STIX and STONES and HEAVY METAL..

Back in the day,when O-Town was just beginning to boom as a gold mining operation,a large Chinese population found it's way here looking to make their fortunes...

Like most folks,they needed a place to gather amongst their brethren,and worship...

These are photos of the original Chinese Temple.

I don't really know if it serves any present function,because they've built a brand spankin' new one right next door..Hey Rainey!..You know the park that lies across from my house?..Well this is two blocks East on the street that runs behind it!

This is some kind of huge,cast iron something-or-other that sets in front of the new Temple.

Maybe it's a massive incense burner..I just don't know.

Although I wasn't able to capture the magnificent patina,the brilliant craftsmanship is evident..

I'm tempted to wander on over there some fine day,and observe the services.

My background in Kung-fu has served to spark my interest in most things Chinese...Still,I wouldn't want to be perceived as just another Ugly American,intruding on their sacred mass.

Like Master Jimmy Woo used to say,and only half jokingly,

'White men have no character'..

Have a great week kids!..

Fun With Stix!..

I’ve thought,from time to time,of writing about some of my experiences in martial arts here on my blog.I hesitated,because I felt it might come across as some kind of exercise in “chest thumping”.Not that I’m above that necessarily,it’s just that I’m not really about that.Recently,my dear friend Mary brought me some pix she has held onto for over 20 years.The memories are too wonderful not to share..

A little background;
My partner,GB,and I are putting together a staff fighting routine to perform at the “Orange show” in San Bernardino,California.We decided from the beginning that we would execute all the strikes and blocks at full speed and power.This,by necessity,would involve some meticulous choreography in order to make it as realistic as possible,without either of us ending up in the emergency room.
The staffs are made from “Rattan”,a solid core bamboo that,when treated with a mixture of linseed oil and turpentine,becomes virtually unbreakable.The routine employs techniques from the “San Soo” style of Kung-Fu.
It starts with staff “form”..Moves that are done individually to simulate actual fighting technique.Karate enthusiasts would call this “Kata”

After the form,which always consists of 26 moves,We move into the "Attack"


I've disarmed GB.The observer presumes that I now have the advantage..

GB evades a strike...
..and takes me out with a piston kick to the head.
No,he didn't take my head off!..Although contact is made,the punches are "pulled"..Excellent control on GB's part I might add.

After several weeks of practice..
It's SHOWTIME!..Damm,..we were serious..

There were over 100 martial artists in attendance,as well as over 300 observers in the audience..What a rush!..By the way,the 2 kids in the white "Gi's" were students in my kid's class.The one on the left went on to achieve his Black Belt,and open his own studio
"Are you talkin' to ME?"..
It's ON!..

This demo was way back in the 80's kids..But even if I do say so myself,after 20 odd years...
I STILL got it... ;)