This is a guest post from Sandy Troster. She is an instructor-in-training who does the Toronto school proud and we thought her story worth sharing. She is an intelligent, successful woman in her late forties who attends every Jiulong event she possibly can.

Well, I did it! As part of the Toronto Study Group here in Canada, I’ve only ever ventured to the Gompa and to the Gathering for additional Jiulong Baguazhang training, so given Shifu’s plans to slow/stop traveling I would like to take advantage and visit other Shizi’s training groups in their own cities.

My first venture was made possible due to winning a free return airfare, which took me to Boston. With my deepest and humblest thanks my elder brother Shizi Dale Dugas collected me at Boston’s Logan airport on Friday and we were on our way. After meeting with Charlie and Phil as we each checked in, we headed out for food and catching up, where we were joined by Mario and Scott and Shizi Bobb before the evening’s workshop.

From the moment I arrived in the training hall and throughout the weekend I was made to feel a welcome part of the group. New insights and reinforcements of training in willow bends was part of the evening and I had the opportunity to train with many different partners over the weekend.

My biggest enjoyment was learning to fall/roll, and I’m no longer afraid of it. With my thanks to my brother Charlie P who is great at falling and helped me out a lot, as well as discussing ways to train and develop further when I train it at home. I’ll be spending a few months with this as part of my regular practise, so am hoping to have some skill in it by this year’s Gathering.

What I found incredible was the ways in which all the skills are needed/used in Shuaijiao. We practised floor daoyin warmups, wedging, finding the spine, and training using yi xin gong but not only those but all skills we train resulted in effective projecting and takedowns. It really emphasized the importance and role of the learning sequence of sitting, standing, shifting, walking, circling, applying (for example we had a projection to the side). Oh yes and those daoyin warmups for both flexibility and for movements that have those “other” uses

It was particularly nice when something just happened properly because it had been trained (ba step whilst turning) and it resulted in an effective takedown while maintaining control over one’s self. Just one of many observations this weekend.

It once again struck me that we learn our lessons both in and out of the classroom. This is not merely a way of a martial art it is a lifestyle and philosophy of living.

Having said that, my awareness skills while growing still need work. For example, 3 times I forgot items this weekend (1) my hat at Panera restaurant, which I knew I left there, (2) my red comb in Charlie B’s car, and (3) my voice recorder in the training hall. Well, I am still working on my awareness and the commonalities here are that I was in a hurry each time and that I did know where I left each item. I did recover my hat! Also I strongly recommend getting enough sleep before any seminar as we were all very tired after an exhilirating weekend of training and learning.

As for thanks, I owe gratitude to all my Baguazhang brothers and sisters but particularly everyone with whom I trained, as we all helped each other progress. Your warm welcome and help was truly appreciated.

Shizi Dale, thank you again for driving me everywhere as well as your guidance during the seminar and weekend.

Shizi Bobb, for putting together a great weekend and making it possible for me to join your group with virtually no notice, thank you. And my special thanks for being my first training partner on Friday and helping point me in the right direction.

Shifu, my deepest thanks for your teachings and your patience. Your generosity and concern, and friendship. The weekend was full, stimulating yet not overloaded. I have much to work with and am grateful for the learning opportunities that extend beyond the immediacy of the weekend. I will be training and be able to continue training as my skills develop due to your sharing a way of progressing each skill.

Yes, I hope to be able to do this again soon

Cheers

Sandy Troster
Toronto Study Group student
in Ottawa