told me about a staircase leading down to the water. It is supposed to be low tide, so we should have a little more sand than usual to stand on.”
“I remember the stairs,” I said. “It’s great down by the ocean.”
We found the staircase and descended to a patch of sand that wasn’t much bigger than my backyard.
“This ‘beach’ used to be bigger,” I said.
“It’s fine,” Hú Dié replied. “At least for what I plan to do.”
“Me too. Are you going to stretch first?”
“Yes. Kung fu isn’t like cycling. Stretching is the first thing you should do. You want to follow me?”
“No, but I will.”
Hú Dié smiled. “I’ll go easy on you. I know you don’t feel well.”
Hú Dié took off her shoes, so I did the same. Despite the warm air, the sand was chilly and damp. We began by flexing our toes and rolling our ankles. It seemed a strange place to start, but Hú Dié explained that we were going to stretch out our entire bodies, going from our feet all the way to our necks.
And we did.
It felt awesome. I kept waiting for my abs to cramp up, especially when I stretched my torso, but it was fine. This encouraged me to ask Hú Dié a question when we’d finished.
“Do you think maybe you could teach me a little kung fu? Just a punch or kick or something?”
“I thought you were going to do push-ups.”
“I want to learn to do what you and Phoenix did in his grandfather’s garage.”
“That will take years.”
“I’ve got to start somewhere,” I said. “I promise I’ll let you know if my stomach starts acting up.”
Hú Dié thought for a moment. “We can try,” she said. “Maybe Phoenix was right. You want to learn a Tiger style move?”
“Sure.”
“How about a palm strike?”
“A palm strike?” I said. “Doesn’t that hurt?”
“Not really. At least, not the person throwing it. The recipient might get a little sore, though.”
“I won’t break my hand?”
“You are far more likely to break your hand throwing a regular punch. There are many small bones in a fist that can easily break.”
“I see.”
“Drop down into a Horse Stance like Phoenix taught you.”
I set my feet shoulder-width apart with my toes pointed forward; then I straightened my spine, bent my knees, and sank low.
“Perfect,” Hú Dié said. “You are a natural.”
I smiled.
“Seriously,” she said. “Most people would have forgotten parts of that. You remembered everything. Now straighten your arms and raise both hands in front of you, chest-high, like this.”
I copied her.
“Next,” she said, “flex both wrists back so that your palms are facing forward. Spread your fingers out.”
I did.
“Good,” she said. “Finally, curl your thumbs and fingers inward. This is a basic tiger-claw fist.”
“Cool,” I said.
Hú Dié nodded. “You are going to strike with the heel of your palm. The support for the blow comes from your wrist and the forearm bones behind it. Never throw a regular punch with this kind of fist, though, or you will break your hand, for sure.”
“Okay.”
“Now,” she said, “inhale deeply as you bend your elbows and retract your arms, stopping your raised palms on either side of your chest.”
I did it.
“Finally, exhale and thrust your palms forward, aiming the heels of your palms at an imaginary target. It is very important that you exhale forcefully when you strike.”
I exhaled as I thrust my arms forward, grunting with the effort.
Hú Dié smiled.
“How was that?” I asked.
“Not bad. I forgot to tell you that you can make some noise if you feel like it. It means you are giving it all you have. Do it again.”
I raised my tiger-claw fists and inhaled, pulling them back to my chest; then I exhaled powerfully while thrusting the heels of my palms forward with all my might. This time, my grunt came out as a
ROAR
.
“Wow!” Hú Dié said. “Very intimidating! Just like when you ride. Keep practicing, but you do not have to get
“I remember the stairs,” I said. “It’s great down by the ocean.”
We found the staircase and descended to a patch of sand that wasn’t much bigger than my backyard.
“This ‘beach’ used to be bigger,” I said.
“It’s fine,” Hú Dié replied. “At least for what I plan to do.”
“Me too. Are you going to stretch first?”
“Yes. Kung fu isn’t like cycling. Stretching is the first thing you should do. You want to follow me?”
“No, but I will.”
Hú Dié smiled. “I’ll go easy on you. I know you don’t feel well.”
Hú Dié took off her shoes, so I did the same. Despite the warm air, the sand was chilly and damp. We began by flexing our toes and rolling our ankles. It seemed a strange place to start, but Hú Dié explained that we were going to stretch out our entire bodies, going from our feet all the way to our necks.
And we did.
It felt awesome. I kept waiting for my abs to cramp up, especially when I stretched my torso, but it was fine. This encouraged me to ask Hú Dié a question when we’d finished.
“Do you think maybe you could teach me a little kung fu? Just a punch or kick or something?”
“I thought you were going to do push-ups.”
“I want to learn to do what you and Phoenix did in his grandfather’s garage.”
“That will take years.”
“I’ve got to start somewhere,” I said. “I promise I’ll let you know if my stomach starts acting up.”
Hú Dié thought for a moment. “We can try,” she said. “Maybe Phoenix was right. You want to learn a Tiger style move?”
“Sure.”
“How about a palm strike?”
“A palm strike?” I said. “Doesn’t that hurt?”
“Not really. At least, not the person throwing it. The recipient might get a little sore, though.”
“I won’t break my hand?”
“You are far more likely to break your hand throwing a regular punch. There are many small bones in a fist that can easily break.”
“I see.”
“Drop down into a Horse Stance like Phoenix taught you.”
I set my feet shoulder-width apart with my toes pointed forward; then I straightened my spine, bent my knees, and sank low.
“Perfect,” Hú Dié said. “You are a natural.”
I smiled.
“Seriously,” she said. “Most people would have forgotten parts of that. You remembered everything. Now straighten your arms and raise both hands in front of you, chest-high, like this.”
I copied her.
“Next,” she said, “flex both wrists back so that your palms are facing forward. Spread your fingers out.”
I did.
“Good,” she said. “Finally, curl your thumbs and fingers inward. This is a basic tiger-claw fist.”
“Cool,” I said.
Hú Dié nodded. “You are going to strike with the heel of your palm. The support for the blow comes from your wrist and the forearm bones behind it. Never throw a regular punch with this kind of fist, though, or you will break your hand, for sure.”
“Okay.”
“Now,” she said, “inhale deeply as you bend your elbows and retract your arms, stopping your raised palms on either side of your chest.”
I did it.
“Finally, exhale and thrust your palms forward, aiming the heels of your palms at an imaginary target. It is very important that you exhale forcefully when you strike.”
I exhaled as I thrust my arms forward, grunting with the effort.
Hú Dié smiled.
“How was that?” I asked.
“Not bad. I forgot to tell you that you can make some noise if you feel like it. It means you are giving it all you have. Do it again.”
I raised my tiger-claw fists and inhaled, pulling them back to my chest; then I exhaled powerfully while thrusting the heels of my palms forward with all my might. This time, my grunt came out as a
ROAR
.
“Wow!” Hú Dié said. “Very intimidating! Just like when you ride. Keep practicing, but you do not have to get
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