Gong Yi, the promise of better living conditions and better food.
The 2024 Summer Camp in Gong Yi comes to an end. The students have basically been given a full week to pack, rest, and train. Our next destination... Chengdu. Where hopefully the school will be staying for the long term. A nasty heat rash has been eating my leg for a month, so the opportunity for rest is nice. This has left me with time to reflect on what a crazy month August has been.
Coming back from Hong Kong to a new location was odd. The peaceful temple had been replaced with a park. The concrete oven that we lived in was replaced with a nice hotel. The winding roads and villages were replaced with the bustle of a small city. The students had all been training in a grueling heatwave. Now the slightly cooler temperature of the north felt nice.
Big Chances, Big Changes
The Summer Camp brought with it the chance for many events. Seeing the actual Shaolin Temple. Witnessing the discipleship of Michael Torres. Visiting local schools. Watching performances. Learning about Chinese history. And so much more.
For the four "senior students" at the school. The tournament was the most important event. Battling sickness, injury, and fatigue. We all did well. Placing in all of our events. My results were shocking. Three Gold medals. Winning gold in China felt rewarding. As if I was crossing off a goal on my bucket list. This was also a nice way to cap off my time here. With the school changing locations over the next few days. Our newest destination is Chengdu.
Although much different than the life of peace in the mountains; Gongyi has proved relaxing. But, I can’t shake the feeling that this is all almost over. Deja vu.
This year's adventure to China really began in December of 2023. Landing in Shanghai, my mind was full of ideas. A Kung Fu wanderlust guided my actions. Some challenges came and went. Luckily, I was able to contact Zhang Shifu. He gave me another chance to expand my Shaolin knowledge. Teaching me Seven Star and the Pu Dao within my first few months.
Once I established a better relationship with Shifu and his school. We began talking about long term training plans. I'm glad that I've stuck through the tough days. My Kung Fu Family has expanded, my Mabu is a little bit better, and the experiences that I’ve had here are unforgettable.
I’ll be going home a different person.
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