Just got back from a full weekend of Chinese martial arts madness. Our yearly international tourney (30th anniversary) was this year combined with the 6th World championship, which runs every three years in differing countries. Played a bit of havoc for the event schedule.  

We received delegations from 21 countries, ranging from just an offical (a show of support for the event, even though no competitors attended), to 43 competitors (the U.S. team naturally as we were the host country). I do not know the total number of competitors, but I saw a number several years ago that we had been averaging between 500 and 800 for the International Tournament at the time. We also had for the opening ceremonies a three-lion dance, and a dragon, which is unusual for our venue. First I've seen in my 13 years attending.

Myself, I got some volunteer time in as a scorekeeper/timekeeper, but also had my first opportunity to act as a judge for men's and women's senior (50+) and youth Taiji divisions, after only attending the judges course last year. Not as easy as it looks, folks!    I think it was easier competing, and for me, that is difficult enough.  

A few years ago, we had a visit from Master Mimi Chan, who was used as the model when Disney wanted the face of Mulan. I understand she was used as the action template as well. She has done a few small pieces as an 'extra' I suppose you could say, like being in an episode of the Mortal Kombat TV series some time back. She had been the closest we have had to a 'celebrity' martial artist that I am aware. A demo with her teacher, Grandmaster Chan Pui, a little while ago.

Or, that was until this weekend. A gentleman by the name of Master Martin Sewer (pronounced 'see-ver') from Swizerland has been a regular attendee for many years. This time, his teacher, Grandmaster Chiu Chi Ling payed us a visit. Quite an engaging and good-spirited gentleman from what I saw. For those that may not know the name, he has appeared in a number of movies, perhaps his best known is his appearance as the flighty tailor with the red underwear in Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle. (he's the guy with the iron rings on his arms)

A great time had by all, despite the exhausting weekend.  

The martial arts tourney sounds like it was  good time!

Scalydemon wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:Jennell Jaquays has written a new adventure, compatible with Swords & Wizardry The Dragon's Secret (Dungeons of Doom edition) - Fifth Wall Games & Miniatures | DriveThruRPG.com

Dedicated to Doug Rhea for bringing me back into a hobby and career that I had thought behind me. Thanks Doug!

Cool!  

New Dune tabletop and RPG coming soon!

Dune Tabletop RPG Will Arrive Before Denis Villeneuve's Reboot

Did it have weirding modules?

red_bus wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread: here's the wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Album_(book)

"Martin Amis wrote critically of the book: [Didion] stands revealed, in The White Album, as a human being who has managed to gouge another book out of herself..."

Is that a character-class ability? Could it be used in the dungeon to maybe replace the lost spellbook of a magic user?

For anybody interested in Lovecraftian themes, I highly recommend checking out the movie, In the Mouth of Madness (1994).  I'm no benjoshua, so I won't even bother trying to live up to his movie reviewing prowess.  In short, it was a solid flick .

Hurricane Michael is headed just below where I live in Macon, Georgia (about an hour south of Atlanta).  It should be down to a tropical storm by the time it arrives around midnight, but will likely knock out electricity for a lot of residents and knock over a few trees.  Hopefully I'll avoid anything too drastic.  

red_bus wrote in Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread:Book recommendation (non fiction): The White Album by Joan Didion; a collection of her essays reporting from California in the late 60s/early 70s. Just picked it up a few days ago, genuinely amazing writing. here's the wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Album_(book)

Joan Didion is brilliant:  Slouching Towards Bethlehem:  A Brief Structural Analysis

Allan.