[Devon]

Week 3

Focus: Expanding my morning training time at least once.

Schedule: Standard morning schedule with additional trainings later in the day when I can fit them in.

Plan: 15 minutes meditation, 15 minutes martial with a focus on right shoulder stability and play building.

Contingency: Allow myself to do a smaller morning commitment if I need and then do a larger training session later in the day. Minimum 10 breaths plus 10 reps of an exercise. Then schedule my full workout for later.

[Devon]

Week 2

Focus: Keeping my training going through a lot of transitions of living space (like last week)

Schedule: Morning martial meditation and at least one training session in with one of my students here.

Plan: Focus on unarmed poste and I’m also working on planking.

Contingency: Reading–in particular the Aninimo Riccardiano

I also want to get back into shooting some more video of me for me. I realize I have not yet set the right intention around that to make it happen — it may just be too crazy a time at the moment.

[Devon]

Reflections

Victory Laps: This week has been a real challenge to my rhythm but I have held on. Allowing myself to do a minimum viable commitment in the morning has helped me keep some momentum and not lose my stride.

Aha Moments: Allowing myself to do even a five breath meditation or a 5 minute training to start my day has really helped me break through the inertia that might have dragged down my practice.

Course Corrections: I want to start aiming toward expanding my. morning times to 15 and 15 as my default rhythm.

[Devon]

Day 5

Started with a smaller martial meditation then later in the day went for a seaside run that led me up to the top of Beacon Hill in Victoria where I did an unarmed practice and my planking practice.

Day 6

Martial meditation in the morning followed by some staff and unarmed skills in the afternoon.

Day 7

Martial meditation with a focus on unarmed posted and striking. Then I did about an hour of Jogo do Pau in the afternoon (I actually have a level 1 instructor certification in this but rarely make time to practice)

[Devon]

Day 4

20 minute martial meditation with a focus on holding unarmed postures after my meditation. Really enjoyed this. I’ve also been continuing my minute of planks at the end of each set.

Then I taught my rapier class with Erik in the afternoon + did some fencing with him afterward.

Then I went out for a late night run for an hour. Was super great. Just the right temperature after sunset. At the end felt like I could do it all over again.

[Devon]

Day 2

Martial Meditation in the morning again going through the unarmed poste both striking and guarding. Then went for a 45 minute run at night around a lake in Vancouver. Back a bit more into the swing of running after a few weeks where I didn’t get out as much.

Day 3

Meditation in the morning a short one. Was in flux between places. Then got in a training session later in the evening with longsword. Did some high intensity playbuilding for 20 minutes. Was fun and challenging.

[Devon]

Day 1

Martial meditation in the morning and started my planking routine by ending my session with a minute of planking. I feel out of practice!

[Devon]

Week 1

Focus: Keeping up training while I transition countries.

Schedule: Morning training everyday.

Plan: Be good with my 20 minute day starts and do some 30 minute ones if the timing is right.

Contingency: 5 by 5 training that I can fit in easily in the morning even an early one.

[Devon]

Day 7

This was a pretty brilliant day on the training front. I started my day with a meditation and practice of the four poste progression with an emphasis on holding postures.

Then I taught a two hour workshop with Ben as an assistant for Masters Club on the dagger masters.

And finally I want to the Duello Welcome Back party and fenced for 5 hours straight with longsword, rapier, and sidesword. I was mighty sore the next day–and happy. 🙂

[Devon]

Day 2-6

Still going strong. Even with crossing the border from the US to Canada and all the COVID hoops that has entailed.

I’ve been splitting my morning workout between longsword, staff, and sidesword. Been really enjoying doing really deep solo play-builds with one hand and then transferring the whole build to the other hand or starting on the opposite side. Been getting as far as 10 to 15 actions.

Also got in some time doing Vitor’s Vadi assault (Thursday longsword scholar class — check it out!)

And taught my Sidesword class from Victoria on Friday which entailed a bunch of practice for me before, during, and after of the second assault of sword and buckler.

[Devon]

Day 1

Got in a short 15 minute training session in the morning, and meditation. Spent time building a single long sidesword play.

Then got in a bit more sidesword action later in the day when I had a free moment waiting for one thing to end and another to begin. Glad to take these little moments.

[Devon]

Good to see you Tai! Glad you’re healthy and safe over there and have a sword back in your hand.

[Devon]

Hey Jade, the training plan for this week has been updated. take a look. Sorry for the delay. 🙂

[Devon]

Reflections on Week 5

Victory Laps: Got my sword in hand even more than intended. A few spontaneous practice sessions were great.

Aha Moments: Feeling back into the swing of deep play building.

Course Corrections: I want to build an afternoon training program that is a bit more in-depth that my morning one. Perhaps this one will be partnered with my students back in Vancouver.

[Devon]

Day 6 & 7

Morning training on both days. One day working on staff and the second working on play-building with Sidesword.

Additional training on Saturday with Sidesword. 30 minutes of cutting drilling.

Good week.