Supplements

In leu of my trial gym membership I've ordered an FRS sample pack of a work out supplement. It came in two forms, a drink you mix with water and soft chews. I admit the only reason I actually ordered it was for the free water bottle and the 14 day trial pass to 24hr fitness but after a few days of working out I'm hooked. In college I made it a habit to work out at least three times a week, mostly to combat the winter slump, to offset the time spent sitting in study. Without the availability of a university gym and my induction into squiredom, practice became a place to hone combat skills not improve physical fitness. Under the tutelage of my knight and squire brothers I've begun a fitness plan to improve strength, power, finesse, and endurance. Through these things I will become better suited to learn and progress with my fighting career.

Ha! Was sneaky and waited out for a good membership deal at 24 Hour Fitness. I will become an added member onto my room mates account for $24.99 a month. He gets the extra points and free item, while I gain a cheap membership and 24 hour access to a nearby gym.

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An now is the season of what?

Keeping in mind the level of fitness required to compete at an expert level I've begun spring training for the summer and fall fighting season. Upping cardio and introducing weight training to supplement weekly practices is the goal in mind. I'm using resistance bands to strengthen fast twitch muscles while using heavy weights to build muscle mass. Improved cardio will help with endurance on the field and in upcoming tournaments.

To focus on sword skills I throw 25 shots per six points on the body per stance to build muscle memory. Pel drills are few and far between for me as I do not have a pel but have started utilizing a few in the area open to me by some friends. I'm not going to promise myself I will improve attendance and such since I will inevitably find some reason not to go, legit or not.

Am taking time to plan out repairs and replacements of damaged and uncomfortable pieces of armor and obtain the items I want, not quick fixes. I'm not trusting my gear and it's getting in my head during fights.

My knight and I have started on another path of training, the non-physical. One night a week is devoted to discussing etiquette both on and off the field, sword skills and theory, as well as general banter to establish a more comfortable working relationship between the two of us. Of course on some mornings other members of the household will be included to bring in other opinions and to share ideas the two of us have discussed.

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Around and around we go.

A students work is never finished. The lineage I uphold requires nothing less than the best. Being the most junior member I must work the hardest to impress my brothers and learn from them all that I can so that I may take my place beside them when the time comes. For now my obsession is the focus I put into my training. Repetition, fitness, and focus. Oh how I need that focus.

I've a small side project in mind. Compiling a book for newcomers to flip through with pictures and basic rules of what our combat is and how to protect yourself. Your armor can look like crap, its important you get out there.


Event update: When fighting with An Tir at Estrella I won an Oleander to hang on my belt.

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Fame Factory!

Welcome to this factory of fame, this outrageous calamity of rattan. In An Tir this isn't fighting it's school for heroes. If it isn't hard, if you can still see straight, then you haven't begun to push yourself past those limitations to exceed even those greater that stand before you. Get some or get out.

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Just on more fight......

Returned home this weekend from my kingdoms premiere fighting event consisting of eight erics, each with twenty fighters, formatted round robin. A couple of things made themselves quite clear. There is a difference between power needed in shots at practice and in tournaments, endurance becomes a huge factor in later rounds, I would rather pass out that drop out of a tourney because I'm tired, and I need more follow through on my shots. Good times, back to the grindstone I go.

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I don't wanna.. but I did

Was in a horrible mood yesterday not wanting to practice, still sulking over the muscle fatigue in my arm, and just over all angry at the world. Was yelled at by housemate that I always drag him out when he is being a whinney mess and ends up having a good time so I should get my ass in gear. So I dragged myself of the couch and into the car. Ended up having a better night than expected. Here's to motivational yelling, hurray.

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Motivation ovation

Where has my motivation gone? With the upthrust of squiredom I expected my enthusiasm to just take off. This is not so. Lately I've been finding reasons to avoid practices, not fight well, and over all be generally inside of my head. I can attribute some of this to a healing arm injury and family stresses but not this over all dampening of spirits to a depressing level. I've gotten wrapped up in myself and need to knock it off so I can improve my standing in the pack.

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Up the hill of chivalry!

