As i am leaving Jeremy, Megan, Hannah and I went out to Muping for some market food. I like the market food in Muping and I'm slowly getting used the over crowded roads full of staring Chinese, bikes, motor bikes and cars. The smell of burnt cooking fat wafting through the air definitely lets you know where you are. Their are market stores selling fruit, useless pieces pf tack, food vendors cooking noodles, meat, pastries and sometimes insects.



As we sat down we were greeted by the mandatory smiles, stares and pointing at of us, the "white devils" by the locals and unexpenctantly a welcomed cool late afternoon breeze. Which was much needed as it has been sweltering lately.



We ordered noodles and I think octopus and meat for Jeremy and I, but mostly for me. As I was leaving we decided to have a jug of beer. It tasted good and must of cost about 40p a jug.



About four jugs later we walked gingerly to the next street to play some street pool. It's great. The pool cues need new tips and the tables are wonky. We played pool on the street, drank some beers and ate some chocolate. Two bottles later we decided it was time to leave for some karaoke. We staggered to the taxi. Went a few minutes down the road and we were there. When I start carrying people I know I'm a little tipsy. So I carried Hannah into the Karaoke place, slurred some unintelligible nonsense at the woman at the desk and was duly pointed into the direction of the karaoke room. The Chinese there are used to Lawoi (foreigners), as the guys from the academy frequent it quite a bit.



The room was huge. A smiling china man brought in a crate of beer and left promptly. The room was too big for us four so megan, bolstered by her alcohol consumption went looking for a room we could occupy with some Chinese. I knew this was not going to be a problem as she is white, blonde and has blue eyes and it's mostly Chinese men that karaoke. We went next door where there were about 10 Chinese guys and 1 woman, drunk and having a good time. As expected they were very happy to have four Lawoi in the room especially as two were white, blonde females. A few beers later my top was off and I'm jumping, megan is dancing, Hannah is chatting and Jeremy is chilling, it's all good. They sang one song and we sang another. At the end of each song a score is given, so it was good fun. We even got some rock/metal in their with Song 2 from Blur and Faith by Limp Bizkit. Which I loved. It was a really good party atmosphere. My next memory was of an irate guy smashing a bottle, then the same dude holding onto Megan a little to inappropriately. So I grabbed Megan said she was with me. The next thing I know our cab driver said we should leave, so we did with this idiot not knowing when he has no chance still pestering Megan. This is when I started running through my Mantis lessons and wondering which move I should use to take this fool out. We got to the cab and for some reason the cab driver would not move. So this idiot was still bothering Megan through the window. He wasn't being nasty, more of a nuicance. But still I had selected hammer fist to the left temple if he continued. Running through my head was the wondering thought of how much it would cost to get myself out of trouble with the police if this goes down. I would have to take him out plus his mates. Anyway we all shouted at the cab driver and he got the hint and moved. After we chilled it was the decision on where to go to next.



It was decided that Ali Babas would be the place. It's a pool place with a bar and dance area. Again I carried someone into the place but I can't remember who. Straight to the dance floor. I start jumping around like an E user on a mission with Megan and Jeremy. Hannah takes a seat and chills. I know I had some more beers and I believe these are the order of the events that occurred. Feeling good, and confident in my dancing abilities and the shameful fact that I watched every episode of Strictly Come Dancing, I felt it was my chance to step things up a notch. So I attempted some swing dancing moves with Megan. They felt great and I'm sure they looked brilliant. I'm just glad I was able to throw Megan around and no one getting hurt.



Later that night Jeremey fainted on the dance floor. But he was o.k. I got tearful whilst hugging Hannah as I was missing Yuki. I hate drunks that cry. Chatted nonsense, danced some more, hugged a few people, mounted a few people then I think I carried, at the same time Hannah and Megan to the cab. I'm not sure but definitely someone. Arrived back at the academy at about 5:30. Hugged Megan as it was her idea, went to my room and collapsed on my bed.



I want to thank everyone on that night as it will be a very fond memory for a long time to come.



Peace People



Michael

China 7 months: Plans

Finish my travels in either Japan, Australia, or Canada by which time it will be 2009-10 then work for 3-5 years in London, and in that time save 30k-50k, become a CHEK II, PICP II, Bio-signature modulation practitioner, NLP Master, Hypnotherapist, HLC III and Neuro-Muscular Therapist, to have established myself as a writer and established myself on the national/international lecturing circuit. After that time I think Yuki and I will consider living outside of England. Maybe France, Italy, Thailand, Japan or Australia. Then over the next 20 or so years own several properties around the world, have written several books, produced several DVDs, own my own clinic, produced my own courses, have completed my Acupuncture, Osteopath, Naturopath courses, have had a kid or two, then between the ages of 60 and 70 when I reached my strength peak, my posture is at it's best and my muscle to fat ratio is at it's best I will start my Physics and Criminal Psychology degrees.

I've met so many people who really do not look forward to maturing but I cannot wait. The sheer amount of knowledge I will know, the people I will meet and the person I will become, excites me.

Much happiness to you all.

Michael

China 7 months: Steak, Training and Tea

It just doesn't get better.

Jakies is a restaurant in Yantai that specifically caters for the foreign appetite and makes a very nice steak. For the students it's a real treat to visit a here and use the toilet, honestly. If you've been to China you know what it means to be in a nice, clean toilet by yourself.

I had myself a steak and it was good. It cost a lot but was worth it. Afterward I felt perfectly content and realized that steak has to be plentiful on my spiritual path. Also had chocolate milkshake and it was good. Possibly the best I have ever had. I think I will have another steak and shake night before I leave.

