[Gazelle]

Hey there guys, so good to see you again (well, you know what i mean by 'see')

You have to excuse me, i'm rather exhausted (my entire days are spent like it at the moment, not so good for studying), but, i always realised that everything WWW mentioned was a big part of this sort of thing, and makes up a large part of the learning progress, i got a similar impression from one of my previous instructors from the little he began to do with us. Moreover, i far from have a problem with it! I realise what such benefits bring, i've done yoga, participated with a clairvoyant, tried meditation (ok, i know quite not the same thing, but they're sort of connected, well, ish, if you see what i mean...sorry, i really am tired). Anyway, the point is, i was always up for doing that kind of thing. I just wanted to make sure it was going to benefit me. I guess it would have from the sense that it would gently move my body, but all they seemed to do was forms and stances, and a few specific 'moves' without any real knowledge why, nor much motivation to explore it.

Anyway, stopped going ages ago. My side still not 100 percent, though, i was so sick of not doing anything, and i admit i had a sneaky go on a bag during summer (with little ill affects, as long as i didn't go over board, which admittedly wouldn't have taken long), that i decided i would go and try out the wing tsun club. Figured in might be gentle enough to get me started, whilst getting me involved. Look how things turned out (i'm really gutted about more set backs for martial arts). Had a kidney infection just before term began, and i seem to have gotten my ME back, and, i can't really go to lectures, or do my work properly....and now, i'm even going to have to book an appointment with a flipping doctor to get a note for exams (i don't like going to the doctors, had some bad experiences, there). Oh well, can't do much about it. But, i might have problems come summer, if i don't get better. How the heck will i be able to do a days work, and get work needed to be done for uni? And, i'm sort of living off bursaries and loans as it is. Sorry, that ended up a rant...really sorry. I hate going like that, but, my fingers are bad for conveying my thoughts when i'm typing.

Hope everyone well.

[Willy Wankenstein]

Bloodybirds: Always a pleasure to hear from you, my friend. Sometimes, I feel like I underrate my own native culture a little too much. Then again, constantly immersed as I am in it, I tend to see the dross, ugliness and fakery way more than I do the genuine and beautiful. That said, 'grand ultimate fist' is something of an anglicised translation. It is a reference first and foremost to Taijiquan's conceptual root in, well, the principle of taiji or dualistic extremes as found in Taoist philosophy, as opposed to any preeminence its practitioners may claim over the martial arts world. In fact, compared to some other notable styles, Taijiquan produced relatively few fighters of note - its luminaries were men of genius who would have become just as prominent in any other style - and just about no killers I can think of, in contrast to, say, the infamous Bajiquan, particularly of the Li Shuwen era. Not that I'm promoting or denigrating any particular style, mind you - all I'm saying is that I'm afraid something got a little skewed in translation

Anyway, I believe you were saying something about feisty Texan fillies with a penchant for the rough stuff? Go ahead - I'm all ears