The Trip, part 3

There is not that much interesting about an Interstate trip of about 75 miles so I had to make it interesting myself. I took advantage of the internal CD player in the various cars that I had over a ten year period and used it to: partially learn a language, spanish, learn a lot about Qi Gung, or as some say, Chi Kung, which is a Chinese relaxation method and some say a method of centering that can help to develope your power, strength, and of course relaxation. I also got to listen to lots of music, some that I had not listened to since I was in the military service in Hawaii around 1970 to 1973. Most of it was rock but some was classical and easy listening. My favorites were "Best of Doors' and some "Jethro Tull" that I had not heard for many years. I also listened to "The Who" and "Led Zepelin 4" a lot. Eventually I was hearing a 2 volume set of "The Rolling Stones" which I liked a lot (although cd 1 was much superior, in my opinion to the 2nd cd). It is called "Forty Licks"...I don't really know why. I just liked it because it had many of the songs on it that I grew up hearing and liking. At any cost, the trip was "a trip" and was almost always enjoyed and sometimes relaxing. Next time: Sifu Fong seminar (the first one).

The Trip Itself Part 2

I had several other pit stops too. The next one after the Exxon station was a normal interstate rest stop and was located about 15 miles north of Opelousas. When I arrived there each time I knew that I had only about 15 minutes to Lafayette and then another 15 or 20 minutes to New Iberia (depending on which way I went). The rest stop was nice but was not "live"...it was just a place to stop, go to the bathroom or get a resfreshment and some needed rest on the way back. I almost always stopped there because it gave me a needed breather from the highway. After that stop, the next one was a station in Lafayette itself. I usually stopped there because I knew they had good coffee and it really kept me going. On the way back, I always stopped at another Exxon station but in Lafayette because they had good capuchinos which I love. After a heavy workout (described later) the drink made me feel a lot better. I also usually took a large coffee container with me from home, and by that time, it was empty so I needed more juice. After the Lafayette stop, the only other one on the way back was the rest stop that I stopped at on the way. It was always a welcome sight because I was usually very tired by that time and maybe needed a quick 5 minute nap. That nap would be enough to get me home...more later.

The Trip Itself

I don't know how many trips I have made from Pineville, Louisiana to both Lafayette and New Iberia over the past 10 or so years, but there were a bunch of them. Generally, I went every other Sunday although there were exceptions if one or both of us were unable to make it that day. The trip itself consisted of a short trip north of the Red River in Pineville and later Ball, Louisiana to Alexandria (where I was born), then to Interstate 49 south to either Lafayette or New Iberia which is about 15 minutes south of Lafayette. I had favorite places to stop. I called them "pit stops" and they were mostly for relaxation and to get some coffee or capuchino. My first pit stop was at an Exxon station near Woodworth, La which is about 10 miles south of Alexandria. I got to know the clerk lady there, I will call her Susan and her adopted dog, Pete. Pete was a scroungy mutt but very friendly, especially when looking for a meal. Susan got to the point whereby she recognized me and that I came in every two weeks or so on Sundays. I usually got a candy bar and coffee and she always joked with me about it being my breakfast or lunch. We always had a big laugh over it. The next pit stop was actually a regular rest stop about 15 miles north of Opelousas, La. That is over half way through the trip and a welcomed sight for the weary. I'll tell you more about this stop on the next post.

Permission Granted

I now have permission to use Sifu Dan Terrell's name and school. He and the school is located in New Iberia, La. which is about 15 minutes south of Lafayette, La. His school, which is very spacious, is located in a business area with other stores, etc. nearby. The addressi is: 910 E. Main Street, Suite 31, New Iberia, La. His phone number is: 337-376-6509. Dan is a very personable guy and even though he is a well-qualified Sifu, he usually has all of us call him Dan or Danny. I feel that in more formal settings, he should be called Sifu. He is married, with 2 grown children who are also on their way to success in life. Dan works very hard because he works all day in a management job and then runs his school at night and weekends. His school is called PMATC which stands for Progressive Martial Arts Training Center and it is truly that! The training includes: Wing Chun, Pekiti-Tirsia (Kali), Muay Thai, and Grappling Arts and Dan is expert in all of them. Dan's Sifu for Wing Chun is the famous Francis Fong of Hong Kong fame. Although Sifu Fong was younger, he knew Bruce Lee in Hong Kong. Actually, Bruce Lee's first art was Wing Chun. He used Wing Chun basically to learn how to fight and he fought many times on the rooftops of Hong Kong. Anyway, more about Dan and the school later.

