My Cane Form

As the only Kung Fu related subject I can think of at the moment, here is a description of my cane form/application, with some of my thought processes. At the time of this writing, two out of three of my attackers are “lady thugs”

Walking out towards audience, there are 3 “thugs” leaning against a wall on my right.

The center thug pulls a knife and approaches threatening me. (Idea: have opponent say “give me your money”?) The cane is brought up in my right hand, circling the tip to maintain distance from the thug while retreating. Once separated from her friends, raise the cane to a horizontal two handed block. Provide a false opening under the block by raising it to head height. When the knife attack comes, step back with my left leg (protecting the heart) and hook the knife hand with the cane held in the left hand, simultaneously striking out with a right hand palm heel block, knocking this attacker off balance. Quickly reach down with the hook of the cane and catch, and then pull the ankle to drop the attacker. I step forward and drive the tip of the cane downward into their solar plexus (application:  opponent rolls on their side, strike the ground at the center of their body)

At this time, the other thugs prepare to attack. One comes in from the front and the other has circled to behind me.

A quick “pool cue” strike to the stomach of the closest (front) attacker, winding them, to buy time to deal with the one approaching from behind.

I turn 180, cane sweeping overhead in an arc, and deflect the knife hand of the third attacker, then cat leap to her now closed off side and strike her forearm to make her drop the knife. Next, poke her in the stomach to wind her, so that she staggers back, slightly bent over, and then I follow, wrapping the cane behind her neck. A hip throw with 180 degree turn (snapping of her neck, for the application let go with one hand to allow a break fall), facing the last remaining attacker (previously poked but by now recovered).

The cane is being held vertically at this point, sweep it across the body left to right, intercepting and dislodging the incoming knife. The opponent clutches hand in pain, and is slightly bent forward cradling the injured hand/wrist. I then step back, allowing the cane to drop into a large vertical circle, with a two handed downward strike to the back of the final opponent. (Application note: pull the blow at a diagonal so the cane just brushes the side of the back, with just enough force that the opponent can feel the strike, and then react by falling to the ground in a forward break fall)

At this time all opponents are either laying on the ground or are crawling off in agony.

Politely walk off the stage.

I hope that this has translated from the movie in my mind to the written word, and will allow insight into what I am trying to do up on stage.

Dennis Donohue

News Flash: Weight Reducing Fudge!

I have noticed that my pants are getting looser, and just confirmed with the scale. Since starting a steady and significant diet of Sihing Donohue’s incredible fudge, my weight has dropped by five pounds and the smallest hole on my belt is too large. I am so impressed that I am off to have another piece. And no, I doubt that joining the dragon dance in last weekend’s parade could have had any bearing on the results. Fudge Rocks!   

Dennis Donohue       

Greenhouse Update

Today’s blog is a day late, as I had company over to help with my greenhouse project on Sunday, my normal blog day. The good news is I was able to put in two good days in the greenhouse, and have hard working help for the second day. There are now six 4x4 square foot beds made and full of soil, waiting on just trim work to be complete. I have another 2x40 feet of planting boxes mostly built, and the quack grass cleaned out of 2/3 of the greenhouse overall.  There is still a fair bit to go, and it is great seeing significant progress in such as a large task. 

Dennis Donohue

Long Weekend, where did you go?

This was supposed to be a lovely 4 day long weekend with my beautiful wife. Wine tasting on Saturday night, and I had booked help to install raised beds in the greenhouse on Sunday (not too early mind you)., So the truck is full of compost, there are boards and bricks stacked in the field, and nothing at home has been accomplished. Sunday morning, way too early, I received a call from work requiring my presence. 22.5 hours of overtime later, my weekend is done.

Dennis Donohue

Zombie Apocalypse Plan

Zombie Apocalypse Plan

Last week in the Kwoon, the subject of Zombies and how to survive their attacks came up, including some possible fight scenes of the possible attacks. Now this was all in good fun, but one person stated that they would “just die” in that scenario. I quickly pointed out that this would be offering up their children as zombie snacks (they are cute and tasty looking kids) and the opinion changed. The presence of the children took the “just die” option off the table, so this means as parents they would have to do their best to survive. Many of the leading disaster relief agencies have put on tongue in cheek “Zombie  Awareness Drills”, because the skills and resources required to survive such an attack are the same as for most any other emergency.

So, other that cool fight choreography, what does this have to with Kung Fu? The simple answer is do you want to be part of the problem or the solution?

A trained martial artist is a powerful force, which can be used for good or evil, and depending on the viewpoint, what is good for one person can be evil to another. Using you skills to protect and get food for your children is generally good, unless you take from someone else, then they will see you as evil. If your family is safe and fed, then those same skills can be used for good, protecting the weak from wanna-be warlords, ensuring fair distribution of aid then you are a more universal force of good.

As a group of martial artists, we have a lot going for us. We can and have worked as a group, we are basically impossible to disarm, even if our physical weapons are removed, and will still have empathy for the less fortunate.

Right now, the supply system is working, and all you need for your physical health is available at a store near you, and anything you buy will be restocked tomorrow, so others are not deprived because of what you do. In a disaster, whatever it is, the stores are normally stripped bare in hours, and the resupply trucks are slow in coming. Go and get what you might need now, and if something bad happens, your family will be safe and fed at home, you can go and help others, instead of being a burden on overworked relief agencies.  Think of it as your Zombie Apocalypse Insurance Plan, since the closest that zombies come to mindful eating is “Brainzzzz”

Congratulations to everyone on Pandamonium

It was a beautiful weekend, life is good, and finally coming in from outside I realized that I had not Blogged.In other significant events, on May first, I wrote my government Master Electrician exam, they allow 7 hours, I took about 5.5, and feel pretty good about the results. Probably two more weeks until I have official paperwork to confirm if I passed.