What am I searching for? During my many years of training Shaolin Kung Fu* I've learned different ways of meditation. Through my travels, I've been able to see how different cultures use/view meditation. The Forest Monks of Thailand have a wide variety of meditation methods. Walking, mindfulness exercises, as well as a variety of sitting postures. From Shaolin, our main way of developing mindfulness is through our training. The next most used method for Shaolin would be Standing Meditation (Zhan Zhuang) or Qi Gong exercises. Finally, there is the traditional sitting meditation. This order is due to my focus on following the "Warrior Monk" path. Those following this path with spend the majority of their time drilling forms, power training, and trying to understand the various theories that go with the martial practice. “For a tea master tea is everything, but for a Zen Buddhist priest, tea is simply one part of Zen”. Kenin Magami After a fun Mid Autumn Festival, I found myself sipping on some electrolytes. Staring out into the greenery that surrounded the hotel. Wet clothes hung behind me, bags full of plastic bottles piled in a corner, and the drip of AC gently touching the floor. For some reason, this was the environment that provoked me to question; "What am I searching for?" Eight months at this Kung Fu School. 10 months at Maling . Years of work, saving money, to keep my Kung Fu training going. Kung Fu has always scratched an itch that nothing else did. It brought joy and fulfillment. Yet, none of these really answer the question. Gong An's, Mantras, Prayers Perhaps this is my personal Gong An (or Koan, in Japanese). The most popular Gong An being, "Who is calling the Buddha" or simply, "Who am I?". Over the next few days I will keep repeating this phrase. In training. In eating. In sleeping. To try and get my mind one step closer towards understanding. Perhaps through understanding, I'll finally answer this question. *Now, 2 years in China and about 2-3 years of self study 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

A calligraphy master writes a poem for a family based on their name. Mid Autumn Festival Mid Autumn Festival is here which means we get a little break from training. A single day to go enjoy the local festivities. With this opportunity presented to us, the students of Kung Fu Xinglin went to the local ancient town. The town, known as Luodai Ancient Town, is home to the Hakka people (客家) of China. One of China's 56 ethnic groups. It's narrow streets hold within it tea shops, restaurants, stalls, drink stands, as well as 4 guild halls. Most which are turned into museums. Dragon Dancers moving through the ancient town. Wandering the Streets Weaving through the streets, we caught glimpses of some festivities going on. Music. People performing on stages. A winding dragon dancing through the streets. The smells of delicious food wafting through the air. The atmosphere was enjoyable. Stopping in to rest at tea houses was a nice escape from the crowded streets. Munching on some meat on a stick reminded me of all the other pleasant travel memories. It's crazy how China has become a second home to me. a place where I've lived a good chunk of my life. Shaping who I am. Traditional Chinese clothes within the walls of a Tulou. Change is Coming While sipping on tea, I looked around at the group. Change is not only happening within myself; but also within the school. Four different places, soon to be five. Old students returning home, new students replacing us. All the jokes and stories of students past can only be retold with those few that are left. I also look at us and think of our training. Each of us has gotten way better in some way. Whether it be through acrobatics, flexibility, internal power, or basics. All the students here have gone through their own challenges to get where they are today. So, as the school possibly moves one last time. I wish that the new students that arrive will be able to appreciate the new location. Hopefully the old students, who have gone through a years worth of challenges; will be able to head home feeling fulfilled. I know I will. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