Wing Chun Den (Ex-Garage)

Usually, Don and I met on his "back screen porch" at least for several months until it got colder, and even in the South, it did get colder! When it did, we moved to Don's "extra den" which had been converted from a 2 car garage years before. There were many great Wing Chun times and moments in this converted garage and I enjoyed tremendously every moment of it! In this den, I began to learn the rudiments of Wing Chun such as centerline, rooting, sensitivity via chi sao and many other famous Wing Chun principles that I still carry with me. The den was about 24 by 24 or so and was just a big, open room very suitable for great workouts. During my first year and half, I was learning Wing Chun from the ground up without the benefit of striving for belts or shashes and it really felt good. Later, I would decide to add the belt level curriculum to my endeavers. While I enjoyed learning the style that way the first year and half, I eventually felt that I should get the benefit of all that was offered by Don and his school. Later, I regretted not doing that from the beginning, but, you can't go back. Some of the things that I started learning in the den helped me realize how great an art Wing Chun was and is. I will always remember the fun and interesting things I learned and did there! Later, the lessons would move to a more formal setting. More on that later so stay tuned.

After Chum Kiu Seminar

Later, after the seminar and on my way home (which takes about 2 hours), I had plenty of time to think. Some was about what I had learned in the seminar but most was how impressed I was with the use of the wooden dummy at the seminar. Although it wasn't necessarily a "wooden dummy" seminar, the dummy was used often to help explain things like certain principles in Wing Chun. Some in the seminar, including Don had indicated that people they knew built and sold dummies but most sold for over $1000. At that time (and even now), I just could not afford that so I started looking around and also check the martial art magazines and on-line. I came across a "dummy" that was being sold by P. Holder, who is considered a "Grand Master" by many and who also puts out a lot of Wing Chun videos. It was considered a "half dummy" because the body was not round but basically a 2 by 8" body with the arms and leg (or knee if you want) protruding out the front. The basic difference between it and a regular dummy was the round body. I purchased it for $300 and it was sent to me in about 3 weeks. The package was very heavy but I managed to move it and eventually put it together. I screwed it to a wall so it was stationary and began to practice. I really didnt know anything but I was learning and I enjoyed it anyway. Later, I came to find out that the half-dummy was not considered very good because it did not move the way an actual, full dummy should. The movement and sound it makes is very important to a Wing Chun person as I later found out and the "real" purpose of the dummy is to learn structure and positioning and not to toughen your hands, legs, and arms.

Chum Kiu Seminar

The day of the seminar, I had to get up early because it was basically a two hour trip from Cenla. I arrived at the gym fairly early since I had been there before for a previous meeting. Don and gang were busy loading a large wooden dummy from his truck and I helped. The seminar leader(I will call him Mike for now), was there and greeted me. I had talked to him on the phone when I first called about Wing Chun months earlier. His name and school name was given to me by the travelling Wing Chun teacher. Don introduced us and Mike did remember talking to me on the phone. Since then, Mike has moved to Atlanta to pursue work as a computer person. He still keep up with the Martial Arts though. The seminar was tremendous! He went through the segments of the form, not teaching the form, per se, but explaining the principles as he went to help us understand the nature of them. Don, and his son, helped demonstrate (usually the dummy stuff) and we all broke up every half hour or so to use the information that we had received. I already knew a few guys from previous meetings, so I was able to use them as helpers. One of the guys was about my height so we got together quite often and one of the few ladies (I will call her Doris for now) was also instrumental in helping me, especially on the dummy. All in all, the seminar was great. It went on for about 6 hours and one of the best things about it is that it was taped and I was able to purchase the tape. I still have it!