Chingay 2007 - Parade of Dreams (Pt 4 - VS Wushu in the Spotlight)

Here we see, for the first time ever, VS involved in Chingay Parade!

The boys (being suitably inspired by the previous act) jumped, kicked and posed their hearts out.
Being in the middle of Orchard Road, performing for the whole of the nation, representing Victoria School- That is a moment to remember!

As their teacher and coach, seeing our "Victoria School' emblazoned on the big screen display, my heart swelled with a sense of pride as our boys some us time and time again that Victorians are something more.



From a handful of students training with me in the evenings, just for the sheer 'fun' of it, to becoming a formally recognised CCA in VS and now performing in Orchard Rd for Chingay 2007. It is really a Parade of Dreams for me.
If you had asked me a year or two ago, I wouldn't have dared dreamed this was possible.

Boys, let's live our dreams together and it will be will pride in my heart that I will watch you all become men of calibre, strength and character.
Nil Sine Labore
Mr Randell Siow
FOR FULL-DETAILS OF THE PARADE CHECK OUT mrsiow.blogspot.com

VS Wushu Performance for CNY 2007 -Sifu Loh's Lion Dance

My own master, Sifu Loh Poh Swee had come down personally to lend support to our first lion dance and to help in the 'dian jing' ritual to 'open the eyes' of our first official Lion.

He too was caught up in the spirit of celebration and decided to add to the festivities by performing the lion dance for us as well. This is his first public performance in over 20 years.

Despite his age and not having slept int 24 hrs (yes, Sifu Loh had stayed up the entire night settling the loose ends of his medical shop before Chinese New Year), Sifu Loh showed the students how the spirit of the Lion can be brought alive through his intricate steps, small and subtle manipulations of the lion head and eyes. In his heads, the lion blinked, it smiled, winked and flapped its ears:)

All we have accomplished today is the result of the dedication of our teachers, and I am deeply touched that my own teacher and Sifu continues to support me as I grow and mature in the teaching vocation.



Nil Sine Labore

VS Wushu Team Performance for CNY 2007

Today, VS Wushu Team began the new year celebrations with a vibrant series of performances. We began the day bright and early with our first Wushu performance at Deyi Secondary School.
There we were treated to a warm-welcome from both teachers and students.

Our next stop was at CHIJ Katong Convent where the loud screams and cheers from the all-girl population certainly served to 'inspire' our brave Gentlemen.


Our final and most important stop was back in VS, where we had a Dian Jing Ceremony to 'Open the Eyes' of VS first official Lion Head. This was our first ever official Lion dance performance. Our coach, Master Loh Poh Swee was so caught up in the spirit of things that he too volunteered to perform for us! This is his first public performance in about 20 years.
Here we see Pang Hong Yun (Lion Head) and Chang JunRong (Lion Tail) giving us the first offcial Lion Dance performance for VS with our very own Lion Head.

We began our performance with our Group Dagger performance which won us 2nd place in the C-Div Interschool Wushu Championships in 2006

The hard working wushu team wooed the crowed with their hard work and practice.
Here are the solo routines of the day:
Fung Junjie - Sabre
Tan Xiang Ting- Changquan and Sword
Tan Xiang Tian- 3-Section Staff

SOFT Work Session on Mon 12 Feb 2007

Warm-ups
Zdrovye
2 v 1 Pushing Drill (Nage in centre, ukes front and back)

Working with Feet

-Pushing
Static Pushing Drill with feet
Moving Partner with feet

-Evasion
Moving away from kicks

-Receiving
Kick absorbtion
Kick reception to take-down

SOFT Work- Explorations

Different Motions
Pendulum - Zig-zag (Give-receive-give; Receive-give-receive)
Spiral - 0s, 8s, 9s

Denial of Support

Fear Reactivity and using it
-Human punching bag drill
-Human kicking bag drill

Using Hands for takedowns
Using Legs for takedowns
Using Body for takedowns

Targeting Hands for takedowns
Targeting Legs for takedowns
Targeting Body for takedowns

SOFT Work Session on Fri 2 Feb 2007

Sensitivity, Strikes & Striking Energy

Warm-ups
Zdorovye (Basic & Intermediate)

Sensitivity
Normal Pushing Drill
Slo-mo pushing drill with 2x gravity and 2x Intent
Trading strikes in slo-mo with 2x gravity and 2x Intent

Strikess & Striking Energy
Partner up and face-up in close proximity
Deliver strikes to each other with
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Fist

Directed Free-Work
Partner A attempts to grappling, lock and/or submit B
B works to evade, escape and remain free using strikes and movement

Reflections

Explore our motivations behind:
1)the strike - intent
2)the tool - mass
3)the impact - energy

Explore our reactions to absorbtion:

Timing:
1)Before -Ahead
2)During -Meet
3)After -Follow

Absorbing the:
1)Strike
2)Tool
3)Impact
with timing, movement, mindset

VS Wushu Team's Demo @ NTU

Victoria School's Wushu Team was invited to perform at the NTU Invitational Wushu Display on Sat 3rd Feb.



Here are our boys in action:
Group Event: Dagger Routine
Solo: Fung Junjie - Sabre
Tan Xiang Ting - Changquan and Sword
Tan Xiang Tian - 3-Section Staff

Extreme Obstacle Course

This should be the end result of our training guys! :) heh heh...

SOFT Work: Building Stone Henge

This clip should be interesting for those in the SOFT Work Group.

How to use small amounts of force to displace huge mass.

Rather than thinking in terms of striking and attacking; another way of conception is in terms of force and mass displacement.