Oooff! Today I became the squire of one Jarl Ulfred and was witnessed by my fellows in arms into the household of a great paragon of An Tir! I'm filled with a nervous excitement and an oddly calm confidence for my future. I will be a knight and today was the public acceptance of my pledge to take steps in that direction.

P.S New half gauntlets are in order. My poor hand is lucky to not have been broken yet wearing the ill fitting protection I currently own.

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Holidays and HoHos

Brief note about Monday Practice. Need to continue cardio and weight training after the holiday season as well as yoga w/ stretching to improve flexibility. Christmas tum is slowing me down a bit. Took my time last night to focus on quality fights and head space. Fighting planned sets using current skills to the best of my ability. Actualized a few areas needing improvement such as fighting to the skill level of my opponent, improper sword blocks, and choppy flow. A senior squire had me point out the errors while watching other fights to better understand the reasons behind some of the actions I've imitating and how to survive in different sparring situations.

Revised Practice Schedule:

Mondays: Learning technique.
Tuesday and Wed:Theory, philosophy, fundamentals and light technique.
Thursdays: Competitive focus

At Home: *Flexibility, fitness, weight training
*Conditioning for strength and stamina
*Flexibility both mental and physical
*Fluid Movement

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New Seasons for pain

The new year is approaching rapidly and with it the cold temperatures that have consistantly kept the attenance low at practices. I fought in my second tournament, this one a more high caliber than the first, and even though I did not make it off of my field, I felt I fought well and held my own against the knights. Down sides included an elbow shot that gave me trouble in my final fights and a bit of oil slick on the ground. Must focus more between fights, be careful of flat footing, and remember to rinse my mouth with water after fights for hydration.

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So Tired, worn out.

All the hard work. Practices, pell nights, and personal home fitness are starting to pay off. People are starting to notice improvement in my sets and today tell me I was kinda scary to fight since I can stand toe to toe with some of the chiv in attendance. I like the way that sounds. I do try to fight them well and improve when I can. Some day, when I grow up I'll be a knight; but for now I take slight awe and fear. It's all about the word fame right? I've got a long way to go.

Also: I suck at teaching. Words escape me, geeky scientist trying to teach fighting doesn't always work out. At least I can show them the movements while someone else narrates.

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Anybody out there?

Wow, the winter weather starts rolling in and there goes the attendance at practice. Both Thursday and Monday were sorely lacking in fighters, not enough to even put on gear (i.e. only two ppl and one of them didn't have gear). Off season my ass, the crappy weather only gives me more endurance.

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Concepts of a Fighter.

More of the head game from my Knight:

Think of three primary realms where the fighter operates, emotional, perceptual and physical.

* Physical provides the foundation without which perceptions and emotions do not matter. It is the process of mastering the physical that also allows us to master the perceptions and emotions. The physical realm encompasses our toolbox. More tools give us more options when on the job. We must continually sharpen the tools we own, while mastering additional tools to place in the box.

* Perceptual we develop through time-in-hat engaged in contests "that matter" to us. Our perceptions allow us to select the correct tools for the job, and to use them at the proper time. There can be an intellectual component that guides honing perceptions via studying the "body-language" of contests between others. This is not easy though and requires not watching as entertainment, but for analysis. Video is tricky too, being 3-D (width, height, time) rather than 4-D (adding depth) and lacks the perspective of the opponent (third person impersonal versus first person personal).

* Emotional is how our basic natures relate to contention, and our ability to make significant self-change. It determines if we get the job done efficiently, or at all. Uncontrolled emotions hinder our ability to learn when training, and give our opponents an unearned advantage. Lack of emotional involvement in execution or outcome leads to poor performance. Metaphysically - We could as well call this spiritual, I suppose, but spiritual can imply outside forces as much as internal forces - I see combat as mastering internal forces (emotions). The nature of your beliefs in external forces only matters in how it allows you to master yourself, and can be detrimental in self-mastery if it excuses making the effort (fate/destiny/this is my nature).

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Head Time in the Helmet.

Tonight I had some good sets with the knights in attendance and a good warm-up/practice drill with my soon to be squire brother. I made sure to keep myself moving, being smaller movement is a vital part of my developing style, to prevent crushing blows and resets during the fight. My goal is to keep my opponent on their heels and simply move out of harms way while setting up blows rather than fighting toe to toe. Small steps up!

