“When the Man waked up he said, ‘What is Wild Dog doing here?’ And the Woman said, ‘His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always.’”
—Rudyard Kipling

Dr. Brian Marchione and Dr. Regan!

Today is Wednesday, April 22nd, and I saw Dr. Brian Marchione this morning.
He sounded pleased with the progress of my eye.

On April 3rd, my right eye was very painful. My Mama took me to VCA West Los Angeles and Dr. Brian Marchione treated me. I had a deep ‘melting corneal ulcer.’ I heard Ongie, his assistant telling my Mama that Dr. Marchione used his own doggie’s blood ( Grace, a black Labrador) for the autologous serum, the treatment for corneal ulcers.

I had many kinds of eyedrops that weekend, it was applied on my eye every hour on the hour. Mama kept saying she had no sleep, well, I couldn’t sleep too, she kept opening my right eye even when I shut it real tight.

Before I could say anything I was back in the clinic, this time I stayed for a week and on Friday, April 10th, Dr. Marchione did a surgical technique of tissue grafting on my eye. My eye was also temporarily sutured for the initial healing period. The suture was removed today, can you tell from this picture how relieved I look?

I am doing everything the doctors and Mama tell me to do because I really want my right eye to heal, to be healthy, and I promise not to scare that squirrel again!

-Cassie

For information of corneal ulcers, you can contact my doctors, Dr. Michael Chang and Dr. Brian Marchione at VCA West Los Angeles (Sepulveda) tel: 310 473 2951

Dr. Michael Chang and my Patch!

T

Today is the 20th of April and I am still wearing the very annoying hat that the doctors refer to as the Elizabethan Collar which makes it sound like the Elizabethan Age, but it is really just a pet cone 😦 This has been a rather frightening experience for me and I will report it here in a few days, just to make sure that Dr. Brian Marchione gives me a clean bill of health on Wednesday, April 22nd. I don’t mind coming to visit the doctors as long as their jars of treats are still in place.

Mommy brought my son Patch to see Dr. Michael Chang, making sure that his eyes are fine, thinking that I may have given him the bad genes. Well, Patch is seven, and Dr. Chang is happy with the result of his eyes’ exam. From the picture, you can see how pleased Carlos looks, and Dr. Regan too, I have come to know them all because I was confined here at VCA West Los Angeles Veterinary Hospital (Sepulveda) for ten days, under the care of Dr. Michael Chang and Dr. Brian Marchione.

I also have a birthday coming, next Thursday the 30th, and I will be ten! If you visit, I will share my Carrot Cake from Sweet Lady Jane with you!

-Cassie

National Doctor’s Day!

I really didn’t want to have this photo taken with this ridiculous hat on, but I just had artificial intraocular lens put in my right eye.

Dr. Michael Chang replaced my eye’s natural lens, it was removed during the cataract surgery, (I had juvenile cataract) and the hat was to protect me from scratching my eyes, and certainly from Patch and Lucas wanting to rough play with me 🙂  On the third day with my ‘new eyes’ I was the first to spot the squirrel that visits every morning at eight like clockwork and I even ran faster than Patch and Lucas.

I saw Dr. Chang a few more times after the surgery, It was fun going to the clinic because Dr. Chang has this big jar of treats that sits next to the sink. After each examination, I would just go near the sink, I don’t even need to bark and Dr. Chang would say “Oh Cassie, you always remember where the goodies are.”

On the second week after the surgery, my Mama said I sounded like a tractor, I developed a bad bad cough. It was bronchitis and I had to go through this roller coaster ride, going back and forth visiting Dr. Lilin Chen, Dr. Sean Yoshimoto and Dr. Karen Eiler.  I am much better now and I just read from Mama’s Facebook page that today is National Doctor’s Day, I want to thank my Doctors and all Doctors.

-Cassie

Dr.Lilin Chen, lilin.chen07@gmail.com, Dr. Karen Eiler,  Karen.eiler@vca.com,  Dr. Sean Yoshimoto, sean.yoshimoto@vca.com, and Dr. Michael Chang.

Dusk at the backside of Hollywood!

