Replies – Forums – Karen – Page 3

Karen

Member

Jan 27/21 at 9:15 pm in reply to: Training Log: Week 4

I said above that I’m learning to go at my own pace and be ok with that, and I’m being tested on whether that’s truly the case: I’ve been suffering from vertigo the last couple days, and so I haven’t been able to do much of anything for any prolonged period of time.

I practiced footwork and basic cuts today, and did some basic conditioning training. Even though I had set today aside to get caught up, I’m ok with where I’m at. I’ll get back to catching up once my head stops spinning whenever I move it 😆

Karen

Member

Jan 26/21 at 5:53 pm in reply to: Training Log: Week 4

For the last two days I’ve been working on redoing my 5 measures assessment, and we started on the unit videos and quizzes for this week.

Next, I have to start memorizing and practicing the Gioco Largo and Gioco Stretto defense forms. I’m basically a week or so behind, but I feel ok about it and I’m going at my own pace.

Karen

Member

Jan 26/21 at 3:18 pm in reply to: Assessments Week 2: Karen Meijer-Kline

I kept practicing after the recording I sent in, but then had to stop because, well…the target wasn’t that sturdy…oops

https://youtu.be/eaGWKvgPoag

Karen

Member

Jan 26/21 at 3:18 pm in reply to: Assessments Week 2: Karen Meijer-Kline

I redid this one, and am happier with it: https://youtu.be/PDEuWxe85Ic

This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by Karen Meijer-Kline.

Karen

Member

Jan 21/21 at 6:49 pm in reply to: Training Log: Week 3

Yesterday I only managed to watch some videos and do some quizzes, and today I’ve had to work all day. So I feel hopelessly behind and overwhelmed about trying to catch up. I’m working on stuff now but I have to focus on writing out all the forms (which I usually do on Monday but just didn’t get around to this week). I haven’t even begun to memorize them yet, so I don’t think I’ll be able to submit the videos today. I know that we can’t fall behind, but that’s just intellectually. My heart feels absolutely like it can fall behind, and the struggle will be not to give up when I do.

I know it will pass, but just wanted to be honest about sharing my experience.

Karen

Member

Jan 21/21 at 6:43 pm in reply to: Reflection: Week 2

What stood out to you?

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

What was most challenging?

I think these 3 questions can all be answered by the same answer. I realize how much I struggle with anything involving steps, especially when they don’t feel natural. The 5 measures form was so hard for me, I kept wanting to step with a different foot. Other than that I’m just really struggling with my own expectations and harsh judgments of myself.

Did you meet your own objectives?

Yes, I again spent way more time than I had planned, and I managed to record all my videos. I also gave honest effort.

What do you think you might do differently next week?

This feels a bit unfair because we’re already at the end of next week. I did not do anything differently, and clearly that was the wrong idea because I crashed pretty hard, mentally and emotionally.

Karen

Member

Jan 19/21 at 9:34 pm in reply to: Training Log: Week 3

Daniel and I did lots of partner drills today: outside this afternoon an hour or so of cutting and thrusting through longa, a repeat of some tempi work, and tonight inside 2 hrs of defenses from the different quadrants against the different kinds of attacks.

Karen

Member

Jan 18/21 at 6:37 pm in reply to: Training Log: Week 3

Daniel and I did the Tempi part of the fundamentals today. He’ll upload the videos below. It was good practice for sure. I find that I struggle with a fear of being hit, especially with thrusts. Even though I’m wearing a breastplate, padded jacket, mask, gorget. I used to have this in rapier too, and it did fade over time, but in the meantime it gives me adrenaline nausea.

Any tips on how to deal with this or get over it are welcome!

Karen

Member

Jan 16/21 at 2:38 pm in reply to: Physical Challenges

My endurance and cardio is very good these days, I’m the fittest I’ve ever been. But I don’t have the arm and upper back strength yet to work with a sword as much as I do now, so this has been causing pain and discomfort. It will get better the more I do it though. Like Daniel, I find my brain gets overwhelmed with all the different movements that have to happen together, hands and arms and feet and then you’re also supposed to hit something. My brain is definitely struggling with that.
My flexibility isn’t great, so I’m working on both dynamic and static stretching to improve that.

Karen

Member

Jan 16/21 at 2:31 pm in reply to: Assessments Week 2: Karen Meijer-Kline

Self assessment:

I’ve really struggled this week with memorization of the forms. For some reason they just didn’t want to stick. I have to think so hard about every single step. I slept very little last night because of intense neck and upper back pain from training, so I’m very stiff and you can definitely see that. I’m still very happy that I persevered and at least handed something in, and that all the bits are there even if haltingly performed.

For the 12 poste progression: I haven’t been able to do any flow yet, so that’s something to work on. I also learn forward in Dente di Cinghiara.

For the 5 thrusts: I think I did well in extending the sword completely before stepping, and there is a clear distinction between each thrust (like the fenestre to posta longa ones). I lean forward with every thrust so that’s something to work on. And obviously more flow.

For the 5 measures: omg this was hard. I just could/can not get the footwork to make sense to me. I keep wanting to step with the wrong foot, so I had to think very hard about each movement. I’m also clearly out of measure when I should be in, and way too close when I don’t have to be. And that was different every single time I tried it, so that was frustrating. I look very stiff, but that is the pain so I’m not going to worry too much about that. I am glad though that I tried one more time and actually got it all strung together.