Taken in 2001 during our 1st competition in the team event... we got 4th... if the darn radio had worked we might have gotten 3rd... =)
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Snapshot...
Taken in 2001 during our 1st competition in the team event... we got 4th... if the darn radio had worked we might have gotten 3rd... =)
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Reliving memories...
Today, I went back to my junior college for wushu training with the juniors… It’s really been a long long while since I’ve gone back for training. Somehow, with all the work from university and other stuff, I always manage to find a reason not to spend that 1 hour traveling down from my house, and another few hours torturing myself in training… but today, guess I was in holiday mood… there’s homework to do, stuff to catch up on, but nah... Today I decided I shall take a break and go back…
I’m glad I did… although stepping onto campus and seeing everyone in uniform again makes me feel really quite old… it’s been what? 2 full years since I’ve graduated… 2 full years since I went to school in that familiar brown uniform… haha… this year, I will be what is typically know as J5 senior (J1 being 1st year in JC… oh and keep in mind that JC is only a 2 year thing) hahaha.. sounds old huh? Seems only yesterday when I was training as a J1 and looking in awe at the J5 seniors who seem so pro and wise…
You know, I wonder if the juniors did look at us (or me) in awe… for most of them, this is their 2nd month into wushu training… and from what I saw today, well they have a long road ahead of them… but then again the juniors always do… training with them today really brought back many many memories of mine…
I remember the steps where we used to practise stretching… we’ll be doing splits with 1 foot propped against the step (i.e. elevated split) and counting at least 1 minute before switching legs… I remember the whole bunch of us trying to figure out how to do 仆步穿掌 properly and fast enough to our seniors’ liking… I remember doing those frog jumps up that dreaded slope, and the 100 v-sits exercises, and that 四六马移弓步 across the central plaza… I also remember very clearly all those times I thought I could just die from the exhaustion, the pain felt when I wake up the morning after training day, the moments when your butt and thigh muscles seize up after being brutally tortured in 大量… I remember being so tired during a particular training on a Sunday (we were training at least 3 hours on Mon, Wed, Sat and Sun each) that I was ready to cry and give up… I remember almost crying again when after 3 months of intensive training, I found out I could not compete due to a lack of competitors who signed up for my event...
But I also remember all those times we spent up in 会所 eating our watermelons after trainings. I remember sitting on the roof top staring at the star-filled sky (yes we trained till that late) and singing crappy songs. I remember that training with Robin where we almost died laughing from his jokes. I remember always having a place to go to for friends, food, TV, mattress, radio… You name it, the 会所’s got it. I remember that weird ad we did during morning assembly, which supposedly scared away all the junior guys from joining wushu. I remember the adrenaline rush whenever I was about to do the 400m sprint, or when I did my routine. I remember the joy of having a cool bunch of people to share my frustrations, joys, crap, whatever with.
Many times when graduated seniors go back for training, they look upon the fresh faces, shake their heads and think to themselves “The way they’re training, they won’t make it”. I think at some point of time I felt like that today; and then I wondered if I was being over-critical. But then, I thought some more and figured, Hey it must be normal to feel like that. I mean, look at us. For every batch, it’s only after soooo much hard work that we get to the stage of senior (and that’s just in 2nd year). The J1 juniors are fresh, just like we once were. They haven’t experienced all the joy, the pain, the frustration, the bonding that we did to get to where we are today. And honestly, I don’t think you will get anywhere in wushu if you don’t go through all those emotions and experiences first. It’s like an initiation rite: only the toughest survive, but you can bet your ass that those who survive will be one bonded bunch.
