My Mar Training in Udon Thani

It's been a hectic first term and I decided to take a much needed break and 'disappear' and get a chance to rest, recharge and reflect. So immediately on Sat 10th Mar at 3am, I left for our Budget Terminal to board the 6am flight off to Udon Thani.

Where is Udon Thani and what's there?- some of you might ask.
Well Udon Thani is a kinda sleepy country town in the Northern part of Thailand near the Lao boarder. I went up there to do some personal training with one the regional trainers in edged weapons training, Randy Hodges (ain't it cool, we both have the same name! His is spelt Randall, mine is Randell)
Over the course of the next few days, I had intense 1 to 1 sessions with Randy. Randy had also arranged for his wife, Nok, to assist in the training. Nok was patient and helped me with many of the flow drills and exercises. Between mothering me with lots of food and drink (the grilled fish was fantastic, Nok!), she was always trying to ambush me with sneaky attacks.
Randy was also a generous trainer and shared openly and unreservedly with me. Every morning and evening, he'd show up on his Honda motorbike and pick me from the hotel and we'd be off for the next 2 1/2 hours sparring, training and drilling.
In the afternoons, I took the chance to rest, catch up on my reading, watch the many training DVDs I'd promised myself to watch. And catch a much needed nap before the evening training session with Randy. The slow pace of life in Udon allowed me time to unwind, catch up on training and reflect.
We travelled everywhere by bike or Tuk Tuk: check out my first Tuk Tuk ride when we brought Randy's Alsatian, Chao Ying to the vet for her bath.

The cool thing about training with Randy and Nok was that it was an intense session but not formalised; rather it was like catching up with family after a long absence.
Lazing in the house after training with Randy, Nok, Janny (their adorable daughter) and Chao Ying (the mischievous Alsatian) was a reminder and affirmation that working hard and enjoying the company of good people are the simplest yet most crucial pleasures in life. Here's a clip of one lazy afternoon after a hard morning training session:


Thank you Randy, Nok, Little Janny and yes, Ying too for the wonderful time in Udon Thani. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other soon!

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