Fan Appreciation

This year the fan is my weapon to master and I can't say that I chose the fan, rather it chose me. When I first saw the fan a few years ago when Sifu Tiffany Playter was working on her fan form, I didn't think much of the fan. Yes it's pretty, but come on, a fan??? What a floo-floo wannabe of a weapon! I admit, those were my original thoughts until Dennis told me to take a close look at the fan that was (then) hanging on the wall. When I looked, my eyes widen as I realized that the blades were steel. Maybe there is some thing that I should be investigating here.

Forward to this past year. It's been a learning experience with my fan on a lot of different levels. How it's a weapon, how to use the weapon, how it be elegant and have flow with it and I've gone through many love-hate bouts with it. The one thing that has kept me anchored to my fan is that it's highly deceptive as well as being the loudest weapon in the Kwoon which yes, I get my zippy thrills with. Designing my form has been both a challenge and a huge reward, but the best was yet to come.

Last night I had an amazing demo practice with Sihing Chessall. Sihing and I are partners in fight choreography and (you got it) my fan is also there. To me last night was pivotal in our demo piece as we really go into the fan applications thanks to help from Sifus Wetter and Rybak. Now I am beginning to understand my fan and really sense as to where/how to apply it. I'm now in love with my fan, actually both of them and yes, there are differences between the two besides color. One is bamboo and the other is steel making both very different to work with.

I am so happy that I have this great opportunity to learn my fans even more. The bonus is working with Sihing as well as the valuable input we get. There's a new excitement and it's thrilling. So next year what's my weapon? My fans and they will be partnered with a weapon that has been waiting patiently but sending signals that he wants to come out and play.
Sherri Donohue
Hot Torch, Room Full of Glass, and a Kung Fu Kwoon