Fire Sabre Classes
Greetings, everyone! With the new year almost upon us (the Chinese New Year, that is) I’m starting a new session teaching kung fu sabre for fire performers again with the fine folks of Firegroove, starting this Sunday from 7:30 to 9:00 and running through Feb. 18th. Our new location is The Dancers’ Studio. Last term was a truly exciting one - everyone’s progress seemed to explode exponentially each week, and there was such wonderful feedback about the students’ skill at the lightup! This term, we’re combining both Intro and Intermediate levels into one hour-and-a-half class, allowing the beginning students to see the path where their training will take them.
With it’s coiling, dragon-oriented movements and explosive energy, kung fu sabre makes an excellent tool to add to any fire performer’s skill set. As the mother (and most theatrical) of martial arts, kung fu is an ideal art from which to draw inspiration and in which to immerse oneself in training. This course is designed for beginners and knowledgable performers alike to enjoy.
* Kung Fu Sabre for Fire Performers *
** Intro Level **
Each class begins with a half-hour warm up of chi kung stretching and breathing exercises in order to calm the mind and warm up the body properly, and to prepare the spirit for the training to follow. Students will move through training in foundations and the essential stances, as well as cultivating basic techniques of striking and parrying. At the end of the six-week course, students will have learned and be able to perform a basic fire sabre form, and will have the opportunity to purchase their own fire sabre for a discounted price.
** Intermediate Level **
The intermediate students will warm up in chi kung and stance training with the beginning students, then move on to more complex combinations of movements. Building on the form the students learned in the previous course, they will develop the set further, using what they learn this term. We will also cover flame effects for sabre, including titanium flake, and will use them in the lighting - up ceremony at the end of the course.
In addition, we will cover basic safety rules regarding fire in general and fire sabre in particular at the fire safety seminar/make-up class. Upon completion of the safety seminar, students will be able to act as fire safety for one another as well as perform their set.
Looking forward to seeing all of you there!
- Anna Maltese
** background **
Since the age of ten, Anna has been training in martial arts, including Tae Kwon Do, ninjitsu, and kung fu. Her foundation rests in Monkey Style Kung Fu, as taught by Master Paulie Zink, and wushu. She is currently enrolled in the National Wushu Training Center, where she practices open hand as well as weapons forms, and NWTC Impact Stunts, training in high falls and wirework. She recently performed with the Beijing Wushu Team in the NWTC theatrical production of ‘Jade Pirate,’ doing both wushu and fire. When she’s not practicing wushu, or at her day job as an animator on the upcoming Simpsons’ movie, Anna enjoys her other job as creative director of the Phoenix Projekt, a martial-arts based fire troupe incorporating kung fu, dance, aerial silks, real Chinese lion and dragon dance, and the taiko drums of Kodama.
