[Ivan]

BTW: sorry for being a lurker on this page.

Reading all of the training logs here is a great motivator for me. Just seeing what you all are doing.

[Ivan]

I have definitely seen my training energy change this month.

1.I have been slowly studying the week four materials this month and will spend April focusing on the week five material.
2. I have picked up two training partners, so I’m getting two three hour longsword workouts each week with them. We have been working on Gioco Largo, 4 quatrants defense and tempo.

I find the Gioco largo defense is especially sexy, wonderous crowd pleaser when I can pull it off. I think it would make a good base for combat demos and the like.

[Ivan]

Books that have shaped my journey.

1. Unfettered Mind by Takuan Soho (1573-1645)
2. Venetian Rapier by Nicoletto Giganti (1606)
3. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate by Gichin Funakoshi
4, Nichomachean Ethics Aristotle. I taught Aristotle twice a year for 20 years and he just seeped into my soul.

Currently reading “Mind Gym: An Athletes guide to inner Excellence” by Mack and Casstevens>

Next reading based on Devon’s suggestion is Bounce by Matthew Syed.

[Ivan]

This month is going much better than January.

I think my brain and body are getting used to moving in these strange ways and it is becoming normal.

I’ve gotten used to getting up early to have some reflective time, plan the day, pick up a sword, and have a protein hit.

I finally feel like I have wrapped my brain around the week two material and am moving into week three. It had been so long that I had to rewatch the week three sunday session. It probably took me 7 or 8 hours just to go through it in detail and take notes in my journal. Sheesh.

I know I am moving slowly through the material, but I am happy with all I am learning and I really feel like I’m starting to make some progress.

[Ivan]

Thanks all.

I’ll try to use that to help me see what is going on in the videos, and then mirror it in my own practice.

[Ivan]

Can I say All of it…I’ve been incredibly sedentary for the last 9 mo so getting my body moving is one of my victory conditions. This week I have mostly focused on leg work..

The Pistol squats are beyond me at the moment. I can do the top part, into a sitting position on a chair or lifting out of the chair. The bottom of the pistol I have to use two chairs to balance and give a bit of arm help. I’ll get there, it will just take some time.

<i style=”font-size: inherit;”>I’ve substituted in single leg Romanian dead lifts with 5 lb kettle ball, and Bulgarian split squats to work on increasing flexibility and stability. <i style=”font-size: inherit;”>I’m a Rapier guy so even as out of shape as I can do lunges. The “side to side” lunges work some unused muscle and support groups that I’m not used to using.

Endurance and cardio?
<i style=”font-size: inherit;”>I use a device to monitor heartrate, and at the moment it is not taking much to get me into the 80% range. I’m hoping it slows down over the next few weeks but five min of intense leg work increases my heart rate for about 10 min. It was a bit of an eye opener for me as to how quickly my heart rate changed.

Flexibility and stability
I’ve always had good flexibility and stability. I did notice that the single leg Romanian dead lifts, I’m not as stable as I remember, and the pistols felt real wobbly so I did them between chairs so I could support my self. I feel like most of my issues are just a result of being a desk jockey for 9 mo. and it will come along with practice. I’m very aware that some of the supporting muscles in my legs were quite surprised that I was asking them to do anything this week.

<b style=”font-size: inherit;”>What is a course of action you’re taking to improve your ability?
Most of what I experienced I believe is the result of being a sofa sultan for 9 mo. I need to be mindful that I’m 55 and not 25 so it may take a bit more time to get back in the swing of things.

January 2021 my victory conditions is to work out 5-6 days a week even if it is 4 or 5 five min “things”. I’m just getting moving and feel pretty virtuous about that. 🙂

• This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by  Ivan.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by  Ivan.

[Ivan]

What helps you stay motivated in your training?

Having a plan, and a structure keeps me motivated. Having a goal, even if it is simply having something new to figure out. Having some training buddies to work with is always a powerful motivator for me.

What do you most enjoy in practice?

There is a certain meditative mindfulness that I enjoy where I try to get my old school slow mental processor to encompass what my body is doing. There are so many things to hold in my mind as I’m moving that I can’t think about other things. Thus, for a time all my worries, all my stress, etc drop away and it is just me and a sword.

Comradery of shared swordplay of other like minded geeks. (I’m a very social oriented person)

What is a training activity or attitude that you dropped because you didn’t find it helpful?

This week, I found that larger chunks of time just were not happening. I’ve had to adapt to smaller chunks of time. So instead of several 20 to 30 sessions, I dropped to four 15 min sessions. That sill wasn’t working so every hour to hour and a half I get up for 5 min and do something sword oriented. Squats, pistols, X cuts, etc. So right now 6 5 min increments and reviewing topics from the course each evening seems to work.

[Ivan]

Hi Thomas,

When I’m trying the double cut from the “iron-butterfly” form I’ve been thinking one of two possibilities.

