Cool! Thanks for giving me the heads up on this.

How has everyone approached the Apprentice Skill Assessments?

I have done some of them along the way. But then had a family sickness and stopped. Then started again. But I am not sure there is a way to finish them up before the 5th. I am especially having trouble finding someone willing to be in a video for the partner stuff.

Also, it looks…

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It turns out I was looking at a different picture in my book by accident and I had to redo this one.

Here is what I should have done:

is my version.

I did more of a tutta volta of the sword from finestra into the fendente for a more largo feel.

Good job!

@jade.standing

This was fun!

I really enjoyed this bonus. But I really had no idea what I was doing.

I feel like I did a good job leaning into the thrusts and getting all the elements of the poste in.

I feel like the second finestra was a little weak and out of place though.

Pros : my concentration was good and intense. All elements are there as needed.

Cons: felt a little stiff in my posture when I re-watched it.

Gioco Stretto Playbuild

1. In Posta di Donna, enter measure with a passing step and guard transition to Posta di Donna Sinestra.

2. Make a parry by roverso sottano to right Finestra.

3. Make a thrust in extended right finestra and end in Posta di Donna.

4. Make a parry by mandritto fendente with a retreating step to Posta Breve.

5.…

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I think I got pretty smooth with this one. But I noticed I stepped too soon with my thrust and sottano. But my Fendente was in the correct order. I really need to work on sending my sword first every time…not just with Fendente.

Gioco Largo Playbuild

1. In Dente de Chingaro enter measure and make a guard transition to Posta Di Donna with a passing step.

2. Make a full cut mandritto fendente to Posta di Donna Sinestra with passing step.

3. Make a mandrito fendente parry to Posta di Donna Sinestra with a sidestep.

4. Thrust to Posta de Longa with a passing step.

5. Make…

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From Post di Donna Sinestra I parry with a roverso fendente with a passing step into close range and a bind.

Keeping pressure to hold their sword down I quickly release my grip with my left hand and reach across and grab their sword grip between their hands to hold it in place.

I allow my point to fall back over my shoulder and ram the…

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https://youtu.be/jb9WfkkoqNE

What stood out to you?

The thing that stood out to me most was how flipping cool it was to see the scabbard used in the scholar’s assault.

Did you have any big “aha moments” in your training?

I am not sure I did this week.

What was most challenging?

The most challenging thing was that I was bedridden due to a medical procedure during this time…

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Share the title and author

Your main “aha” from the book

Who you would recommend read it

The Flower of Battle by Fiore de Libieri of course.

My main aha when reading it was just how direct Libieri is in sharing his martial arts secrets. It blew my mind.

I would recommend it for ALL martial artist….even Eastern martial artists.

A Knight’s Own Book…

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Week 5 training log,

Training was again interrupted by illness in my family and travel to and from the university hospital.

I still held to No Zero day policy for the most part. But there were a few days during the transplant process when I was really in no shape to be up and moving about. So I did not train as much as I would have liked.

What stood out to you?

I loved the tactical advise and rules of thumb.

Did you have any big “aha moments” in your training?

Yes…I began to understand better guidelines of what to do when sparring…and how to feel what the other person is doing by feeling their sword.

What was most challenging?

The most challenging thing for me was illness in my…

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Identify the combative temperament and physical attitude of both fighters:

Approacher or receiver? Defender or attacker? Hard or soft?

Silver and White Stripes guy(SWSG) vs All Black Gear guy(ABGG)

SWSG is the Approacher in the beginning and ABGG is the receiver.

But ABGG defends swiftly and counter…

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My week four training was minimal due to family illness, but I took a stance of having No Zero Days and even on my worst days I at least did a Foundational cuts form or a Gioco Largo Defense form.

Gotcha….the tripod is attempting a mandritto fendente.

Contra tempo!

That’s a real nice rig you have there, sir.

What stood out to you?

I have a much better understanding of Gioco Stretto and Largo

Did you have any big “aha moments” in your training? Yes, mostly about the flow of the forms.

What was most challenging? Time. Always time.

Did you meet your own objectives? Yes. I have had no zero days at all.

What do you think you might do differently next week? I…

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Thanks, Greg!

Thanks, Devon!

yeah…it’s weird. When I replied to your request to redo it…it put it here:

Twelve Poste Progression (LS2)

Thank you , Jen!

I finished out last week with strong practice everyday and hit all my goals every day.

This week not so good.

Monday got crushed by insomnia the night before and I barely got 5 min of practice in.

Tuesday I had to travel all day and also barely got 5 min in. Same for Wednesday.

Here’s hoping it relaxes for the rest of the week and I can try to get caught up.

Thanks, Devon. I will work on that.

Thank you, Jen. I am working on upping my video skills.

While I am at it…do you have any good suggestions for a better video editing software than windows 10 photo app?

I struggled a little with the angles of this form. I am also uncertain of my high thrusts.

Again, I need to get stances lower and steps wider.

I think I got all the moves in the correct order here.

I need to get my stances lower.

The sottani from the gatherback seemed a little stuttery to me and and overall need more flow.

I think I had all the moves in the correct order.

Thank you, Jen. I will work on fixing that.

Yeah…it’s better when I record at night. Thank you!

Thursday:

NO ZERO DAY is my new mantra.

I managed to get all my drills and practice done. I was very tired at the end of the day and I didn’t feel like running or doing pushups….did them anyway.

I think I am finally getting the hang of Gioco Largo and Gioco Stretto. Hope to get a video up in the next day or so.

Wednesday:

NO ZERO DAY!

I got all of my drill training done. And completed some training in other endeavors as well.

I had to redo both of my videos from week 1 because I forgot something. Pretty sure I will have to do the same for at least one video from week 2. So as soon as I get my feedback I will redo those.

I worked on gioco largo and…

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Tuesday:

Finished up watching Q&A from Friday. The part about No Zero Day really hit me hard. So I picked up my guitar, I ran a mile, I did my sword drills. It has been a good day.

I finished all of my assigned drills and learned Gioco Stretto defense form.

When I was working on the 5 Measures form, I used a lightsaber because of the shorter…

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Monday:

I got some good solid practice and learning time in today.

I finished all of my daily drills except Gioco Stretto. Will get on that one tomorrow.

Self-assessment:

I think I had the sword a little too high or straight in the second poste.

Also, should work on making stance a little wider here.

I think overall the flow is not bad. And I hit all 12 poste.

Self-assessment:

Too much hesitation on several of the moves.

Almost broke ceiling fan again. LOL.

I did manage to get everything in the correct order I think.

Sel-fassement:

I feel that I should work on keeping my hips tucked forward more , and also work on making the first thrust snappier.

I felt pretty good about the flow of this one.

What stood out to you?

That I need to work on thrusts alot more.

Did you have any big “aha moments” in your training?

I’m note sure on this one.

What was most challenging?

Time management again. And my sleep schedule and waking plan I had made very much fell apart.

Did you meet your own objectives?

Yes, I was able to get practice in…

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So I was pretty amazed at how the thrusting form worked my shoulders and back in such a different way to all the cutting forms. But it was good. I felt I got a little stronger through the week.

A big challenge has been working with my left knee. I tend to have trouble with it…so I used some of my training time to really slow down with stances…

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