Kung Fu VS Ballroom Dancing

First off, I would like to apologize to all the loyal journal readers out there. I have not been able to keep up with my on line journals due to a computer problem. Our computer has been in getting fixed for over a month now, and all I keep getting is broken promises about when it will be ready. I have been writing out my journals on paper, and will slowly try to get them on line by using the public library computer.

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to learn how to do ballroom dancing. My ex husband and I promised ourselves that we would one day take lessons, but never did. Now, finally, I am. I have joined a singles dance club that teaches all kinds of dances like the swing, tango, 2- step, samba, and so on. I absolutely love it!! We have a lesson for the first hour and then dance the night away with whoever we want until midnight. There is a small group of my friends that go together on a regular basis. One of the guys in our group is named Greg.

Greg and I dance a lot together, and one time we even went to a swing club full of university students and all they play for music is 1920 and 1930's stuff. It is simply a night of swing, with a fast or slower rhythm. A ton of fun! Greg made a comment that night about how easy I follow him when we are dancing. I said it was because he was such a great leader.

At another dance while doing the 2 step, he said again how amazed he was that I followed him so well. He said that when he twirls his partner, they usually end up crashing into him, and he just can't figure out how come I follow him so well. He asked what it was that I did that allowed me to follow so well. I didn't really have to think about it for very long. I told him the truth. I simply follow his movements by the feel of his body and how he changes the way he moves. I could feel the tilt of his shoulder, the change in his weight on his feet, the tenseness in his hands, and even the way he moves his head. He gave me a look like either I was crazy, or he didn't believe me.

The more I thought about it, the more I began to realize it is all because of my kung fu. Master Brinker says that our kung fu will improve what we do outside of the kwoon, and what we do outside of the kwoon will help us with kung fu. I understand that now, as I know this is what I experienced on the dance floor. How many years now have I been doing techniques involving sticky hands? How many years have I been taught to read the movements of my opponent? This is training that I haven't really been able to notice the benefits of...until now. I believe that I can follow my dance partner well, because of my martial arts training. The second my partner tenses up, or drops his shoulder, I know what move is coming up next. I know what I need to do, or what my dance partner is expecting from me. Just as I know that when my sparring partner shifts weight on his feet, he is about to make a move, and I will need to react.

I should not at all be surprised by all this, but have to admit that I am. My kung fu training is always full of surprises for me. We can be taught something for years, but it is so wonderful when you have one of those moments that just makes you sit back and go, WOW! It all comes together and it actually works like they said it would.