1. I’m envisioning the initial false edge strike to be a beat clearing the line and then the true strike following immediately in the zone that has just been cleared.

or

2. The other think I envision with the double cut is my opponent makes a cut on the opposite side in the same tempo that I’m moving, I imagine the rotation of the blade as a parry briefly covering (left side for the mandritto and right side for the reverso) and transporting the opponents blade where I use that energy for the follow up true strike.

So, far I have just been moving slowly in space and have not tried it against my pell so I’ll have to give your idea a try too.

[Ivan]

I think I am similar to everyone else.

General Changes:

1. Regular sleep cycle, getting up hour earlier to accomplish my goals this month.

2. Diet: Focusing on removing refined sugars and drinking water.

3. Developing the routine/habit to work on sword play every day.

Morning Routine: In general getting up 60 min earlier, so I can try some of the suggestions. Will try to incorporate some stretching limbering exercises and 15 min of sword work.
Daily Routine: Incorporate lunch (so I don’t gorge at dinner) and pick up the a sword for at least 15 min during the day and immediately after work. Try to drink more water and less coffee and pepsi during the work day. End goal for the month is to limit caffeine to a cup or two in the morning rather than all day long.
Evening routine: Start powering down at 9:00 with a quick review of videos from the class and 15 min of sword-work, followed by journaling.

[Ivan]

To help this I am using google to set up a calendar of repeating alarms to my work computer and phone reminding me it is time for “X”.

[Ivan]

Hello all.

The General goal for me is to be a big fat intellectual sponge and soak up as much of everything that I can. With COVID my sword journey has stalled, so I’m looking to re-start, re-invent, re-invigorate, the journey again.

Long Term Goals:

1. I would like to integrate many of the aspects of the the “Perceptual and Attitude Components” of the four components of mastery as was presented in the mini mastery class. I definitely have intellectual holes in those areas.

2. Develop long term good habits of regular solo practice that will carry me forward. I’m 55 and am coming off some major health issues and wanting to be healthy, flexible and strong for the next 25 years is on my mind. (this class is a kickstart for my body physically after a major illness)

3. I love studying the period combat manuals, and am looking for more interpretive tools and physical tools for unpacking the readings.

4. Having a sword in hand, teaching a class, sparing, or in a tournament is my happy place, my joy and I want to be healthy and participate as long as possible. Share the joy of combat.

Short Term Goals:

1. Finishing the Master Class and soaking up as much as I can.

2. Developing a solo practice habit that will carry beyond the class. (developing habits, and tools for self discipline)

3. Learn Longsword. I’m a newbie with longsword so all of that will be an adventure.

4. I’ve been on a skill plateau for sometime and I’m hoping the course will give me the skill set to break out to the next skill level.

Time Budget:

1. 55 to 60 hour work weeks are normal, and I have a family, home, dogs ect. So much of my days are packed. So, I’m looking at more small chunks of time rather than big chunks. I work from home so have some flexibility.

2. M-F My goal is to get up a bit early and have 30 min of sword time before work and 30 min of sword time in the evening.

Depending, the 30 min chunking might be broken further down into 4 X 15 min units. (15 min before work, 15 min at lunch, 15 min right after work, and 15 min before bed)

The goal is 1 hour a day.

Daily Routine:

1. 6:00 AM alarm, coffee, clear the fog out of my grey matter, and pick up a sword for 15 to 30 min.

2. 7:00 Am to 5:00 PM home office work. (pick up a sword for 15 min during lunch break? stretch and limber up body)

3. 5:00-6:30 dinner and feed the family (5:00 pick up a sword for 15 min after work but before making dinner?)
4. 7:00-9:00 block. 30 min of sword training (or last 15 min block) and time for journaling and self reflection on sword class.

[Ivan]

Tools: Castille longsword, A-Trim longsword, and several wooden sticks.

Targets/Dummies. I have a Thrown weapons target with a upper body outline for targeting and striking. I am modifying an old tripod to hold a old Darkwood blade in various positions in front of it.

In the garage I have several strings that I hook on to the garage door rails to position the old darkwood blade in front of wall mounted targets, tennis balls also on strings.

I purchased a cel phone mount for another tripod that has a motion sensors so that it will automatically follow my movement if I need to video my work.

I am feeling inspired by all the cool workout spaces I’m seeing here. You guys are amazing.

[Ivan]

I really like that idea. That totally struck that chord of truth with me.

[Ivan]

Kevin that would be fantastic.

I look forward to meeting you in person.

[Ivan]

I have acquired a tripod and cellphone attachment so I can set up outside weather permitting. I have a small collection of 2X6’s and 2X8″s scrap from other projects so I am considering how to build a target that can hold a sword. Unfortunately, a Frankenstein like object of this sort will have to be located outside.