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This past weekend, I got to spend three days at a training camp that Muhammed Ali had built especially for his use, just outside Deer Lake, PA. It was a phenomenal experience, made slightly bittersweet by the knowledge that this may well be the last session held there for the style of martial arts I study -- there is some big boxing promoter trying to buy the camp from my Grandmaster, George Dillman.
The Highs:
The Lows:
The I-still-don't-knows:
This one... is deep.
For the really nasty portion of the art I study, there is about 10% of the population that is immune. We have no idea why, or how to predict whether a given individual will fall into that 10%. I am one of them, which has frustrated my training partners over the years to a considerable degree. ::G::
This weekend, I discovered a way to turn that immunity on and off within myself. I tested it with my training partner, with my teacher, and then with one of the others there that I knew of, but had never met before. In all cases, if I had it switched on, it didn't matter how hard they tried to make it work, they got nothing... and then if I turned it off, they were able to generate the same effects with me that they would be able to with anybody else.
I knew as soon as I realized what was going on that this was going to open up a LOT of doors, many of them involving discomfort for yours truly! LOL But if I can figure out all of the details involved, the effects (both for me and for those who learn it) will be nothing short of phenomenal, in my opinion.
Last night at class, we spent about an hour with me and one other person acting as laboratory rats, testing various theories and applications. May I just say: OW! ::G:: And I have every reason to believe that the research for this project is going to involve a lot more OW! for me. So... a painful process, but with a big payoff.
However, I did get a HUGE compliment from one of the masters there this weekend. He and I have worked together on several different occasions, and all indications are that this discovery falls within his special area of expertise. We talked for a while, and when we were done, he was bubbling over with excitement, and saying how glad he was that I was the one who had made this discovery, because of my intellect and my high level of ability within that particular specialty.
This just made me bust my buttons -- not only was one of the very respected masters praising my ability within his area of expertise, but he wasn't even trying to pay me a compliment!
The Highs:
- The setting itself is beautiful, and has an incredible energizing feel to it.
- I got to train with some of the most amazing martial artists in the world, and to do it in the same gymnasium that Ali used to train in.
- I got to see and train with several good friends, and to make some new ones.
- I did something I've never done before -- sang karaoke. It was particularly amusing to see the double-takes on people's faces when I shifted into that really low register I use for some songs. ::G::
The Lows:
- There was one person there who has been trying to get a friend of mine to come train with him. He wants a considerable amount of money, but he is the only affiliate for our organization in the immediate area. I got to meet him this weekend, and he is a dipshit! I wouldn't train with this guy for free, and would certainly never pay him! Fortunately, we were able to find another affiliate for my friend to train with. It's a bit of a drive, so their sessions will be limited to once a month, but it's worlds better than this clown!
- There was one lady there who kept trying to explain to me how I should be doing something that my own teacher was demonstrating for the group. In one case, I know for a fact that he has only demonstrated this a few times outside of our school, but it is something we do fairly regularly. I'm sure she was just trying to be helpful, but she kept coming across as an authoritative know-it-all bitch.
- Unfortunately, said bitch clearly doesn't believe in teaching her children manners, either. She had her daughter with her, whom I would guesstimate to be around 6-7 years old. The kid was walking through the room just off of the gym, and had a drink in there with her. One of the other instructors told her very politely, "I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to have drinks in here." She looked up at him, made a face and stuck out her tongue, and went right on with what she was doing. Fortunately (I guess ::G::) Sterling is too nice to backhand the little brat.
The I-still-don't-knows:
This one... is deep.
For the really nasty portion of the art I study, there is about 10% of the population that is immune. We have no idea why, or how to predict whether a given individual will fall into that 10%. I am one of them, which has frustrated my training partners over the years to a considerable degree. ::G::
This weekend, I discovered a way to turn that immunity on and off within myself. I tested it with my training partner, with my teacher, and then with one of the others there that I knew of, but had never met before. In all cases, if I had it switched on, it didn't matter how hard they tried to make it work, they got nothing... and then if I turned it off, they were able to generate the same effects with me that they would be able to with anybody else.
I knew as soon as I realized what was going on that this was going to open up a LOT of doors, many of them involving discomfort for yours truly! LOL But if I can figure out all of the details involved, the effects (both for me and for those who learn it) will be nothing short of phenomenal, in my opinion.
Last night at class, we spent about an hour with me and one other person acting as laboratory rats, testing various theories and applications. May I just say: OW! ::G:: And I have every reason to believe that the research for this project is going to involve a lot more OW! for me. So... a painful process, but with a big payoff.
However, I did get a HUGE compliment from one of the masters there this weekend. He and I have worked together on several different occasions, and all indications are that this discovery falls within his special area of expertise. We talked for a while, and when we were done, he was bubbling over with excitement, and saying how glad he was that I was the one who had made this discovery, because of my intellect and my high level of ability within that particular specialty.
This just made me bust my buttons -- not only was one of the very respected masters praising my ability within his area of expertise, but he wasn't even trying to pay me a compliment!
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