Kung Fu and Sign Language.

Last night for my First Baptist Church Class I brought in an old lion head and so story tim ewith the adults was the story of the Nian.

I think it was a hit.



I also got a new student who is also a sign language interpreter.

I noticed he picked up the Kung Fu moves very quickly. Now just be natural talent and genes, but he said that for him learning the moves was a lot like sign language because you have to be very aware of the positioning of your body and hands, etc.


There is actually a lot of meaning behind certain things done in Kung Fu and Lion Dance. It is "like" a language.... but any symbolism or meaning is not nearly as complicated as an actual language and an actual conversation.


I was thinking this would be a great idea for a scientific study.

Get a bunch of kids, teach half Sign Language. Don't teach the other half sign language. Then teach both groups Kung Fu and see who does better. Because if it turns out there is a correlation between learning sign language at infancy and being better at Kung Fu, then it would totally be cool to have a bad ass group of Kung Fu kids raised from birth Kung Fuing, and before they can walk, crawl, or speak, using sign language.


Shaolin Temple can take up signing, and maybe even having nurseries or adoptive care again. (I mean they don't do that now, but back in the day they used to, and c'mon there is a need in China right?) But whatever that's them. Maybe I should learn Sign Language.


In any case, some field studies, experiments, case studies and anecdotal stuff. Sounds like a new book for my series to me.

Kung Fu and Sign Language.

I totally need help for this one though. I mean I don't even sign.

Did you used to have a Bulldog?

Grace was stopped outside the house by a guy walking his dog.

"Did you used to have a Bulldog? Because I remember we all used to walk our dogs together and I was walking by the house and I was wondering what ever happened to him."

"Well actually he's on Facebook and lives on a beach house on the North Shore."

"Oh."

"But I'm still here in JP."

"Oh okay. Bye.

Bruce Lee Muesli

Well the kids were home for a nice four day weekend, the last day being Chinese New Year. For breakfast Grace made Muessli, which Jonah like to call Bruce Lee.

As in

"I would like to have some more Bruce Lee please."

That's actually a pretty good marketing idea. I'm surprised it hasn't been done yet.

His daughter owns all the rights right now.. But I could see China ripping that off.

Bruce Li Muesli Wacha!! it packs a punch!

New Hampshire Lion Dance

JP Chinese New Year

Here is our little Jamaica Plain Chinese New Year Parade. It was a good warm up for Chinatown. Thank you all the participants. It would be cool to do (a little) more next year. As the kids get older they will be able to have more endurance etc. Dai Dai has a year to practice now. lol.

Snow day

After sledding we went back and built this giant snowman.

This thing actually looks pretty scary now that it has a few more inches of snow on it.

Here are some other thoughts and photos

The sugar bowl really does look peaceful and like your own little world

In addition to being a good sledding spot, it's also where I do Kung Fu every morning. I've moved me morning practice up to 7am

There were actually people out there running or walking their dog. One person took pictures. He pointed that camera at me for a while. I was at the end of my routine and sort of ina drunken trance sort of state. It would be cool to see those shots though. One time in college someone made a whole video of me with Eye of the Tiger and another just with sound effects... and didn't tell me about it. I saw it through a third party. Maybe on Facebook. They did have facebook but I was late joining it. 

It wasn't until I have tried making videos myself that I realize that video was pretty impressive. 

Sledding

This was what we did for our snow day. Actually, first I did Kung Fu and shoveling, and then we went sledding, I shovelled with Shao and built a giant snowman, ate, did blog and video stuff and then later went to shovel for someone else too, read stories, and now these videos. Yay!