Wing Chun Centerline Theory

Centerline Theory

The Centerline Theory is one of the major concepts in the art of Wing Chun though its importance can really be applied to countless other activities including sports and general well being. The theory is all based on the vertical line which runs down the center of the body. All Wing Chun offensive techniques originate from this line and all defensive techniques protect this line. Another way of viewing it is as a vertical plane which connects the center of your body to the center of your opponent’s body. Upon close inspection, the theory becomes increasingly interlaced with the human anatomy and physics.

Visualizing a line drawn down the center of the body highlights the most obvious and easy to understand aspects of the Centerline Theory; pressure points. Many of the body’s most vital and sensitive organs run down the center of the body including the eyes, brain, throat, heart, lungs, bladder, groin and what can be considered a centerline itself, the spine. Consequently, the practitioner defends this line as well as aims for it when applying offensive techniques. Even a strike with minimal force can disable or greatly injure someone if contact is made to any of these points.

This does not mean that other points of the body cannot be injured or hurt but that brings up more in regards to physics. If struck at the center, one has no choice but to either take the impact or step back to absorb the impact. In contrast, if the center line is properly protected and an attack instead strikes a point such as the shoulder, it is much easier to absorb and lessen the impact by shifting or rotating with the centerline as the pivot point. Imagine hitting a punching bag which is able to rotate. If struck at the center, the bag takes the greatest impact but if you miss and hit the side, the bag spins and your attack may also veer off further to the side. It is still not safe to allow an opponent to strike these points but it does create a priority to defend the center especially against a skilled fighter.

Certain martial arts use a stance which leads with either side of the body and argue that it creates a smaller target and help to protect some of the vital points mentioned earlier. One of the problems with this is that it creates favoritism with techniques and also gives the opponent a better idea of what is to come. The leading side also becomes more open to attack. By creating a vertical plane which connects your centerline to your opponent’s centerline, all of your attacks become well grounded from either side and allow the entire weight of your body to be behind them. This is why an attack following the centerline can create the most impact. By practicing defensive techniques which focus on protecting your centerline and using shifting to absorb and dodge attacks, the need for a permanent stance to create less of a target becomes unnecessary.

There are other aspects of the Centerline Theory which are more related to specific situations and techniques but the most important things to remember are to always defend your center, to have your attacks originate from the center and to aim at your opponent’s center.

-Marc Crook  ‘Gao Jian Feng’ of Wing Chun Masters

 

Wing Chun Masters App 1, 2, 3 and 4

Wing Chun Masters app 1, 2, 3 and 4 are educational martial arts applications which users from any level, Veterans, beginners and even those just curious about the effective Wing Chun system, will find useful. From Grandmaster Ip Chun (the son of Great Grandmaster Ip Man) these applications teach the forms and applications of the Wing Chun System. A step by step breakdown of the Siu Nim Tau form and the Muk Yan Jong ‘Wooden Dummy’ training video from a point of view which has never been seen before are shown in app 1. Each technique is broken down thoroughly to guide you along the way with both motion capture technology as well as live action videos accompanied by over an hour’s worth of videos, pictures, commentaries and texts in every app. The purpose of Wing Chun Masters is not meant to replace a classroom. The software is meant to promote and further educate people on the strength while those already rehearsed in the system will find these Apps very helpful. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn and practice Wing Chun in the most convenient way possible, from the palm of your hand.

http://www.wingchunmasters.com.

Available at iTunes Stores, under Health and Fitness, Wing Chun Masters 1,2,3 and 4.

Spring!

It is Spring! The time for renewing energy, passion, hope and friendship …this is a very mindful season!

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”― Mark Twain

The kumquat tree is from ‘My Garden Florist’ @ 6800 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028. The Rice God sits facing the entry way, all according to Feng Shue, done by Master of Feng Shue, David Cho, based in Los Angeles. Rice God is from Morita-san in Kamakura, Japan, @81-467-42-7035

The Great Grandmaster Ip Man’s 葉問 First Generation Students

In March 2011, after a great deal of research, we compiled this list of The Great Grandmaster Ip Man’s 葉問 First Generation Students. (please note that this is incomplete).

