Today Nik and I hit the gym in the afternoon. Here’s my set list for today.
I tried to use the AMT (the hellspawn machine), but it kept telling me my heart rate was too high. When I slowed down, the machine reset. I got frustrated and tried running on the track. I think I ended up running 3.5 laps and walking 1.5. I had to click the mask down a couple elevations.
As a bonus, here’s Monday’s set list.
I thought I was taking it easy on Monday. I was not taking it easy.
Tonight Nik went to fencing while I attended a Krav meeting. We didn’t work out, but we ironed out a lot of details about our future as an organization. Tomorrow Nik and I will both go to Krav practice. I’m hoping to do more working out and less planning tomorrow.
Today I did my 30 minutes of cardio on the elliptical. I can keep my heart rate in the neighborhood of 145 bpm comfortably. My mask comes in tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes once I try it out.
I noticed that I lunged a hole in my sneaker. Awesome. I’ll fix it with tape for now. Everything else about the show is fine.
Tonight I did Krav with Mike and Eddie. We practiced defense against hair pulls, so at the end of practice I looked like this.
When I got home, I showed Nik my lunge based on his suggestions. I still feel like it looks more like a big step than a proper lunge, but he says it’s an improvement, so I’m going to roll with it.
My elevation mask should be here tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
Today was leg day. Here’s the set list.
I’m still using BodySpace to figure out which exercises to do, but I’m back to logging with pencil and paper. I did the prone leg curl because my gym doesn’t have a seated leg curl (that I could see), and I’m doing bent knee leg raises on the ground instead of hanging knee raises. I absolutely hate dumbbell lunges.
Nik and I fenced a few passes in the parking lot. I found myself getting frustrated because I’m learning all these technical skills that aren’t doing me any good in actual fights. I’m in a weird place where I would benefit from getting back to basics (so I need drills), but I also would benefit from bouting more (so more open floor time).
I met up with Mike and Eddie tonight for Krav. We came up with a plan to get ready for CIC. I felt like it was a good use of my time, and I’m really getting excited about going (even though I’m still apprehensive).
After slacking off for a month and a half, I’m back in the gym. Nik and I lifted light and did only 15 minutes of cardio. It was a good first day back.
I didn’t make any resolutions this year, but I have committed to CIC 2 in late May, and I’m going to a fencing pedagogy retreat this weekend. I’m psyched about learning more about how to teach.
I haven’t been excited about fighting for a little while now, but I’m starting to feel that fire rising up in my belly. I’ve booked tournaments and other events up to halfway through this year. I can’t wait (but I’m glad I have time to prepare).
Now I’m standing at the other side of Civilian Instructor Certification, and I don’t know where to start as I try to describe it. I can’t give you a play-by-play of each day, but I do have some milestones to share.
Day 1 – I met my classmates and the instructor. I was nervous but excited. We began by taking a moment to introduce ourselves to one another before jumping into physical activity. CIC involves a lot of review, but by the end of the day, we were sparring using whatever we knew (not just what we’d re-covered in class). We also did some pretty demanding circuit training. At the end of the day, I felt like I had a handle on what was expected of me, and the next nine days, while daunting, looked attainable.
Day 3 – I felt AWESOME at the end of the day. My body had acclimated to the demands I was putting on it. Waking up early, working out for eight hours, and crashing out at home was becoming the norm. Here are the chronicles of my bruises from Day 2 and Day 3.
Day 2 – inside and outside defense using the arms.
Day 3 – defense against kicks using the legs (with shin guards)
Day 4 – I cried. A lot. Some of it was adrenaline, some was frustration, and some of it was the good old fashioned shock of being punched in the face. Regardless, I got up on Day 5 and went back.
Day 4 – The Crying
Day 5 – The Triumphant Return
Day 7 – After class we all went out to eat together. I’d hung out with some of my classmates at lunchtime or during short breaks, but this was the first time we were all in one place outside of class. I listened to the conversation at the table go from being full of lulls to being full of jokes and laughing.
Day 8 or 9 – Our instructor acquired a drone and used it to film us fighting outside. Words don’t describe how badass it is to be filmed by a drone fighting outside of a warehouse.
Day 10 – Test Day. It was a grind. We tested levels P1-P4 (the P is for practitioner, if you’re playing the home game) and then did various fighting drills (3 on 1 with pads, eyes closed 1 on 1 reaction drills, ground work drills, 4 on 1 defending drills, and 1 on 1 light fighting). We ended with a fitness test (50 squats, 50 pushups, and 50 situps in any order). At one point I was so exhausted I was crying while fighting, and I didn’t even care. I remember fighting with my friend, and while we were hitting each other, we were also saying (through our mouth guards) “You got this. We’re almost there. You’re killing it.” I was the last one to finish the fitness test, and I got up to the sound of my friends cheering me on. I made it.
Day 10 – I passed!
I didn’t score high enough to earn my P4 rank, but I did score high enough to get a P3 rank. I already have my P3, so I didn’t get a new patch or certificate or anything, but it was gratifying to see that I was where I was supposed to be.
After it was all said and done, the instructor took me aside, asked me how I was doing, and told me that I’m on the right track. I have detailed feedback from my test, and I’ll use it to fix my mistakes as I continue my training.
I’m not sure what’s next. There is a CIC Part 2, but I don’t know that I can get the time off or the funds to go in June (plus I don’t think my body is ready). I want to progress, but I’m not sure how. In the meantime, I’m going to keep on keeping on – practicing, teaching, and working out.
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