Author: Chi Phi DZAA

Bringing Out the Martial Art Inside of You

When we joined Chi Phi, we became Brothers. We became part of a larger family, and we developed a bond, a Brotherhood, that joined us as a family. But Chi Phi is not the only place to find Brotherhood, and Alumnus Alex Petrilak found this familial bond in the form of Kung Fu.

Brother Petrilak, a member of the Alpha Omicron class, graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He chose Kung Fu four years ago as a mean to control his anxious mind, to sculpt his physique, and to gain a renewed sense of where he stands in the Universe as a whole. He looked at other martial arts (such as Karate-Do, Jiu jitsu, and Tae Kwon Do), but as fate would have it, when he contacted the local Dogos, none of them answered the phone. “I suppose the Universe had other plans for me,” he says, “and I have yet to look back in regret.”

For those who may wonder the difference,Gung Fu (功夫 in simplified Chinese) is literally translated and defined as “the art of mastery through hard work.” Of course, anything can be considered “Gung Fu” (Kung Fu), or at least anything that requires immense dedication and an obtainable goal. “Kung Fu,” as you and I know it, is the Chinese martial art of self defense. Kung Fu has a very diverse set of systems who some believe pre-date to ancient India. However, because Kung Fu is so diverse in its systems and styles (i.e. Wing Chun, Sanda, animal styles, TaiJi, Bagua, Xingye) the origins of Kung Fu are often subjective and Alex Kung Fuoften controversial. Shaolin Kung Fu, for example, was not Chinese in origin but was introduced to the Monks by Bodhidharma (Indian holy-man, between 5th and 6th century A.D.) on his way through China spreading Zen Buddhism. Shaolin Kung Fu is not Chinese in origin. It is Indian. Kung Fu employs a very fluid movement. If you have ever observed Karate, you might feel intimidated by their tense ferocity. “In Kung Fu,” Brother Petrilak explains, “we do not just strike with our fist; we strike with our entire body. That is to say, unlike Karate, a powerful punch in Kung Fu originates at your base and moves through your body like a wave until it come crashing down on an opponent. Of course, there is also your ‘Qi’ (internal energy) but alas, the principle of Qi is shared in many martial arts.” Kung Fu is primarily a stand-up fighting system such as that of Karate, boxing, Tae Kwon Do, etc. and has very little ground fighting, contrary to that of such martial arts as Jiu Jitsu (both Brazilian and Japanese), Pankration (traditional Greek wrestling) or Judo (although this is the Japanese art of the take-down, it is often integrated with traditional Jiu Jitsu ground fighting). What Kung Fu lacks for in its ground game, it makes up for in its strikes and joint locks. Like that of Hapkido (Korean art of joint-locking, grappling, throwing and striking), Chinese Kung fu incorporates Chin-na, or rather, the “art of the joint lock and submission” as well as power throws and take down originating from TaiJi (Tai Chi).

The system of Kung Fu I practice is Northern Praying Mantis (Taiji Tang Lang Quan). Without going into detail, the praying mantis is a fearsome insect. Tenacious as it is cunning – Praying Mantis is a very popular style in China, not just because of its superb fighting system, but because of the legend of its origin. Wang Lang (c. 1650, Shandong Province, Ming Dynasty) was inspired to join the quick footwork of Monkey with that of the interlocking grappling and striking of Southern Mantis to create what we know as Northern Mantis. As the legend goes, Wang Lang observed a praying mantis struggling to push the wheel of an ox-cart. Although the mantis must surely have known he could have never succeeded in moving such an obstacle, he kept trying no matter the consequence of his failure. While many Taoists would contemplate the Mantis’ strife as a lesson that life cannot be fought against, Wang Lang instead saw the very symbol of all martial artists. No matter the adversity, no matter the cost, never give-up.  Brother Petrilak does not believe his tenure in Mantis Kung Fu is any coincidence. “Like the mantis in Wang Lang’s story,” he states, “as an OCD sufferer, I too face many struggles. But, as I am sure you have assumed, the praying mantis lives within me. I look upon that story and reflect upon Wang Lang’s inspiration. While we may struggle in life, hard work and dedication has its rewards. Simply put, I do not believe in giving-up but to endure and move forward instead. Only when we stop believing in ourselves do we let the metaphoric wheel crush us and our spirit.”

