The village is hopping! So much going on – the tournament, our seminar, construction that includes renovation and new building, and the usual hum of village life. The weather is hot and muggy, with some refreshing breezes blowing through now and then.
Yesterday we attended an opening ceremony for the international tournament. All of the dignitaries were in attendance – the heads of family, village elders, and the head of the Chinese Wushu Association. I stayed for some…but missed the demonstrations because after an hour of “standing practice” in the heat, I was done. I have seen demos many time and hope the first timers were able to hang in there and see the whole show.
Thankfully we are training in an airconditioned room. Yesterday was standing and reeling silk, a great way to jump start my practice after months of too much work and not enough taiji. The training schedule is very fluid – this morning is an ancestors’ ceremony at the temple, and we will train in the afternoon and evening but not the morning.
The food has been quite good – a nice mix of mostly vegetables and some meat, all spicy and flavorful. The company is nice, the school is full of competitors from around the country and some from around the world. The schedule is form competition in the daytime, and free fighting in the night.
We are here until Friday, then we head to Huashan, with a stop at Shaolin Temple.
More later!