Polite Conversation Sitting upon a purple chaise* I talk with the recent arrival to our "Kung Fu School" . Laughing about the day's events, our conversation led me to realize that today is the reason I keep traveling. The weird yet mundane days where a lot and nothing happens. Where you can end the night feeling fulfilled, content. For Example... Today started with me waking up later than normal. My phone flashed the time, 7:50 am. Twenty minutes until our morning training session would start. As I moved my aching body, my roommate quipped, "Hey, you're finally awake. There is no power and water". The sounds reached my ears but didn't cement until I tried to flush the toilet. "Oh, no water." What followed was all of us heading to a local martial art school (Wu Guan) in a taxi and our Shifu's car. This would be the second time this week using the Wu Guan. The recent late night storms had been flooding our usual training area. Causing the red clay dirt to become a thick, sticky mud. Training This week of training has been a mix of our usual training schedule and our tournament training. Three of the students have been preparing to film their applications for the Coaching Certification and Duan Wei Level. Which means learning a new form while reviewing old forms. The Wu Guan that we are training is nice. Not too big, as they usually are only training kids. It has enough space to do forms. A few bags to practice strikes. Perfect for our rag tag group of Kung Fu'ers. The plan for the rest of the week is this: Film our applications on Thursday. Train like normal on Friday Film videos and photos for the School on Saturday Although there are many elements constantly changing our training. I find it interesting how we always find a way, place, and time to train. Even just a little bit. That's the lesson I'm taking from these past couple months. The other take away is how the weird memorable events make this strange Kung Fu life enjoyable. Making the most of each day, hope you are too. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" *Or a whore's bench, as my dad calls it

From the big city, to the temple. From the north, and finally the south. This year's journey has taken me all over China. Days and nights have gone by. Drinking Tea with friends old and new. Training, drenched in sweat. My body, moving through these ancient motions new to me. My mind, trying to make sense of it all. Time and time again our little group has been told, "You're not real monks/warrior monks". Yet, day in and day out we continue to train in the art that we love. Performing, competing, testing our skills in so many different ways. In so many different places. If even discipleship doesn't make one a warrior monk; then what exactly does? Tea in the City These thoughts were brought about during a tea session with a friend I hadn't seen in two years. We walked through the streets of Chengdu, catching up on the paths we took in life. His similar but different to mine. His path; full of visa issues, travel, Wushu carpets, and intense training at one of the best places in China. My path; full of working many jobs, long hours, training when I can, to finally being in China training under the sun. In parks, temples, tombs. The night sky was dark over the busy city of Chengdu. The streets lit by the lanterns hanging overhead. Sipping slowly on a warm cup, I talked about plans of going home to which my friend replied, "So the warrior monk journey is finally over, huh?" . A chuckle escaped my mouth, "I guess so" . Trickling Thoughts "Have I ever been a Warrior Monk?". From the days in Maling, where we were known as the Cripple Crew. A gaggle of foreigners trying to master kung fu under some rough circumstances. Fast forward to me back at home, bald head shining out of the collar of blue monk robes. Competing for Gold. Supported only by my solo training session. Even today, I don't feel like a warrior monk. Being told that the Kung Fu I've learned in the past is wrong. Government rules forbidding us to wear our training robes in public or at competitions. Having to leave the temple. Plus, many more small instances like this. It's All Apart of the Journey The musician's voice floated through the night sky as tea continued to flow from the pot to our cups. The differences in our Kung Fu journeys was interesting. As I talked about the politics behind Shaolin; the fakes, rules, and money behind it. He told me of the reality behind Wushu training. As I lamented about the end of this journey my friend made a comment; "Maybe this part of your journey is over. Hopefully the skills you've learned will help you on the next part." The Benefits of This Journey That's when it hit me. Maybe being considered a "warrior monk" isn't apart of my journey. The goal has always been to learn Kung Fu. Warrior monks were always a motivator, an example of what I should strive for. Through Kung Fu, my flexibility, coordination, endurance, and understanding has all improved greatly. I've also learned what things I'm drawn to and what things are hard for me to understand or do. Through watching other classmates; I've seen what is possible at many stages of life. Flexibility gains at 45. Strength gains at 60. Those that find peace in their 30s and 40s. These are all reminders that our life is long and we still have time to improve, as long as we keep trying. So, although I might not be "Shaolin" or a "Warrior Monk". I'm definitely a Kung Fu Man. A Kung Fu Fighter perhaps. And, I'll accept that as I move onto the next stage of my journey. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

