Chapter 4
Thursday of week 2
My dearest friends...
What an amazing week it's been so far. The skills and talents of the other students are really coming out into the open now, and some of them are mind-blowing. Today, we were assessed on several basic forms to determine the beginners from the more experienced. I have to say from the start that the skills some of the students have shown, are superb. These forms are like kata's in Karate; choreographed patterns of movements that can demonstrate your skill and experience.
Traditionally here in China, these form skills are passed down from father to son, and I'm glad to see that tradition is still very much alive and well.
Each of us took it in turn to perform our chosen forms while the others sat around and watched. There were several instructors sat watching together, judging the intricate complexities of the form, looking for those 'experience' signs such as stance, balance, and breathing (chi). I must admit, I was surprised how nervous I was getting up in front of the crowd to perform my chosen form. Many of the more seasoned students had also turned out to watch, adding to the pressure. Some of the younger first-year guys were really nervous too, young Po was one of them, but then he surprised everyone when he got up and did an extremely complex form, and he did it absolutely flawlessly. It's pretty obvious he's been doing this from a very early age.
He was one of the few who got an applause, which left him stood in the centre with a beaming smile across his face - that was so great to see, considering everything he's been through lately.
My performance didn't get a full-blown applause like Po's, but it did get lots of positive mutterings, nods, and tones of approval, particularly from the instructors. I wanted to keep things low-key, but still do well enough to get me into the advanced class, so I intentionally chose a very basic form; the long fist. It's quite an elemental form, but I knew I could perform it impeccably with a great deal of attention to detail. To the trained eyes of the instructors, I knew I could demonstrate the extremely high-level of my experience and abilities without it being detected by the other students. It all went very well, and Wufei, who was also watching, has since told me that it's easily put me in the running for the class I want.
As you know, with my Gundam training, I could have chosen a much more complicated form to do, but I'm trying very hard not to draw unnecessary attention to myself or my Gundam skills. I chose to do only the bare minimum to get me into the advanced class. Besides, I've noticed the more promising students here seem to get a lot more tutoring time than the slightly less gifted, which I think is a little unfair. I'm only here in an attempt to re-balance my life by experiencing the discipline of training, so I intend to take up as little of the instructor's valuable tuition time as I can. Especially when there are so many deserving young students who need their time more than I do. I don't want to be responsible for taking that away from them.
I will say this though, Gundam training or not, there are several senior students here who's raw combat skills surpass my own, and there are people here I certainly would not want to fight for real. I'm just glad they're all friendly, and that none of them know about mine or Wufei's true identities.
Our Crane group, had its first training lesson with Wufei yesterday morning, and it was easily one of the best lessons we've had so far. Don't get me wrong, I mean all of the lessons here are very good and meticulously well planned, but Wufei's was, well, it was just exceptional.
The students here have developed huge amounts of respect for Wufei and it's not hard to see why. He seems to have this very natural way of putting his point across; he never has to explain anything twice. Despite his potential to look, and be, fairly intimidating as a master instructor, he somehow puts everyone at ease when he's teaching. He is very patient with anyone who struggles to get it right, particularly the younger students, and when it does finally go right, he looks them straight in the eye and tells them a very genuine 'well done'.
The best thing of all though, is that Wufei is completely in his element. You can see he's absolutely loving every minute that he's teaching the students, and seeing that, just reinforces to me that Wufei's being here is so right.
The muscle soreness is no longer a problem now. That first week was pretty gruelling, but now things are getting less and less achy with each passing day. This time next week, I think, I hope, I'll have totally forgotten about muscle cramp!
Things are settling nicely into a routine now, although it will only be another week before our crane group is split up and we will join new ability-based groups. It will be sad to see the group split up because we've all got on so well. I'm not sure if the very special rapport we seem to have developed will be duplicated in the new groups. Even in this short time, it feels like we've all been through a great deal together, and we've supported each other through all of it. I know we will still see everyone around on campus, but somehow it just won't be the same.
Oh listen to my negativity talking there, what am I saying?! Of course things will turn out okay, I'm sure they will. I guess I must just be tired. I'd better sign off for tonight.
Blessings to you all.
Love Quatre
End of Chapter 4