I guess if you take it that seriously it can seem like a waste when judges don’t appreciate your flavor. I just like to get in there and show my stuff and see what everyone else has. I’ve never won an open-hand forms event. I’m just not that purty. I do alright with weapons, though.
(It seems to me like I should be able to get something extra out of the warm welcome instead of thinking “Ah…it’s just because I am a white dude…” I did NOT make any mistakes in my last demo. My Sifu’s comments were basically, “Good, but not enough… you just need MORE of that…” If there’s any native speakers listening, his main summary was that it was all basically their but “bu dao wei” in many part. (I’m doing it right but just not enough)
if the welcome was warm and not just a formality then it was enough, its hard being the only one or one of the very few. For others reading, the comp. In China are judged by people who know what they¡¯re looking for, while at the same time promoting their national sport. In taiji events it¡¯s a series of eliminations starting at local levels moving on up. The comp. Level is quite intense if you¡¯re into it. I am not but can appreciate all the work that goes into it.
If you allow the pressure of being one of his foreign students instead of just one of his students to influence you this can be a problem. If you were accepted by the people watching just as another student instead of his foreign student then this says a lot about your ability and the trust and confidence your teacher has in you.
(You need more of that) could mean many things but I take it to mean sprit, and naturalness. All the people probably are pretty good and doing the same things. Things that set people apart aside from technical execution (an expectation or given) is the sprit or flavor of their movements. To draw this out means that you really know and understand what its about, its something that comes of itself and cannot be forced.
(Good, but not enough) most teachers don¡¯t say good to often, getting a good is not to bad. 
(or at least it is not evidence to that effect. ie. it seems like a wierd trap to fall into thinking that I actually suck just because they are clapping extra loud because I am a foreigner.)
don¡¯t cut your self short, true they would clap anyway just for the fact that you are a foreigner, clapping a little louder shows that they feel this foreigner is not so foreign and has managed to get some of it.
For those reading, the comp. In china and in the US are very different. The overall level of execution is pretty high even with the basic divisions. The fact that some or many things are standardized just makes it a little harder with people who know what their looking at. I hope this is not taken as an us verses them but just simply as fact that its really different ball game.
Originally posted by MasterKiller
[B]You’ve never been to Taiji Legacy. They weigh the weapons. They disqualify you for doing non-traditional moves. They don’t give you extra points for yelling.
Jimmy Wong runs a well-judged tournament. [/B]
Nice a$$-umption. You happened to be correct this time I’ve never been to Taiji legacy. My comments were “in general.” Not tournament specific.
As always, the exception proves the rule.
Good morning…
Interesting contrast between the US and PRC circuits. I’m ignorant of all that. Like I said, I’ve never done this before here or back home.
..a series of eliminations starting at local levels moving on up…
If I do well, then the next step is not to move up the circuit but to head out to Cangzhou and perform for a guy who is Li Shuwen’s grandson. Pretty cool. 
If you allow the pressure of being one of his foreign students…
Not “one of”…his only. But I don’t feel any pressure from that…lucky maybe…but not pressured. I think the audience response IS influencing me and I can’t help it so I’m thinking about ways to redirect that influence in a positive way. (hear—>neutraliize—>redirect?)
All the people probably are pretty good and doing the same things…
Actually, he often says…in not so many words…mostly everyone out there are doing the same things like you said but they really suck. He means in the way that previous people have talked about Wushu. They look good, crisp, sharp, low stances but no internal harmonies, no jing..
You mentioned “the sprit or flavor of their movements”. That’s one part of it. The other thing he wants more of is jing. That’s the primary measuring rod for Baji…fa jin. The other things are just basic prerequisites to get on the stage. The balance, speed, a really good salute, technical accuracy. The thing his peers will be looking to see in me is if he has been able to teach me any of the Baji fa jin.
To draw this out means that you really know and understand what its about, its something that comes of itself and cannot be forced.
A coupel weeks ago he started giving me some of the “songs”. Really cools stuff. Of course they are kind of open secrets that only make sense if you allready are doing a touch of what they describe but still..they are inspirational and I think the really do help to go over them in my head during training.