White Crane Sword Pt 33

From an emotional point of view, White Crane both terrifies and delights me.  It feels at times very yang or yin before you find a nice balance.  I remember right at the beginning when Sigong would demonstrate what we were to learn and I would feel a panic rise up that almost blocked any hope of being able to figure out exactly what he was doing, let alone learn it.  Then, little by little, break out room after break out room, tangled tassel after tangled tassel, those first few movements became more natural and fluent, thus allowing the gradual process of going from my harder yang reaction, to the softer yin learning.  Over the years, I have learned to understand and trust that by following Sigong’s teaching method, we will absorb what is being taught and become comfortable with the movements.  The hard part of this form is getting the sword and the tassel to flow harmoniously.  This is a real challenge and one of the reasons I pick up my sword, day after day and practise.

Seminar #33 started like our other seminars with Sigong demonstrating earlier sections of the form.  We then move into break out rooms for more concentrated attention on the part Sigong was covering.  Little snippets are shared, questions asked, movements clarified – it is a great system.  As always, after Sigong has demonstrated and after our session in the breakout rooms, we are able to ask questions.  Gradually, our knowledge of the form grows.

After we have polished the parts of the form we know, it is time for us to be introduced to new movements.   The complexity of what comes next tends to vary, but this week, my yang panic shot right up and I thought, wow, that looks interesting, as in challenging.  More demonstrations by Sigong, then into the break out rooms and again, little by little, a step here, a toss of the tassel there, a flick of sword and maybe, just maybe I have an outline, maybe even a rough shape.  My yin starts to balance my yang as I remember, I’ve been here before, and after the next few seminars this new section won’t feel new anymore, it will become just like the rest of the form and need lots of practise and polishing.

Thank you Sigong and everyone else who so generously help.

by Belinda Hadfield