There are a few things I need to improve upon. Upping the aggression, this will come with time and a little prodding from some pals. Others include more seamless transitions in and out of my opponents A and B ranges, more efficient sword recoveries, and remembering good form. For me exceptional form will equal good power and appropriate skill level for higher level tournaments in the future. I maintain my Squire Challenge workout but need to up my cardio to increase endurance. Running in the rain? need some rain pants.

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Welcome to Winter!

It may not officially be winter yet, but that doesn't prevent the temperature from dropping down or wind from whipping through the practice site. It's time for the winter long haul, freezing hands, numb limbs, and nothing to do but whine whine whine about it. HA!

I now pronounce the Fighter Winter Whining season open!! Please feel free to post those deepest and utmost desires to complain about everything and anything regarding weather, discomfort, and drudgery of dragging yourself to practice in those less than optimal conditions.

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Back to Basics

Fitness is of the utmost importance. A few years ago a Sensei, very traditionaly japanese, taught me that it is not only skill but fitness that drives advantage. What you lack in skill can be covered up by the frequency and athleticism. There is no restriction in your movements and thus, if you can not strick your opponent you can frequently moveout of the way until a clear opening presents itself.

I am resigned to my weights and cardio seeing as my ability to armor up is hampered by an unfortunately frequent necessity to visit cemetaries this month. Family first, but this doesn't hamper my ability to train on my own by systematically heading off my Squires challenge and hiking a few miles a day with the dogs.

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To Be a squire?

I was approached by a knight I sincerely respect to take up the mantle as his squire. While I can not ask for better, I must first step away from my Man-at-arms position to another knight.

The weather has turned cold, severely affecting my enthusiasm for suiting up in crappy weather at our outdoor covered practice sites. That quote "whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger" is feeling a lot like one of those building character activities. I suppose my cardio and endurance will increase significantly but I foresee loads of silent grumbling on my part as well. I will resume practices as normal starting this week after a hiatus with family over this past weekend that was wrapped up with a memorial service down in California.

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slow and steady hits the pell

Off to a pals house for an evening of burgers, slow work and drills on the pell. The four of us did a few six point drills and discussed a few others like Sean's five point drill and speed rounds for other practices. Afterward we paired off for slow work changing partners after about five minutes to focus on control, form, tempo. I discovered a few bad habits like pulling my shield out of place and not returning my sword back to start. Small things but also something that can make a huge impact on the fight over all.

On a good note my back is alright albeit a little swollen and bruised. So long as I continue to use good form there is no ache. I've also a clear head now from the events of Tuesday night. The lessons I learn while training ring more true than they have before.

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Use and abuse.

For the past three weeks I've been a man-in-arms and until last night looked like the arrangement might work out. Being a vastly smaller and lighter fighter, than the grand majority of folks out there, I deal with being tossed around, shoved, pushed and upended a bit more frequently despite the footwork. However it also means that being Thugged can be a bit of a problem. While I loves me the thuggery there is a time and place and last night was not one of those times. My opponents lack of self control could have left me fairly injured last night had his blow landed somewhere other than my back. It was a good reminder of why we wear the armor we do and a good check on myself to see if I wanted to continue fighting in the future. I know my body can not take shots like that on a regular basis and stepping away may be the best idea in lue of that possibility.

On a lighter note I tested out my new arm armor, waxed leather bazubands, with great success! Lighter, smoother, with just enough difference to throw me off a little and expose some nasty habits that had been hiding the metal monstrosities. Had some decent sets with some of the other knights at practice and despite my lack of flow I hope that I gave them a bit of a challenge. I learned I need to practice shots with the new arms to rid myself of perpetual flatting, to stop blinding myself, and quit throwing single shots and resetting. I realized my mind set was not where it needed to be and my performance suffered for it. As did my abs for trying to engage them more. Fortunately, there were good friends and the soothing succor of drinks to finish out the evening.

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quick stop!

Quick thought: two days of intense fighter practice deserves a break.

Things To Look Forward To: new arm armor and the possibility of designing a new chest harness that gives me more protection.

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