Au Chi Sing

Au Stanley

Au Tong

Chan Chee Man

Chan Jo Lee

Chan Chi Sui

Chan Kin Hay

Chan Nuen Lam

Chan Shing Tao

Chan Kam Ming

Chan Cheuk Yuen (Raphael)

Chan Siu Lung

Chan Tai Yim

Chang Tak Chiu

Chan Wai Hong

Chao John KT

Cheng Hung

Cheung Peter

Cheng Kong Nang

Cheung Cheuk Hing (William)

Cheung Ching On

Cheung Chung Bun

Cheung King Kong (George)

Cheung Yiu Wing

Cheung Hawkins

Chiu Van

Chow Kong Chi

Chow Lok Chi

Chun Wing Hon

Chow Tze Chuen

Chow Yiu Shing

Choy Siu Kwong

Chan Chris

Chan Kevin

Chow Kwong Yue

Chu Shong Tin (Tsui Shong Tin)

Chung Man Kam

Chung Suen Yau

Chung Wing Kong

Cheung David

Fong Ming Bew

Fong Yiu

Fung Hon, Stewart

Fung Ping Bol

Ho Chi Hon

Hi Kai Lun

Ho Kam Ming

Hon Chak Chuen

Hui Siu Cheong

Ip Ching

Ip Chun

Jiu Wan

Kan Victor

Kam Man Chun

Koo Sang

Kong Wai

Kwok Cze Yan

Kwok Keung

Kwok Fu (Foshan Student)

Lai Bong Seck

Lai Kui Wing, Baptista

Lai Tak Keung

Lam Kwok Wing

Lam Yin Fat

Lau Chuen

Lau Dik

Lau Hon Lam

Lau Ming

Lau Wai

Lau Sam (mentored by Moy Yat)

Law Bing Yan

Law Chung Yin

Law Peng

Lee Allan

Lee Hon

Lee Kam Shing

Lee King Wah

Lee Kui On

Lee Leung Foo

Lee Kun Yum

Lee Ngai Ming

Lee Ngan Foon

Lee Shing (mentored by Lok Yiu)

Lee Siu Lung (Bruce)

Lee Ting Wah ( Jackson)

Lee Wai Chi

Lee Wing

Lee Yan Wing

Lee Yiu Fai

Leung Duncan

Leung Sheung

Leung Ting (mentored by Leung Sheung)

Li Fat Chi

Li Kan Shing

Lo Bing

Lo Chek Sang

Liu Yiu Choi

Liu Ming

Liu Ying

Lo Man Kam

Lo Tai

Lo Wing Bong

Lok Yiu

Lun Kai (Foshan Student)

Ma Hang Lum, Andrew

Mak Po Shing

Mak Po

Man Siu hung

Man Yin Kwong

Miao Yin Lun

Miao Yin Wai

Mo Kee

Moy Yat

Ng Chun

Ng Yuet

Pang Che Yam

Pang Kam Fat, Henry

Poon Bing Lit

Pan Nam

She Mei King

Siu Yuk Men

Tam Lai

Tang Sang

Tang Sik Ki

Ting Yuk Lan

Tsan Wing Wah

Tong Jo Chi

Tse Chiu Hung

Tsong Wing

Tsui Cho

Tsui Kong Tin

Wang Kiu

Wat Yung Sang

Wong Shun Leung

Wong Shung Nin

Wong Cze Wing

Wong Hon Chung

Wong Chok

Wong Hei

Wong Pak Yee

Wong Wei

Wong Chi On

Wong Kwok Yau

Wong Kwok

Wong Long Ching

Wong Tak

Wong Yam Tsung

Wong Yat Hang

Wong Yee Lai, Ivan

Wong Ki Man, Francis

Wong Long

Wu Yau

Yau Hak So

Yeung Cheung Hon

Yueng Hei

Yeung Tse Wai Chu

Yueng Wing

Yip Po Ching

Yip Kim Ching

Yue Mai Kang

Yuen Chi Kong

Yuen Hei

Yip Shing Cheuk

Yip Yin

Yuen Kau Wui