Thursday was a good day. We conditioned are limbs against the tree in the morning and in the afternoon worked on the application of techniques. Later I trained myself and had a great session. The school bought some new weights. This new aquisition coincided with my body finally gaining some strength back. When I first arrived my body recovered slowly from weight training and I felt tired and weak but I feel if it is back to almost normal. Here is what I did for those who are interested:

Usual warm up of bodyweight movements.

Focus was on speed and perfect technique

4x4 cleans into full squat 55kg

4x5 power presses 20kg

3x6-8 sumo deadlifts 105kg

3x6-8 Wide pronated pull ups 10kg

10x uphill sprints

Body weight eccentric circuit to elicit some GH and IGF

Wide squat x2 25/10/X/0

Wide pronated pull ups x3-4 10/0/X/10

Press ups x3 15/10/X/0

The circuit was done twice.

A great session.

Later that day Megan and I met after dinner and sat in a local garden that has chairs and a table and chatted for about an hour and a half with a cup of green tea. No one goes to this garden so its very quiet and peaceful and the night sky with the mountains and a full moon made a very beautiful backdrop. A fantastic day.

Namaste and Chi

Michael

China 7 months: Lies, Leaving and new room mates

The influx of newbies has increased the summer camp feel, especially as they all seem to be 18 year olds without a clue. The girls get dressed up and put on make up only to walk round the school grounds. It really isn't the sort of place for that. The guys are pissed off because they don't want any distractions, which young girls prancing about are, and the girls who came here to genuinely train just think their stupid. Some of the newbie guys are a little dunce to.

Not really Shaolin Martial Arts material. Go home!

Ori and Hannah have had enough of this place and have left to another academy in Muping. The new school specializes in Mantis and also teaches traditional Shaolin, as oppose to the Wushu type that is taught at Kunyu Shan. Wushu is more theatrical than traditional. I reckon by the end of the month another 5 students would have left. The summer camp feel at this place is a bit too much for some people and also the lies and deceit which goes on here. Nothing seems to be straight forward, there is always an ulterior motive to the goings on at this academy when it involves communication of anything to the students. Though from what I have learned and have been told this is Chinese culture not just the academy. The less anyone else knows the better. It really is strange, even if the truth would be better to say, the Chinese lie out of instinct and habit.

I now have two new roommates; Vincent and Frankie. Vincent is a cool American kid with some social interaction issues and Frankie, a Dutch, dangerous dude with some impressive martial arts skills.

Dutch, dangerous and deranged; Frankie

Students are also leaving quite fast. Five left just this week. It is always quite emotional scenes when students leave. Students build up quite strong links. It's almost like a family. Three of the five that left have been here for nine months and the other were very friendly and well thought of guys. Three of them were in Mantis. So now it is just I, Seb, Simon and Frankie. I suspect I will see my Mantis brothers Dan, Dave and Rob again, especially as I have invited them to Japan if I get there. If you guys ever read this I just want to say it was a pleasure meeting you all and I wish you luck in what ever you do.

On Tuesdays we do a "power training" session. I have been taking it for the last 4 sessions and it is so much better than what it was before, in my own opinion. The previous sessions consisted of benching and sit ups, so something had to change. The new session is basically a really good warm up, mostly consisting of body weight movements then on to a race event. The race starts with a side crawl of about 40metres, then fireman carrying some one on your team for 20m then swapping shoulders for another 20m, then a single arm are farmers walk with about 20kg (heaviest dumbell) for 40m then a 40m sprint. Sounds easy but it is quite challenging. The weather has been getting increasing hotter and more humid here. Last Tuesday was particularly bad and as a result after one round of the race pretty much everyone including myself felt feint and dizzy. We all layed on the floor of the Mantis training room like wounded soldiers. I have now changed it to a more strength based session. I even asked if we could push the schools mini van as part of the workout but Master laughed and said it would be to easy.

Mantis boys after a training session

I have been feeling physically very good lately and as a result have some new goals: to rip our boxing bag with one backhand, hit a tree so hard that chunks of it start falling off and to do a one arm pull up. Also I have set myself the challenge of frog jumping the mountain stairs all the way to the top and then crawling on my hands all the way down. Sounds easy but there are students here who genuinely find it hard to walk up the stairs. The 35+degree heat coupled with the humidity and altitude should make it interesting. I need to find someone willing to do it with me.

The walks I have after dinner are fantastic and one thing I am going to truly miss from here. I usually end up at a river by the waterfall. The pictures below are of what I would like my eventual living place to look like. It is more beautiful and calming than the pictures convey. Lifu, the dog in the picture sometimes joins me.

We had another grading but I had not learned the new form we are being taught so was not graded that day. It was a little boring as all the newbies were doing their Shaolin basics. But there were some good ones. I am now thinking of adding Canada to my list of possible travel destinations, so as to study Systema. It's a Russian combat system that seems interesting. Canada because I've been told that one of the main teachers resides there.



The insects are getting bigger and badder. The mosquitoes are attacking everyone whilst they sleep. I wake up with bites all over me and Dan had about 50 bites on his hand. His hands were swollen for days. I've put a net over my bed and that seems to help. You can hear the insects during the day. There are 2 distinct sounds. One sounds like a screaming electrical cable with Bi-Polar and the other sounds like a billion crickets. During the night the frogs or toads sound like a million ducks are outside our window, it's quite strange. And now there is a swarm of Dragon Flies flying around the academy. China is not the place to be if don't like insects, lies and heat.



Wishing you an insect free day


Michael