Love for Kung Fu Seven students. Training has taken its toll on the long term students. The atmosphere has changed for many reasons. Injuries are plenty. Energy levels are low. Fatigue is definitely setting in on the senior students. But, the love for Kung Fu is still there. In any sport, the athletes have to work through aches, pains, and injuries. With Kung Fu, a practice that is supposed to aim for longevity, my thoughts always lean towards resting when the body reaches this "fatigue plateau". Thinking back to the many masters and coaches I've met; all have some sort of long term injury that they deal with. Lower back, bad knee, dislocated shoulder, abdominal pains, or something else. The Plateau Plan... With fatigue affecting training, my plan for the next few months is simple. Enjoy training and learn these final forms to the best of my ability. The weekends will be spent exploring the streets of Chengdu. Shi Xing Lin has been a great teacher. He's expanded my knowledge of Kung Fu while showing me his view on Shaolin methods and theories. On top of all the training, I've also been able to compete, see much of China, and perform in a wide variety of environments. Temples, Tea rooms, Wu Guans, and more. September, October, and November. Then, my second year of training in China will be over. If I've learned anything from my travels; it's that a lot can happen in a short amount of time. So, let's see what these last few months bring. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

Gong Yi, the promise of better living conditions and better food. The 2024 Summer Camp in Gong Yi comes to an end. The students have basically been given a full week to pack, rest, and train. Our next destination... Chengdu. Where hopefully the school will be staying for the long term. A nasty heat rash has been eating my leg for a month, so the opportunity for rest is nice. This has left me with time to reflect on what a crazy month August has been. Coming back from Hong Kong to a new location was odd. The peaceful temple had been replaced with a park. The concrete oven that we lived in was replaced with a nice hotel. The winding roads and villages were replaced with the bustle of a small city. The students had all been training in a grueling heatwave. Now the slightly cooler temperature of the north felt nice. Big Chances, Big Changes The Summer Camp brought with it the chance for many events. Seeing the actual Shaolin Temple . Witnessing the discipleship of Michael Torres . Visiting local schools. Watching performances. Learning about Chinese history. And so much more. For the four "senior students" at the school. The tournament was the most important event. Battling sickness, injury, and fatigue. We all did well. Placing in all of our events. My results were shocking. Three Gold medals. Winning gold in China felt rewarding. As if I was crossing off a goal on my bucket list. This was also a nice way to cap off my time here. With the school changing locations over the next few days. Our newest destination is Chengdu. Something is Coming Although much different than the life of peace in the mountains; Gongyi has proved relaxing. But, I can’t shake the feeling that this is all almost over. Deja vu . This year's adventure to China really began in December of 2023. Landing in Shanghai, my mind was full of ideas. A Kung Fu wanderlust guided my actions. Some challenges came and went. Luckily, I was able to contact Zhang Shifu . He gave me another chance to expand my Shaolin knowledge. Teaching me Seven Star and the Pu Dao within my first few months. Once I established a better relationship with Shifu and his school. We began talking about long term training plans. I'm glad that I've stuck through the tough days. My Kung Fu Family has expanded, my Mabu is a little bit better, and the experiences that I’ve had here are unforgettable. I’ll be going home a different person. Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

"Didn't notice, but as of late, I think I changed" - This Life , Denzel Curry The Grind The past few months have been an endless grind of the same basic kicks, stances, and forms. Most of the senior students are numb to training now. Exhausted just by the thought of doing another rep of a form or combo. This tournament prep training has had an affect on the other students' training too. Gone are the days of Sanda, Acrobatics, Power Stretching, and variety. Just basics and forms. Over and over. Sickness Strikes Five days before the tournament some sort of sickness struck the students of our school. Coughing, headaches, stuffed sinuses, and low energy were some of the symptoms affecting various students. This put me out for some time, only feeling better on the actual day of the tournament. The few training sessions we had before the tournament were low intensity. Focused mainly on preparing our minds. Remembering the small details. Rehearsing how to get on and off the carpet. Although we were tired from the months of repetition, there was a confidence in all of us that showed. We all understood our forms to a deep level. The things we beat ourselves up over were small details that others wouldn't even notice. Dare I say, our Shifu even looked confident in us. "All of the work is done before the tournament. On competition day we just pick up the medals." - Michael Torres Collecting Our Medals Two days of competing. Hour long drives to and from the tournament. Lots of waiting and little warm up. Talking to other competitors. This is how the days went by in a blur of sparkling uniforms and loud cheers. Stepping on top of the spongy red carpet wasn't as bad as I thought. The judges, audience, and noise seemed to fade away. As I began my form, it was only me, my thoughts guiding my weapons. Sure, I slipped and messed up a few moves. But that is normal. This year has been me hearing how my Kung Fu is all wrong. Stances wrong. Kicks weird. Qi Gong incorrect. Even with the mistakes, I kept moving through my form. Focusing on the next step, learning from my mistakes. Then it was over. A total of 4 minutes on the carpet. Months of work for 4 minutes of competition time. It wasn't until a day later that our Shifu called all the students into a room for a meeting. Sitting in the room our Shifu began to explain the results of our competition. Michael won a gold and bronze. Mikey won three bronze. Julia won two gold and a silver. I won three gold medals. After this crazy year it has been nice to top it off with a few wins. It feels good to win once . We were told that we have been invited to a competition in October. But, the next few weeks will hold some change for our school. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