Today, 教练 made us sit down again and tried to explain how to do some moves properly. Most of what he mentioned, I have heard before countless times. But I don’t mind listening to him again and again. It reminds me of when I was just a fresh junior in wushu. Also, I’ve come to realise that what教练 says is usually quite right, especially the following:
In wushu, we talk about 团体精神, about unity and bonding. Why? Look at it this way. If someone were to train all alone, yes he can become very skillful, he can win many medals in competitions. But will he be happy? Maybe, maybe not. Because he is all alone, he does not have team mates, buddies. He does not have people to inspire him on when he feels de-motivated; he does not have people around him who understand the challenges of doing wushu; he does not have competition to spur him to greater heights. He will only have himself. And that is not enough, because wushu is not all about winning… it is never only about winning…
Ok so he didn’t say every single word above… my memory isn’t that good (forgive me I’m J5) but you get the flow…
But anyhow, at this point, I just wanna shout out to the people in my batch… people like Jie An, Aileen, Siying, Junqi, Annabelle, Randal, Fung Nien, Han Wei, Eugene, Wu Yan, Yuan Wen, Gary, Kun Ming… thank you so much for being my team mate, my buddy. Wushu would not be the same without you guys… Thank you… =)
I’m glad I did… although stepping onto campus and seeing everyone in uniform again makes me feel really quite old… it’s been what? 2 full years since I’ve graduated… 2 full years since I went to school in that familiar brown uniform… haha… this year, I will be what is typically know as J5 senior (J1 being 1st year in JC… oh and keep in mind that JC is only a 2 year thing) hahaha.. sounds old huh? Seems only yesterday when I was training as a J1 and looking in awe at the J5 seniors who seem so pro and wise…
You know, I wonder if the juniors did look at us (or me) in awe… for most of them, this is their 2nd month into wushu training… and from what I saw today, well they have a long road ahead of them… but then again the juniors always do… training with them today really brought back many many memories of mine…
I remember the steps where we used to practise stretching… we’ll be doing splits with 1 foot propped against the step (i.e. elevated split) and counting at least 1 minute before switching legs… I remember the whole bunch of us trying to figure out how to do 仆步穿掌 properly and fast enough to our seniors’ liking… I remember doing those frog jumps up that dreaded slope, and the 100 v-sits exercises, and that 四六马移弓步 across the central plaza… I also remember very clearly all those times I thought I could just die from the exhaustion, the pain felt when I wake up the morning after training day, the moments when your butt and thigh muscles seize up after being brutally tortured in 大量… I remember being so tired during a particular training on a Sunday (we were training at least 3 hours on Mon, Wed, Sat and Sun each) that I was ready to cry and give up… I remember almost crying again when after 3 months of intensive training, I found out I could not compete due to a lack of competitors who signed up for my event...
But I also remember all those times we spent up in 会所 eating our watermelons after trainings. I remember sitting on the roof top staring at the star-filled sky (yes we trained till that late) and singing crappy songs. I remember that training with Robin where we almost died laughing from his jokes. I remember always having a place to go to for friends, food, TV, mattress, radio… You name it, the 会所’s got it. I remember that weird ad we did during morning assembly, which supposedly scared away all the junior guys from joining wushu. I remember the adrenaline rush whenever I was about to do the 400m sprint, or when I did my routine. I remember the joy of having a cool bunch of people to share my frustrations, joys, crap, whatever with.
Many times when graduated seniors go back for training, they look upon the fresh faces, shake their heads and think to themselves “The way they’re training, they won’t make it”. I think at some point of time I felt like that today; and then I wondered if I was being over-critical. But then, I thought some more and figured, Hey it must be normal to feel like that. I mean, look at us. For every batch, it’s only after soooo much hard work that we get to the stage of senior (and that’s just in 2nd year). The J1 juniors are fresh, just like we once were. They haven’t experienced all the joy, the pain, the frustration, the bonding that we did to get to where we are today. And honestly, I don’t think you will get anywhere in wushu if you don’t go through all those emotions and experiences first. It’s like an initiation rite: only the toughest survive, but you can bet your ass that those who survive will be one bonded bunch.
Today, 教练 made us sit down again and tried to explain how to do some moves properly. Most of what he mentioned, I have heard before countless times. But I don’t mind listening to him again and again. It reminds me of when I was just a fresh junior in wushu. Also, I’ve come to realise that what教练 says is usually quite right, especially the following:
In wushu, we talk about 团体精神, about unity and bonding. Why? Look at it this way. If someone were to train all alone, yes he can become very skillful, he can win many medals in competitions. But will he be happy? Maybe, maybe not. Because he is all alone, he does not have team mates, buddies. He does not have people to inspire him on when he feels de-motivated; he does not have people around him who understand the challenges of doing wushu; he does not have competition to spur him to greater heights. He will only have himself. And that is not enough, because wushu is not all about winning… it is never only about winning…
Ok so he didn’t say every single word above… my memory isn’t that good (forgive me I’m J5) but you get the flow…
But anyhow, at this point, I just wanna shout out to the people in my batch… people like Jie An, Aileen, Siying, Junqi, Annabelle, Randal, Fung Nien, Han Wei, Eugene, Wu Yan, Yuan Wen, Gary, Kun Ming… thank you so much for being my team mate, my buddy. Wushu would not be the same without you guys… Thank you… =)
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Cameras and Photographs
I just discovered my hidden love for taking photos... well maybe not really discovered... I think all along, I've had this penchant for taking photos of stuff... note that stuff here usually means that I am not in the photo... you know stuff like scenary, objects, other people going about their daily lives without noticing me...
Sounds like any other camera fanatic... unfortunately, I have neither the skills to operate or the money to purchase one of those super duper high class high quality camers... shall have to make do with my own Panasonic Digital Camera I guess... not much but at least it's something...
I think to some extent I envy the camera and its photographs... it is able to freeze that moment, capture all the details, to see what it there to see, and sometimes see even more... sounds like I'm reading too much into something as simple as a photograph huh? To each his/her own I guess... but somehow, I think a camera can capture emotions, feelings, happenings even better than a person at the scene of the shot can do... and somehow, I hope to be like that as well...
Yes that's right... I think, I will be bringing my camera out more often...
