Devon
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Week 2 Focus
Topic: Keeping on a regular rhythm this week while I recover from being sick.
Schedule & Plan:
Mon-Wed – Main goal this week is to get in 15-30 minutes of practice each day
Thu-Fri – Focus on my classes and the training in them — hopefully feel better by then.
Sat-Sun – Spend some solid time on the Marozzo Assault. One hour sessions each day and video shooting.
Contingency:
Reading and getting back into Marozzo’s third assault.
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Reflection for March Week 2
Victory Laps:
In spite of feeling sick at the outset of the week I was able to adjust my expectations and keep a rhythm going.
I really enjoyed shooting rapier stance flow play as my video project for the week. It was a good inspiration.
I also finished my 5K running program this week. The last run was hard but worth it. Big accomplishment. Now I just need to figure out what’s next in that arena!
Course Corrections:
I’d like to make some progress on my marozzo assault. I’ll have to think on ow to really get in the space and time I need to polish it. Doesn’t seem to coming as easily as I’d like.
Aha Moments:
Enjoying the aligned nature of 3227a with my own teaching and approach to longsword strategy. Looking forward to diving into it further on a second reading.
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Day 7
Had a more sword rich day today than I had anticipated.
1 hour shooting educational videos on longsword, rapier, and sidesword. There is a particular performance practice that comes from putting these videos together.
Then I spent an hour shooting rapier “play” for my video for this week. I am still not getting to the sidesword assalto I’ve been intending to do but I’m doing a lot of fun sword procrastinating in between.
My goal today was to see if I could put together a rapier flow of sorts that would be interesting to watch in video form. I started editing it at the end of the day but only the preliminary bits. Maybe I’ll have it for tomorrow.
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Day 6
Today was a reading day. 30 minutes on 3227a the Pseudo Dobringer manuscript.
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Day 5
15 minutes of longsword flow first thing to get moving. Then an hour of sidesword with my students. Very active for me working on feints from the crossing.
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Day 4
Feeling much better today.
Got in 20 minutes of sidesword practice first thing while listening to Art of Impossible, an excellent book by Steve Koetler.
Then went on a 45 minute run, second to last one in my 5k training program!
An hour of longsword with my class with a focus on deception from gioco stretto.
An hour of rapier with my class with a focus on rapier and dagger closed positions.
Good day, glad to be feeling healthy again.
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Day 3
Still feeling under the weather. Did a bit of sword work this morning with my indoor trainer — a few minutes to have it in my hands.
This evening I spent about 90 minutes reading the new translation of 3227a (a Liechtenauer gloss). Very enjoyable and good food for thought.
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Day 2
Twenty minutes of sidesword cutting patterns.
Had a window of feeling less crappy so went for a 30 minute run.
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Day 1
Started this week fighting something.
Managed to get moving with the sword for 20 minutes today. Gentle cutting patterns with the sidesword and sticks.
Postponed running and went on a gentle walk.
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Reflection on the Week
Victory Laps:
Got in a lot of really thorough and enjoyable sessions. Also continued to expand my running endurance! I also loved the two short forms I put together for the workshop. These were my videos.
Course Corrections:
I did not get very far on my Marozzo Sword and Buckler Assault. It’s been hard to make the full time for that. I think I need to just put the video itself onto my calendar.
Aha Moments:
Very much enjoyed connecting the dots for folks between German and Italian techniques. I always make new connections myself when teaching on this subject.
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Day 7
Lots of time sword in hand today, 2 hours with you all in the German for Italians workshop followed by a couple more hours shooting more exemplar videos for the Skill Assessments course. Nearly done!
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Day 6
Teaching/Practicing 1:15 hrs
Got an hour of swordplay in with my student Carey. For me this kind of time is always about practicing my perception of errors in my students form and continually refining my ability to immediately and precisely give consequence to incorrect action–in a way that is helpful! It’s always a good challenge.
Longsword Forms Development 2 hrs
Spent a couple hours on two small forms for tomorrow’s workshops. I think you’ll all love them.
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Day 5
One hour of sidesword and some VR Boxing (was more fun and interesting than I thought).
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Day 4
Making it a habit even on days where I have a larger training session planned for later in the day to hit 5-10 minutes of sword work in the morning. Then I know that no matter what I got something in. It’s super low commitment but puts me at ease knowing I’ve got it done!
Did about 20 minutes of the longsword cutting form at varying levels of intensity for my early practice.
1 hour longsword class
15 minutes stationary flow drill, first 3 components.
20 minutes volta stabile and cavatione to gain an thrust practice with and without the dummy
20 minutes footwork options including triangle step to pass, triangle step to lunge, and pivot step to pass and lunge, including teaching and practicing the double step.
1 hour rapier class
15 minutes voids practice with emphasis on flat back and bending at the hips.
45 minutes rapier and dagger closed positions and transitions.
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Day 3
Started my physical activity today with a 45 minute run. There are no rest times in my runs anymore which is exciting and at times exhausting. :). Ran in a nearby wilderness spot which is great.
After that I did 20 minutes of longsword with a focus on doing the sword and buckler assaults but with the two handed sword. It was fun to translate them across. Bit of a shorter day today but enjoyable none the less.
Wait… I also did some lightsaber on my Oculus Quest 2 that I just got. Didn’t feel anything like actual sword fighting yet it was still pretty cool. 🙂