"This one body has a dual purpose: My hands do my work, My legs get me around. I know my own limits. I'll rest when it pleases me, And work again when I wish." -p. 148, Kamo no Chomei , Hojoki August 8th, 2024. A day I'll remember for quite some time. An early morning breakfast of simple veggies, eggs, porridge and bread. Then, we loaded into the bus towards our destination. It was a relaxing car ride. Students made idle chatter as I read a few pages of a book. Occasionally looking out the window to see the surroundings. Lush greenery dotted with brick and mortar homes. Rain drops gliding across the river as the bus curved around mountains. Soon, the bus carved it's way through narrow village streets. Villages turned into towns. Towns turned to a city. Martial art schools could be seen here and there. Some small others large. The most dominant being Ta Gou Martial Art school. Where hundreds of students could be seen practicing. Arriving at the Temple Before we arrived at the temple, we performed the discipleship ceremony of fellow student Michael Torres. But, I'll let him tell his perspective on that event . Then, we arrived. As the students unloaded the bus and we walked past the giant Ying Ke Seng statue, many feelings ran through me. Tourist groups swarmed around us. With each step, the Shaolin Temple revealed itself to us. The many thoughts continued to flood my mind like the tourists. The biggest thought was: How did a simple Midwesterner end up on an adventure like this? An adventure full of succulent noodles, fried dumplings, drunken monks, love, heartbreak, smoke filled cabs, intense training, and long evenings spent looking into nothingness. Traveling through ancient villages, modern cities, packed metros, and running on dirt trails through jungles. The adventures all blur together into a collection of experiences that have made me who I am today. All leading me to the moment of entering the gates of Shaolin. Quest Complete Our trip was quick. The senior students and I saw most of the famous Shaolin Monuments. The pagota forest, Er Zu Shrine, Guan Yin Statue, the famous floors and trees. Snapping photos along the way to have memories. Then, it was time to go. Although I didn't see the Bodhidharma Cave, or statue, I left feeling accomplished. Almost like a quest was completed. Riding the bus home, I didn't touch my book as this feeling of accomplishment bled into my thoughts. As the bus traced its way back to Gong Yi, a weight left my shoulders. The weight of Kung Fu. Shaolin. Tournaments. Martial Arts. And more... I've been pondering this feeling, and it's meaning. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

Shaolin Summer Camp 2024 Intense heat. Puddles of sweat. Low energy. This is our current situation. The four senior students at Kung Fu Xing Lin continue to drill the same forms over and over again. New students spend the morning learning new moves from Shifu. Curious Chinese stand to the side watching us, mumbling comments to themselves. Trying to motivate myself with the past; I remember the work I did to get here. How the past me would love to be in my current shoes now. Training in a park that is actually the Tomb of an ancient emperor . Learning fine details on a famous Shaolin form. Finally being in Henan, the province that Shaolin Temple is located. I'm living my dream. The Grind "Seeing, however, means more than mere intellectual acceptance on the grounds of intellectual ratiocination - it means individual experience, through which knowledge becomes a living part of our own being, i.e. genuine wisdom." -The Psychological Attitude of Early Buddhist Philosophy, pg. 11 Part of Chan Buddhism is learning from experience instead of through lectures, sutras, or endless lessons. Instead, teachers act as a guide through your practice. Interpret your experiences, and show you how to develop a better understanding. The past few months, the senior students at the school were left to their own means. To drill the forms on their own. Shifu would give us little corrections or guidance on what to do. As we get closer to the tournament Shifu has us working on "feeling" the form. It's no longer about correcting the body or movement. It's about our intention, the power, and minute details. To me, this shows that we've developed an understanding of the form that new students are still working on. Although this grind is exhausting, boring, and (sometimes) not fun... it will be worth it. Shaolin's idea is that Kung Fu is one of the many ways to enlightenment. Maybe this experience will lead me to some understanding. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

