Tag: italian fencing

Hiatus = over

Aside from a few stray Krav Maga classes and my walks on the beach, I didn’t work out all summer.

Today I went back to the gym. Here’s the set list.

I also competed in a fencing tournament last weekend. I didn’t win any tournaments, and I had a panic attack after lunch, but I got back into the ring and finished strong. I did good fighting, and I was proud to watch my kids do good fighting.

Depending on my insurance situation in the upcoming months, I’m going to look into seeking formal treatment for my anxiety. It’s keeping me from doing the things that I love (things that keep me from being depressed), and my little tricks aren’t cutting it anymore.

All in all, though, I’m feeling pretty good. I think that being active and eating well will help. I’ll just need that extra nudge to be my best self.

This morning I walked to the pier and back (I did on Monday too but forgot to mention it). Every step was murder on my shins and calves. I guess I was away from the coast for awhile because I am not used to walking on sand. I also went for a swim, but that was less exercise and more splashing around and cooling off.

This evening I went to fencing. I got to fence almost everyone at practice. I’m still readjusting to concepts like point control and keeping my weight balanced, but it’s coming along. I didn’t hurt anyone, but I’m also hesitant to come in quickly or otherwise be aggressive. I did short sets and took frequent breaks (legs were killing me – from not fencing or from beach walks?). I’m really glad to be back.

Today was officially rest day for me. I got some stuff done around the house, and when Nik went to lift before fencing, I tagged along to do cardio.

At the gym, I tried a new machine that appears to be the unholy union of an elliptical and a stair master. I tried to keep my heart rate between 135-145. That was certainly a challenge. In 30 minutes, I think i logged about 3 miles.

After that I went to fencing. I was a little bit nervous, but I got to work with new people, and I did more actual fencing than I have in ages. I had a really good practice. I felt really healthy today.

Yesterday was leg day. Here’s the set list.

We’re on track to begin our next cycle in the program tomorrow.

Today was the shire birthday party. We had our annual shire championship. I made it through two rounds in the round robin, and then I had a panic attack. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings to unpack about this. It warrants its own post.

Tomorrow is chest day. My regular crew of gym rats will be there plus one. I’m excited.

My last day at RASP was bittersweet. I learned a lot, but I hated for the weekend to end. I think I took three pages of notes that day alone, and Nik took plenty too. Then we made the long drive back to Florida.

This morning I got up early to meet Tiny Nick and Emmers at the gym. Here’s my “set list.”

I’m trying to vary my workouts, so I’m working out with different people instead of sticking to Nik’s routine.

Tonight we returned to fencing. We showed our club new warm-ups and games. Then we debriefed about our weekend, and Nik showed them the format he wants to use for future classes. I’m excited to get started!

Today I didn’t feel like a competent human being because at lunchtime, I realized my pants were on backwards.

Despite that, I learned about the progression of skills when teaching rapier, and I found that learning, translating (for a leftie), and teaching sabre, while difficult, is not as scary as I thought.

Again, I took a lot of notes. Tonight was more revel and less scholarship, but that’s still pretty cool.

I was dressed and ready to fence Wednesday night, but I had a sinus headache, and I was afraid I was getting sick, so I skipped. Thursday was a travel day, so I didn’t work out, but I did get the ball rolling on my personal fitness assessment. I’m excited.

Today was Day 1 of the Rapier and Sabre Pedagogy (RASP) Retreat. We got here with enough time to introduce ourselves before warm-ups. We warmed up with footwork and spent the morning practicing teaching rapier techniques. We started by teaching a simple lunge and worked up to covering cavaciones and other complex short-tempo actions.

After lunch, we got out the sabres. I felt like I was learning how to use a sabre as much as I was learning how to teach someone else how to use one. My partner and I helped each other through the drills without necessarily doing the calls like we did during the rapier portion, and I felt like that worked pretty well.

I got a lot of feedback and took a lot of notes. I hope that sleeping on it will help me process and retain it.

Last night Nik and I went to the gym and climbed the rock wall. I made it about halfway up, got stuck, got nervous, and bailed out. Then I watched him climb to the top. I tried one more time and made it almost to the top (four panels shy) before I got stuck and bailed (I didn’t really give myself time to be scared the second time). I had a really good time, and I think I climbed pretty high, even though I didn’t ring the bell. We’re going to try that again for sure!

After the rock wall, we did some weight lifting. Then we met up with Marco and Tiny NIck! for some fencing. We planned to fence 8-9, maybe 9:15. We closed the gym at 10. I’d say that was a good practice.

We did some sword and dagger work and made the boys practice sword and dagger against case (or brace – two swords). We also played with the dussacks. I showed some “hand sniping” techniques as well.

Tonight will be my and Michael’s second day of teaching Krav unassisted. I came up with my lesson plan yesterday and feel pretty good about it.

Monday night when I was getting ready for Krav, I felt really warm and looked flushed. I took my temperature and saw that I had a fever. I called Kita, told her what was up, and we agreed I should rest, so I settled in on the couch with my cat, some water, and a couple ibuprofen. I did some homework and took a nap. Apparently that did the trick because I was back at work the next day. It stinks that I missed a practice night, but I guess my body needed it.

Tuesday was wild. After working a normal day, I enjoyed yoga class. Then I went to my night class, and from there I went straight to Krav for my P3 test. I felt pretty good walking into it.

I felt FREAKING AWESOME walking out of it. I had to correct some things here and there, and I always have room for improvement (plus I got punched in the face – I don’t like this new tradition), but I think I passed. We get our results tonight. I’ll let you know when I remember to update.

If I don’t update, it’s because I’m frantically getting ready for Magna Faire this weekend. Nik and I are taking some of our fencing students up to Birmingham with us. They are so stoked – I hope it’s contagious.

Last week Krav was great on Monday and Wednesday, and yoga was a nice stretch break in between. I was studying hard, going to Ladies’ Night to study, doing my thing.

Friday rolled around, and I came home from work and crashed out. I missed the last UWF fencing day of the semester. I woke up Saturday to find that I was very very sick, so I cancelled SCA fencing on Sunday (I was sick enough that I didn’t want to be left alone, so Nik couldn’t fill in for me). I ended up missing work (and, by extension, Krav) on Monday.

I went to yoga yesterday to ease back into activity and because i was so stiff from lying around all weekend. I’m wicked sore today. I honestly doubt it’s from yoga since we did literally the most minimal form you could do short of yoga nidra. I’m suspicious of the uphill trek to my office at that campus.

Regardless of the cause, I figure I shouldn’t go to Krav tonight, not even to watch. It kills me, but my test date has been pushed back, and I’d rather have some gas in my metaphorical tank for the demo on Friday.

Rehab is still happening. I’m noticing some improvement in my range of motion but haven’t tried holding a sword, striking an object, or anything of that nature. I’m optimistic.