After flying on 5 planes and being in 6 airports over 5 days, we arrived in Lansing, MI, on Friday evening the 9th. We slept pretty well--maybe dividing jetlag into two sessions is a good idea! While in Lansing we're staying with our niece Amy and her husband Albert, who we love. Interestingly, this is kind of returning the favor, since Amy lived with us last furlough while I was finishing my MA and she was in college. And Albert would come over to see Amy!
Early Saturday morning I was out front waiting for Prof. Milligan to pick me up and take me to the Ambassador Martial Arts Christian Fellowship annual meeting, where I was scheduled to be the guest instructor. I had never met this man, but we had a blast talking over the martial arts styles and people and history we knew on the way to Kalamazoo.
Now you may be wondering how I taught the martial arts what with what I've been saying about my knee problems. I chose to teach Saam Chien ("3 Wars"), a linear form from Fushan, Fukien, in southern China. This form is not only an excellent way to teach kung fu principles (breathing, energy, posture), it is a very historical form, being the Chinese basis for the famous Okinawan Karate form called Sanchin. And it requires almost no twisting and turning, so it caused no knee pain. I then taught the energy of striking (snap, shock, push), and finally the famous one inch punch, which is really a push.
I found the leader of the AMACF, Phil Lewis (7th black), and his Shinsei Kenpo style to be excellent, and the other instructors of the organization to top notch as well. Had a great time serving Christ in this unusual manner!
Early Saturday morning I was out front waiting for Prof. Milligan to pick me up and take me to the Ambassador Martial Arts Christian Fellowship annual meeting, where I was scheduled to be the guest instructor. I had never met this man, but we had a blast talking over the martial arts styles and people and history we knew on the way to Kalamazoo.
Now you may be wondering how I taught the martial arts what with what I've been saying about my knee problems. I chose to teach Saam Chien ("3 Wars"), a linear form from Fushan, Fukien, in southern China. This form is not only an excellent way to teach kung fu principles (breathing, energy, posture), it is a very historical form, being the Chinese basis for the famous Okinawan Karate form called Sanchin. And it requires almost no twisting and turning, so it caused no knee pain. I then taught the energy of striking (snap, shock, push), and finally the famous one inch punch, which is really a push.
I found the leader of the AMACF, Phil Lewis (7th black), and his Shinsei Kenpo style to be excellent, and the other instructors of the organization to top notch as well. Had a great time serving Christ in this unusual manner!