A Poem Frustrated. Sitting inside a tiny hostel room. Barely any space to think. A question falls upon my mind, "Who is the one frustrated?" Typhoon Thoughts The news of my train being cancelled hit me as hard as Typhoon Gaemi hit China. Another strand of bad luck I've had on this simple hop to Hong Kong. Hostel cancelling on me. Bank stopping my card. Laptop hard drive almost dying. The heavens seem to be punishing me with mild inconveniences. In the face of these challenges; my clueless, clumsy self was able to make due. Booked a cheap hostel and prayed that the next train will actually leave. Making the Most of the Moment Another day in Hong Kong doesn't bother me. I love this city. The clusterf**k of cultures and histories divided by the winding streets, colorful buildings, all forming into a unique way of life. The city is a conglomerate of different times. Continuing to change while leaving fragments of the past behind. That is what makes it different from Shanghai. That modern metropolis will tear down, make new, or renovate simply the old into something completely different. Losing the identity of the past. Here, some areas just ooze history . Where the time shows and yet holds the scars of the past as the city around it modernizes. These qualities give Hong Kong it's unique identity. There is something that I connect with in this city. Something I can't quite put to words. Yet, the my first memories in Hong Kong are vivid as ever. Leaning on a rail at night, staring into the dark black sea. Feeling the cool ocean breeze as "HongKongaton" played through my cheap headphones. From that moment on, Hong Kong became apart of me. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

From Anhui to Hong Kong July 23rd, a van filled with local villagers picked me up early. The driver's face emitted irritation having to drive out of the way of his normal route to pick up a foreigner at the base of some mountain. The morning mist still surrounding the tea fields. The hum of life not yet awaken. The van sped fast throughout the winding mountain roads, only stopping for breakfast. None offered. No care given. The importance was my destination. It weighed as heavy as my over packed bags did. The time had come for another visa hop. Another trip to the beloved city of Hong Kong. My moldy passport was clung tight against my body by the seat belt of the van. Eyes watching the views of rural China pass me. Mind thinking about plans for my final trip in Hong Kong. From Hong Kong to Henan July 28th (early morning), just like that my time in Hong Kong was over. A blur of people, streets, alleys, and many soothing cups of tea is all that remains in my mind. Typhoon Gaemi extended my trip by a few days. Gifting me the time to read and meditate as the rain fell around me. Experiencing one more historical event out of the many in my life. Luggage clutched in my hands or pressing firmly on my back; I marched towards the train station. Returning to China bearing gifts for a few with thoughts of training circling my head. Sitting down in the soft seat. The sleek metal train took off at 200 kilometers per hour. Making the long journey seem short. Eyes heavy from the early departure, and shoulders sore from the weight of my attachments. Rest found me peacefully. Gong Yi, the Home of Du Fu July 28th (evening), the slender bullet that was my temporary home came to a halt. Zheng Zhou. My final stop. Shaking myself out of a daze, my hands clutched my luggage tightly. Not wanting to lose it in the sea of people rushing to their own destinations. To my surprise, the train was an hour late. Which didn't support the next leg of my journey. Rushing through the crowded station, my eyes not moving from one beacon of hope. "Long Distance Transport". If I could catch the last bus out of here, then I'd still be able to finish my journey. A couple of tired taxi drivers questioned me, asking me questions. My response was simple, "Long Distance Transport". They walked away mumbling and shaking their heads. My feet carried me onward but, a doubt crept into my mind. "Did they just say there were no more buses?" The waning sun shone upon my eyes as I exited the station. The Bus Station was blocked by a sea of green taxis and their drivers. Collecting customers like fish to bait. As I approached the sea of cars, eyes fixed on the Bus Station's red letters, two drivers approached me. Questioning me on my destination, I answered honestly. "Gong Yi, I'm taking the bus though" "Gong Yi? There are no more buses. They ended at 6." A quick glance at my phone proved him right. 6:45. An travel fatigued mind realizing the driver was telling the truth. There were no more buses . Maybe the fatigue showed upon my face; but one driver's demeanor changed. "I'll take you " Without hesitation, I followed him into the green taxi. Hoping that all the readings about compassion and kindness were true. The taxi driver's slightly wrinkled square face, narrow eyes, showed no signs of deception. As the green machine started up, his talked with the joyfulness of a local. His speech was that of someone talking about their favorite hobby. We talked of booze, cigarettes, his family, age (45), and the struggles of daily life. Driving me to Gong Yi took an hour and some change. But as I paid my fare, I knew I trusted the right guy. He ensured all my belongings were out of the car, and explained the price of the ride saying; " I'm no liar. I give an honest fare. But, find another driver when you have to get home. This is too far." To that I replied; "I trust your price, thank you." With that I shut the door, turning to my new home for the next two months. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