Kung Fu, like many traditional martial arts, allows one to tone one’s body, sharpen the mind and boost the spirit. “Among the three principles,” Brother Petrilak admits, “I often relate to the many stories my Shifu (master) has told us over the years, each of which carry a significant moral or lesson. As previously mentioned, I suffer from OCD. Without making this a pity story, I will skip the major details of what pops into my mind; but what you do need to know is that we [OCD] sufferers tend to focus on the negative. I am often reminded by my Shifu of a story about a monk attempting to master the discipline of meditation. Upon years of practice and concentration, the monk finally learned how to ‘block’ negative emotions from entering his mind. The master scolded him for his ignorance. Perplexed by his master’s rather odd reaction, the monk contemplated as he carried water from the well to his quarters. Upon stumbling, he dropped the bowl and it shattered. It was then he realized what he hadn’t noticed all along. Each shard contained a different reflection of the moon. The monk had a grand revelation about the mind, positive and negative emotions. Although we do not like our negativity it never the less exists as a part of our consciousness. We can chose to let it cause us pain or we can simply accept it as a part of who we are and move on.”

Brother Petrilak has noticed that there is a similarity between Kung fu and Chi Phi, in that they are both a sort of family, a fraternity if you will. Like Chi Phi, they refer to each other as “Kung Fu brother” and “Kung Fu sister.” Of course, they also recognize their elders. Those who have been practicing longer are known as “Elder Kung Fu brother/ sister.” He definitely recommends the practice of martial arts to everybody. “I believe everybody has a martial art inside of them,” Brother Petrilak encourages. “It’s up to each of them to bring it out.”

USF Football Returns with Bulls FanFest on August 16th

The kickoff of the 2014 USF football season is just six weeks away, but Bulls fans won’t have to wait that long for their first glimpse of Head Coach Willie Taggart’s second team.

Bulls Fan Fest

USF’s annual Bulls Fan Fest will take place on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Corbett Stadium, home of the USF soccer teams and site of the Bulls’ spring football game, on the USF campus. A free event and open to the public, Bulls Fan Fest is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. and this year it will involve all of USF’s fall sports teams. The USF football players and coaches will be joined by the USF men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country programs in a day packed full of great experiences and fun for Bulls fans.

Along with the opportunity to get autographs and pictures with student-athletes, coaches, Rocky The Bull, Sun Dolls and cheerleaders, fans will have the chance to participate in interactive games with their favorite Bulls. Among the many activities fans can participate in with the student-athletes will be games for kicking field goals, scoring goals, serving volleyballs and much more.

There will be opportunities to get pictures in Bulls’ uniforms, show off your endzone dance, win prizes and hear from all of the Bulls’ fall sport head coaches.

For the full article, check out: http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=209601382

 

Just a Drop of Water is All It Takes!

Chi Phi played a large part of Shawn Cerra’s college years, and according to his wife, Kerry, it played just as large a part in hers (particularly in light of her being a Chi Phi Little Sister!). After college, the two got married, and while both of them have worked in the public school system, only Shawn remained in the educational system (serving as a principal now at JP Taravealla High School in Broward County). Kerry, who was a high school history teacher, has left that career behind her to become a published author, with her first book, Just a Drop of Water, set to hit the shelves next month (September 2, 2014).

