Comments on: The Butcher http://www.crossfitwest.com/?p=2720 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:36:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: mstillman http://www.crossfitwest.com/?p=2720&cpage=1#comment-3261 mstillman Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:04:48 +0000 http://www.crossfitwestsantacruz.com/new-site/?p=2720#comment-3261 CUTTING UP AN OX Prince Wen Hui's Cook Was cutting up an ox. Out went a hand, Down went a shoulder, He planted a foot, He pressed with a knee, The ox fell apart With a whisper, The bright cleaver murmured Like a gentle wind. Rhythm! Timing! Like a sacred dance, Like "The Mulberry Grove," Like ancient harmonies! "Good work!" the Prince exclaimed "Your method is faultless!" "Method?" said the cook Laying aside his cleaver, "What I follow is Tao Beyond all methods! "When I first began To cut up oxen I would see before me The whole ox All in one mass. "After three years I no longer saw this mass. I saw the distinctions. "But now, I see nothing With the eye. My whole being Apprehends. My senses are idle. The spirit Free to work without plan Follows its own instinct Guided by natural line, By the secret opening, the hidden space, My cleaver finds its own way. I cut through no joint, chop no bone. "A good cook needs a new chopper Once a year - he cuts. A poor cook needs a new one Every month - he hacks! "I have used this same cleaver Nineteen years. It has cut up A thousand oxen. Its edge is as keen As if newly sharpened. "There are spaces in the joints; The blade is thin and keen: When this thinness Finds that space There is all the room you need! It goes like a breeze! Hence I have this cleaver nineteen years As if newly sharpened! "True, there are sometimes Tough joints. I feel them coming, I slow down, I watch closely, Hold back, barely moving the blade, And whump! the part falls away Landing like a clod of earth. "Then I withdraw the blade, I stand still And let the joy of the work Sink in. I clean the blade And put it away." Prince Wan Hui said, "This is it! My cook has shown me How I ought to live My own life!" The Way of Chuang Tzu CUTTING UP AN OX
Prince Wen Hui’s Cook
Was cutting up an ox.
Out went a hand,
Down went a shoulder,
He planted a foot,
He pressed with a knee,
The ox fell apart
With a whisper,
The bright cleaver murmured
Like a gentle wind.
Rhythm! Timing!
Like a sacred dance,
Like “The Mulberry Grove,”
Like ancient harmonies!

“Good work!” the Prince exclaimed
“Your method is faultless!”
“Method?” said the cook
Laying aside his cleaver,
“What I follow is Tao
Beyond all methods!

“When I first began
To cut up oxen
I would see before me
The whole ox
All in one mass.

“After three years
I no longer saw this mass.
I saw the distinctions.

“But now, I see nothing
With the eye. My whole being
Apprehends.
My senses are idle. The spirit
Free to work without plan
Follows its own instinct
Guided by natural line,
By the secret opening, the hidden space,
My cleaver finds its own way.
I cut through no joint, chop no bone.

“A good cook needs a new chopper
Once a year – he cuts.
A poor cook needs a new one
Every month – he hacks!

“I have used this same cleaver
Nineteen years.
It has cut up
A thousand oxen.
Its edge is as keen
As if newly sharpened.

“There are spaces in the joints;
The blade is thin and keen:
When this thinness
Finds that space
There is all the room you need!
It goes like a breeze!
Hence I have this cleaver nineteen years
As if newly sharpened!

“True, there are sometimes
Tough joints. I feel them coming,
I slow down, I watch closely,
Hold back, barely moving the blade,
And whump! the part falls away
Landing like a clod of earth.

“Then I withdraw the blade,
I stand still
And let the joy of the work
Sink in.
I clean the blade
And put it away.”

Prince Wan Hui said,
“This is it! My cook has shown me
How I ought to live
My own life!”

The Way of Chuang Tzu

]]> By: Sam Y http://www.crossfitwest.com/?p=2720&cpage=1#comment-3231 Sam Y Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:50:37 +0000 http://www.crossfitwestsantacruz.com/new-site/?p=2720#comment-3231 Vince, I read the same post on Surfline and had similar thoughts.. Of course, being a regular CrossFitter, I immediately figured I'd be able to do the 3rd and most difficult of the workouts listed! :) How about you? Unrelated question: anyone know whether classes will be held on Saturday, July 4th? Vince, I read the same post on Surfline and had similar thoughts.. Of course, being a regular CrossFitter, I immediately figured I’d be able to do the 3rd and most difficult of the workouts listed! :) How about you? Unrelated question: anyone know whether classes will be held on Saturday, July 4th?

]]> By: Vince http://www.crossfitwest.com/?p=2720&cpage=1#comment-3230 Vince Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:09:17 +0000 http://www.crossfitwestsantacruz.com/new-site/?p=2720#comment-3230 Surfline just put out a post about surfing fitness/work-outs and increasing endurance. I spyed a few CrossFit movements in there. I know theres a couple other surfers at CrossFit West, pretty cool to see it in the context of our sport. http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/dr-tim-brown---team-offers-advice-on-how-to-increase-endurance-for-surfing_27953/ Surfline just put out a post about surfing fitness/work-outs and increasing endurance. I spyed a few CrossFit movements in there. I know theres a couple other surfers at CrossFit West, pretty cool to see it in the context of our sport.

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/dr-tim-brown—team-offers-advice-on-how-to-increase-endurance-for-surfing_27953/

]]> By: emily http://www.crossfitwest.com/?p=2720&cpage=1#comment-3224 emily Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:25:58 +0000 http://www.crossfitwestsantacruz.com/new-site/?p=2720#comment-3224 Yeah, Nancy and Rachel! Look at those lovely ladies with the lovely form! Yeah, Nancy and Rachel! Look at those lovely ladies with the lovely form!

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