letters from Shanghai

2010 - Michael has been in Shanghai for 6 months. His teacher in Qingdao asked for him to be in the recent festival there. The Sailing events were in Qingdao during the Olympics. Michael & Matthew taught English in Qingdao 1998-2000. My family & I went to see them in 2000 & we met Bi Shifu. In 2005 a group - Matthew, Michael & Jing, Dave, Noel & I went to Qingdao where we stayed with BiShifu & his father in a traditional village. Bi Shifu arranged for his kungfu sister Pan Laoshi to teach us Tui Shou. Michael & Matthew continued learning routines with Bi Shifu too. This is a recent email from Michael. Hi Lindsay, Hope your demo went well. Just got back from Qingdao. It was a really good trip. Bi Shifu is looking well. I also had the chance to meet up with most of my old friends there as well including Meng Jia and Lu Jian. The tournament side of things was very successful. It was a very big competition. I was lucky enough to win all 3 of my events, empty hand, Tang Lang Jian and Traditional long weapons. I did Da Mo Jian and Tang Lang Staff. There were a lot of Tang Lang practitioners there, as well as other traditional styles and a little bit of modern Wushu. One of the three areas (mats) was dedicated to tai ji for the whole day. I didn't get to see much of the tai ji though. Not much in the way of other internal styles there. Will send some photos through when I can. Hope everyone is well. Best regards, Michael.
July 3, 2010 at 10:40 AM Edit Delete Flag Quote & Reply
Lindsay Smith Site Owner Posts: 8	an earlier letter from Michael - My training here is going well. I have memorised the Wudang 13, 38 and tai chi sword and am working on getting them right. It feels like a luxury having time to work on the forms. Usually on trips to China everything is so rushed and there is only just enough time to learn all of the moves, then work on them back in Australia. I have also started the Wudang five elements form. It looks like tai chi but isn't, apparently. I have finished learning the spear, which I really enjoyed, and have now started on double broadswords which is a nice form too. Bi Shi Fu called and asked me if I wanted to participate in a tournament on the 20th of June. He has put me down for three events, empty hand, da mo jian and pole. Its a Qingdao city tournament as opposed to the international one they have every couple of years. I'm looking at it as more of a chance to show the other praying mantis people in town what Bi shifu has taught us rather than the competition side of things(which I think is Bi's aim too, judging by the forms he suggested). Of course I still want to do them the best I can. Preparation for this is difficult while I am learning so much other new stuff ..