Everybody is Kung Fu fighting... (But if you are drunk, don't try it)

Chinese word of the day:MamaHuhu-means-Its ok/in the middle (Rorey taught me this word last night) British word of the day: Barmy-means-crazy I cheated at breakfast this morning. I brought a packet of hot cocoa mix with me to breakfast when I was suppose to skip today but I really wanted chocolate oatmeal again! 


Morning training went quick. We did warm ups and drills but then we ended class a little early and headed down to the main hall to the ring. I asked whats going on and my friend told me it was 'sparring day'. I got excited! I've heard stories about the sparring here. I heard that lots of guys get broken noses, busted lips, and even knocked out. It's not regular sparring, its a full out fight! The fights for today were already schedualed. The first two guys were pretty good. One of the guys was so quick you couldn't even see his hand hit his opponent. Other fights were ok. Not too many hits but they did well. 


Then my roommate Sam started gearing up! I didnt know he was going to fight!  I did see that when they fight here they really do wear lots of protective equipment.  Sam put all the gear on and he went out to the ring.  I cheered him on. He did well. It was a good fight. It lasted a while and I could tell they were both exhuastred because they were barely punching each other.  Eventually, Sam got a good hit in and busted the other guy's lip which ended the fight. I was proud of my roommate. It was pretty shocking. But watching them fight made me want to fight!  


This event happens once a  month and  I want to fight next month.  Well I did find out a little more about these sparing matches.  It is the new guys who get hurt because they lack training to block and spar correctly.  The guys who get in the ring and act reckless are the ones who get hurt the most.  Maybe I will wait two months before trying this myself.... after my body is better conditioned.                            


After the fights, we watched a few guys grade who were leaving this weekend. Guys want to get their final grade (we'd call it 'getting their belt' here) so they can get a certificate to bring home to show their true level of training.  Soon it was time for lunch. I did my trick where I waited a couple minutes extra after the lunch bell rang before getting in the lunch line, this was easy since I was so into my book I didn't mind waiting. When I got to the dining hall the line was super short so I got my food, went back thru the line to get 'seconds' on the same plate even before sitting down.                 After lunch there wasnt much to do besides read my book. The power was out since this morning so I just kicked back and read my Lost Hero Book. Sam saw me reading and asked me what page I was on. I was on page 473 and I had just started reading my book on Tuesday. He told me I'm probably the "most intelligent reader" he's ever met because I read so fast. He read only 4 pages last night in his book while I read over 200 pages. I managed to finish my book today and I even told Sam about the whole Percy Jackson series and I explained how I'm addicted to those books.             


After the break it was time to do the 'mountain run'. But when  we got into our line up, Master Gou said we were do the 'fall cleainng' instead. The weather was perfect today. The sun was out. Not a single cloud in the sky and we had to waste it cleaning?! We have to clean the academy once every four months. So I guess doing it today wasnt too terrible. We had to wipe all the windows in the acadamey...with wet newspaper. Why? I have no idea, maybe its an ancient shaolin trick. Or maybe they are saving paper towels. After we wiped all the windows, we went to the sand box to pull weeds. Master Gou had a shovel and was using it to get at the weeds on the rocks. I grabbed a shovel and started helping him. We shoveled the whole path chopping the weeds and putting them in a wheel barrel. Master Gou took the first load and dumped it and when we loaded the second one I offered to take it. It wasnt far but I wanted to help Master. We continued shoveling and soon I was dripping with sweat. After hours of shoveling, wheel barreling leaves out, and sweating, we ended class and I went upstairs to shower and get ready for dinner. Sam asked if I was going the the little restaurant next door for dinner to 'chill' with everyone since it was Friday night.  I told Sam why not. So after I showered and got ready, Sam and I headed over for dinner. No one was there yet so we ordered and started eating. Slowly guys were showing up and even a few of our other friends like Rorey, Rob, and Biron.  When they got there, they asked us if we saw that drunk Chinese guy on the road. Well, just after we ordered our food, Sam and I did notice three drunk guys walk out of the back room of the restaurant (where poker games are usually held). But we did notice that one guy was super drunk because he looked like he could barely walk. Well Rorey told us how that drunk guy ended up walking into the academy. the masters came out to tell him to leave but the drunk guy started PUSHING the master. Then the master takes him down but I guess his head hit the stairs on the porch so the drunk guy's nose started bleeding.  As this was happening the other masters were on the phone probably calling the cops. Rob laughed at the sight of the drunk guy trying to take on the Master of a Kung Fu school. After the excitement died down, they all walked over here. I wish I was there to see that!


After we all hung out for a bit I started getting tired and Sam and I both wanted to go back to our room and get some sleep because were going into Yantai tomorrow. 


Goodnight.

-Scott