h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There are or were - not sure - Shaolin Monks at the Saddlers Wells Ballet company and I have been wanting to see them for some time. They do t'ai chi and are wonderfully spectacular. I had a phone call today from a kungfu club in Bromley, who I expressed interest in a little while ago. They invited me to their club where the Shaolin Monks will be performing tomorrow. It's nearer and is half the price of the Saddlers Wells, plus I'll get to see the club, and I think they do t'ai chi there as well, so I'll get to see if it's a good place to learn some more stuff.

Dear ZSF.

Do let me know if they hold classes. I know you gave me the name of someone here who gives lessons but I was never able to contact them. You are really very important if you get invited to special places like that.

BTW what are Shaolin Monks?

Much affection

Also Ran (temporarily)

Also Ran (not AR1 for the moment?)

I got the invitation because I was on the club's mailing list, I think. When I got to work this morning, I found another member of my team had received an invitation through a friend of her husband's, so I don't think I'm all that special!

Here's a bit of information about the Shaolin Monks;

http://www.chinavoc.com/kungfu/cbox_shaolin.htm

http://www.shaolin-wushu.de/en/main_fr.htm?downloads.htm

http://www.sadlerswells.com/peacock/2004_2005/shaolin2004.asp

I really enjoyed the Shaolin Monks and I think I may have found a t'ai chi club that I can start going to. Little was most impressed with the two tiny boys, who were very flexible, very cute and very well drilled. We got there very early and so got a front row seat. The place was packed and they had to get more seats to fit everyone in.

One of the monks did a couple of flic flacs well before the performance began and little said, 'Awesome' and the audience laughed. Then the two tinies did an amazing set of tight flic flacs too.

I felt a mixture of admiration for their genuine athleticism and style and uncertainty of how much was genuine kung fu and how much was showmanship. There were definitely elements of showmanship, such as having swords and pikes with thin swishy (and therefore very noisy) blades. For me, though the highlight was the t'ai chi long form which was beautifully performed.

There was one point where I started to get a little worried and that was when the mats on the floor, which had been taped together started to come adrift and I thought they posed a hazard to the monks.

AR1 - I'll have a look to see if I can find a club in your area. Not tonight - too tired. Off to bed soon!

Thank you my dear Zarquhon , for the lovely description of your visit to Bromley. It sounds fascinating and very interesting.

Little is a real champion. So glad that he enjoyed it.

Well, maybe there was a little showmanship. Perhaps that is a good thing if the end result is forthcoming. After all, you are not hurting anyone if you do things with aplomb, and some people realise that you are doing it that way!!.

Diffficult to sleep tonight.

With affection

Also Ran1

Dear AR1

Here's a link to a t'ai chi instructor in Sevenoaks:

http://www.taichifinder.co.uk/geo2.php?yourpostcode=TN13

He sounds very experienced as he says he's done it since 1975 - almost 30 years.

Both little and I woke up fairly tired this morning, so it wasn't just you, AR1.