Set in Coral Springs Florida, Just a Drop of Water tells the story of two thirteen-year-old boys – Jake Green and Sam Madina – Just_a_Drop_of_Water_Coverand how their friendship is tested in the wake of September 11th. Jake and Sam are best friends, and that friendship is put to the test when Sam is pummeled for being an Arab Muslim by a classmate bully. When Sam’s father is detained by the FBI and Jake’s mom begins to doubt the innocence of Sam’s family, Jake is forced to choose between his best friend and his parents. Then Jake not only finds out that Sam has been keeping secrets, but his own family’s past is revealed, and suddenly everything he ever knew to be true feels like one big lie. Kerry’s debut novel is aimed at middle school age children.

Kerry revealed a bit about what inspired her to write this book. “Pretty quickly after the attacks, it was discovered that Mohamed Atta—the lead hijacker of the plane that flew into the north tower in New York City—lived in our town. Fear was already heightened throughout America, but this information almost paralyzed me. KerryI had three small kids, and I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d seen Atta at the grocery store, a restaurant, the park, the bank. At the same time these scenarios were running though my head, I discovered that a close college friend and Chi Phi brother—who is Muslim—was having a difficult time, and that his parents, who lived in the town where the terrorists took flight lessons, were being questioned. I wish I could say I believed their innocence in that moment, but it would be a lie. I’ve never really forgiven myself for that, even though he has. I didn’t like myself for doubting my friend and his family. Once my head cleared and the fear subsided a little, I knew—with all that is in me—that they were innocent. These were people who had welcomed us into their home in England a few years prior. They weren’t just acquaintances. Their son was one of my very best friends! I started to wonder why I doubted them in the first place. And, I wondered if my kids, at their young ages, would have ever doubted their friends. At what age do we go from trusting and innocent, to fearful and jaded? I wanted to explore that, and Just a Drop of Water is the result.”

Kerry hopes that the theme of peace, that is threaded throughout the book, shines though. While the terrorist attacks on September 11th were tragic, it is Kerry’s hope that we can learn from them. “Acceptance is the key to peace,” she believes, “and that begins with children. I certainly don’t mean acceptance of terrorism, but acceptance of religious, cultural, racial, and all other differences to eventually create a world where we can live side by side, peacefully. When I see and hear stories about children in the Middle East being brainwashed and trained to hate at such young ages, it breaks my heart. Why can’t we be doing the same thing but with the opposite message? I hope that Just a Drop of Water is a step in that direction.”

Kerry is currently revising her first middle grade novel titled The Sacredness of Spit Swears. It’s been sitting a drawer for several years now, and Kerry knows that it needs quite a bit of work before she can finally submit it to her agent and editor. It has themes of sibling rivalry, loyalty, and friendship—all centered around a middle school basketball team. She is also toying with a new middle grade book titled A Gentle Breath of Wind, which she is really loving. Her first two books have male protagonists, but this third one will be told from a girl’s point of view. She describes it as having an interesting mix of components like surfing, theater, family issues, euthanasia, Hawaiian culture, and learning how to let go. She is anxious to get back to it.

When asked how her husband, Delta Zeta’s own Shawn Cerra, supported her through the writing of the book, she was quick to respond, “He has been incredibly supportive. When we got married,” she explains, “we both agreed that I’d eventually stay home and raise our kids–which finally happened after our second one was born.shawn_and_me,_photo_backyard,_couch During those stay-at-home years, I found myself writing short stories and learning all I could about the craft. Once I discovered The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I knew I’d found my niche. Writing wasn’t something I’d gone to school for, but I’d found my passion, for sure. Shawn could see that and once the kids were all in school, he supported my decision to continue to stay home, volunteer at school, and keep writing. It took me eight years to finally sell a book, and yet he never doubted that I would.” Brother Cerra is even helping his wife plan a book signing for September 13th, and she jokes that he is quickly becoming her manager, with which she is completely fine. “I just want to write,” she says. “He can take care of business!”

If you want to support Brother Cerra and his wife’s new career, you can find Just a Drop of Water on Amazon or at your local bookseller (and if they don’t carry it, tell them to order it!).