"The Eagle Claw was devised by Yue Fei in the Ming Period. It has 108 patterns. These were developed from 50 basic attacks. This fighting style focuses on the bones, sinews, and more fragile joints. All of the techniques power, lies in the finger tips. The touch must be at once gentle, but like an iron vice... The Eagle Claw is the deadliest of all techniques." -"Invincible Armor" Challenges of Training Sitting in my concrete room. Bags, tea, and dirty laundry scattered about. My sore foot inflamed from an unknown but reoccurring injury. Music softly plays from my headphones as the endless hum of the fan goes on. My mind drifts to a single question; am I letting such a "small" injury get in the way of my training? This single thought leads me to thinking about all of the challenges the students of Er Zu Temple have faced during training. Most recently, I've been struggling to learn my very first *Imitation Fist Form.... The Eagle Claw . Eagle Claw Qualities Zhang Shifu, of Kung Fu Xing Lin, began teaching me the Eagle Claw. The form is all about speed and grappling moves. The most important aspect, is having a strong Eagle Claw throughout the entire form. My "claw" is far from perfect, and will require a lot more stretching in order to look right. The thumb, pointer and middle finger should be pulled back, with the finger tips facing outwards towards your opponent. This claw is said to be used for grabbing, crushing, and even striking. There are other hand shapes used throughout the form, like fist and palm. Just not as often as the claw. Am I letting such a "small" injury get in the way of my training? Although the Eagle Claw is about speed, Zhang Shifu talked to me about the idea of "Shen Fa" (身法). Which, put simply, is how your entire body moves during techniques. He stressed that I focus on getting that correct before adding speed. As movements with correct Shen Fa can be applied more correctly than if you just have speed. They also look better for performance. Other Challenges Speed and Shen Fa are quite important, but there is also a "tempo" with the form. As Zhang Shifu has explained to me, the tempo goes with the idea behind the movements. Some movements are like an Eagle taking flight. An Eagle swooping down or an Eagle gently landing. Not only do I need to be fast, but I also need to know when to slow down or stop. Tempo is apart of a lot of forms. For Imitation Fist, it seems more prominent and important. The final challenge I've been facing with the Eagle form is how different it is compared to what I've learned in the past. The basic forms like Wu Bu Quan, Tong Bei Quan, and Da Hong Quan are all very simple, linear. The moves in the Eagle Form are large, circular, swooping movements that change height. The stances are slightly different as well. There is never a standard Horse Stance or Bow stance, something is always tweaked with it. I'm hoping that as I continue to practice, my overall Kung Fu will improve. Not just the Eagle Form. 📿Johnny *象形拳, Xiang Xing Quan or "Imitation Fist" is often translated as "Animal Style/Animal Fist" Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Want to train Shaolin Kung Fu? Click the button below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"