Sounds like any other camera fanatic... unfortunately, I have neither the skills to operate or the money to purchase one of those super duper high class high quality camers... shall have to make do with my own Panasonic Digital Camera I guess... not much but at least it's something...
I think to some extent I envy the camera and its photographs... it is able to freeze that moment, capture all the details, to see what it there to see, and sometimes see even more... sounds like I'm reading too much into something as simple as a photograph huh? To each his/her own I guess... but somehow, I think a camera can capture emotions, feelings, happenings even better than a person at the scene of the shot can do... and somehow, I hope to be like that as well...
Yes that's right... I think, I will be bringing my camera out more often...
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Some Strange Random Thoughts
Beating the system... seems to me that this is what most people spend most of their lives doing... the transportation system, education system, work place system... blah blah blah.. so many systems we live in... isn't that complicated?
so what's so complicated? well it's the whole chicken and egg thing again (darn this chicken)... see, a system is made up of people who create it, and run it... but then the people are moulded by the system also, so adhering to the rules becomes so habitual that they continue to run it in the same way... so if u look at it closely enough, you start wondering: who is running who?
let's take a look at the transportation system... ok to put it more accurately, let's look at one component of this system: moving to the rear of the bus. So how does this system work? You get on the bus and look around for a seat (it is a long ride and you do have to rest those legs... imagine standing for ages in those toe-pinching leather shoes or heels.. ouch). If you find one, good for you! If not, keep standing baby... Ah but the key issue here is stand where? Most people like to stand near the door, or in the passageway before it narrows into the rear. The reason is obvious isn't it? They wanna be able to alight as conveniently without smashing into 1 million people (the other 2.5 million people drive to work) on their way off. So this creates a system, albeit quite a micro one. Ok so now the system has been created and slowly, this system starts running the people. It becomes so normal that despite many stares from people squashed in the front of the bus, and despite the relentless pleas of the bus driver, no one moves. Ok ok they move sometimes, like a few inches just so to prevent their feet from cramping after remaining in the same position for too long. This kind of gets on my nerve... for one, I sometimes feel quite an idiot to be the only person who has moved to the back of the bus (hello I DON'T have BO)... for another, it irks me to hear someone get stopped from moving too far back... I mean, talk about spreading selfishness...
You know what... I just realised I sound like some constantly frustrated-with-society individual... what with this entry and the previous one... and you know what? I think I am... This whole system thing is so... confining... so... monotonous... I don't care if I (along with so many others) do well in the system... who says that doing well in the system means you are happy with it?
I think we need more of such styles of thinking... forcing ourselves to see the little irksome things in our lives... You may wanna call it nit-picking... but I say it's got quite some stress-relieving component in it... I also say that by seeing the not-so-good sides of some things, it becomes easier to appreciate these things...
After all, appreciation is an ability that is all encompassing... it's not just about the good stuff in life...
so what's so complicated? well it's the whole chicken and egg thing again (darn this chicken)... see, a system is made up of people who create it, and run it... but then the people are moulded by the system also, so adhering to the rules becomes so habitual that they continue to run it in the same way... so if u look at it closely enough, you start wondering: who is running who?
let's take a look at the transportation system... ok to put it more accurately, let's look at one component of this system: moving to the rear of the bus. So how does this system work? You get on the bus and look around for a seat (it is a long ride and you do have to rest those legs... imagine standing for ages in those toe-pinching leather shoes or heels.. ouch). If you find one, good for you! If not, keep standing baby... Ah but the key issue here is stand where? Most people like to stand near the door, or in the passageway before it narrows into the rear. The reason is obvious isn't it? They wanna be able to alight as conveniently without smashing into 1 million people (the other 2.5 million people drive to work) on their way off. So this creates a system, albeit quite a micro one. Ok so now the system has been created and slowly, this system starts running the people. It becomes so normal that despite many stares from people squashed in the front of the bus, and despite the relentless pleas of the bus driver, no one moves. Ok ok they move sometimes, like a few inches just so to prevent their feet from cramping after remaining in the same position for too long. This kind of gets on my nerve... for one, I sometimes feel quite an idiot to be the only person who has moved to the back of the bus (hello I DON'T have BO)... for another, it irks me to hear someone get stopped from moving too far back... I mean, talk about spreading selfishness...
You know what... I just realised I sound like some constantly frustrated-with-society individual... what with this entry and the previous one... and you know what? I think I am... This whole system thing is so... confining... so... monotonous... I don't care if I (along with so many others) do well in the system... who says that doing well in the system means you are happy with it?
I think we need more of such styles of thinking... forcing ourselves to see the little irksome things in our lives... You may wanna call it nit-picking... but I say it's got quite some stress-relieving component in it... I also say that by seeing the not-so-good sides of some things, it becomes easier to appreciate these things...
After all, appreciation is an ability that is all encompassing... it's not just about the good stuff in life...
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