Tag: uwf fencing

Krav on Wednesday was awesome. We had a guest from out of town come practice with us. We had a small enough group that Michael and I got to jump in and participate instead of teaching. I had a great time and blew off some pent up steam from skipping working out on Tuesday.

Yesterday after work I used the punching bag at the gym again. I wore my gloves this time, but I should have taped underneath. The scabs on my knuckles from last week all rubbed off. Oops.

Today after work I plan to work in a run before I come home. Then Nik and I will have UWF fencing practice. I don’t count on fencing to give me much cardio, so as much as I dislike running, it’s best if I do it today. I’m staying in town this weekend, so there will be plenty of opportunities for local practice.

I had my second weigh-in this morning (my previous report was delayed – I weigh on Fridays only). I’m down 3 lbs total since I started tracking (that’s 1 lb this week). I’m not noticing much change in my endurance, but it’s only been two weeks. For once, I’m glad to have the scale to measure since strengthening my cardio will take longer to show in my day-to-day routine.

I meant to post sooner, but honestly, waiting only four days instead of a whole week or more is progress, and that’s really what this blog is all about.

On Monday I started tracking my food again. So far things are going well on that front. Fortunately I’ve been able to make very minor changes – primarily, I’m being mindful of what I’m eating. I’ll let you know how that pans out in a few weeks.

I’m not entirely sure how to measure progress since my goal here isn’t necessarily to lose weight or inches (though it would be nice to have a nicer fit in some of my dress pants). I’m trying to improve performance in a field that i find hard to measure. In running or lifting, you can measure speed, reps, or weight. With fighting, it’s a little more subjective. I figure the more “good days” I have training, the better I’m performing.

Anyway, Monday was the first day I really got to teach in Krav. It was a little bit nerve wracking, but your first day teaching always is. It helps that I’m learning how to teach this skill in a friendly environment with people I know. I expressed to Kita that I’m still learning which types of errors to look for. For example when I teach fencing, I know that new fencers tend to roll the ankle when they lunge, so I pay special attention to their feet when they learn this skill. I’m working on figuring out some “common errors” for Krav. More importantly, I’m working on finding ways to make warm-ups dynamic and appropriate for the exercises we’re about to do. This is all awesome and exciting; the bad news is that I don’t really get to work out on class nights anymore.

Tuesday was a yoga night, but I need to work on cardio, so I hit the pool after my night class. I was on the swim team in high school. That was a long time ago, and I wasn’t very good to begin with, but I really enjoy swimming. I managed to keep at it for half an hour – not too shabby by my book!

Last night was another teacher night. I spend about an hour teaching P1s, and then after they leave, I have about a half an hour to work on my own P3 training. We’re working on finding some days to meet and train outside of class.

Scheduling Krav practice time for the next two months will be difficult partially because of my schedule and partially because I have a HEMA event coming up soon, and I really want to participate in longsword. I want to learn enough that I won’t embarrass myself in front of the other fencers.

I don’t expect to update tonight, so I’ll tell you now that I plan to hit the gym after work and use their punching bag. If the gym is closed, I’ll come up with something else to do. If all else fails, I still have the Dreaded Exercise Bike at home.

Nik and I have made the decision to attend UWF fencing practice on Friday and then drive to Birmingham(ish) right after for a weekend SCA event. That drive should be fun. I’m looking forward to fencing with my friends on Saturday. There won’t be practice on Sunday.

I did not, in fact, push through and go to Krav, but that’s also the last class I’m skipping for a long time. Now I’m focusing on getting ready for civilian instructor certification level 1 (CIC1) in April, so I can’t afford to slack off. I’ll be moving into a more active teaching role in my own little Krav school (I feel like a Krav TA) before I head off.

I did go to yoga on Tuesday, and I made it back to Krav on Wednesday. The calf is still sore, but moving around and stretching helps.

Thursday was a rest day, and Friday I (finally) made it to UWF fencing practice. We had a special guest for that practice – Prissy got some teaching experience by warming us up with some yoga. I focused primarily on rapier during that practice, but the room was busy with rapier, dussack, and ringen.

Yesterday I went to the beach, took a walk, and did some sun salutations. The jellies were out, so I elected not to swim. Nik and I took a Poke-walk on the beach after lunch. 

Today, SCA fencing practice is cancelled. We lost one of our own last week, so all local SCA activities are cancelled, and we’re spending time with our loved ones.

I believe that’s all I’ve been up to this week. Looking forward, In addition to getting ready for CIC1, I have a big fencing event coming up in November, and I want to participate in as many tournaments as possible, so I need to tune up my dussack and long sword skills. November is a big month for me in general. I have somewhere to be (involving fencing) every single weekend that month. I’m excited, but I also expect to be exhausted.

I’m hoping that some of the adjustments I’m making to my diet and fitness levels for CIC1 will help me make it through that month. I’ve installed MyFitnessPal on my new phone, and I’m keeping track of what I’m putting in (again – I use this app in phases). I’m considering getting a fitness tracking device, but I’m not entirely sure which one I want. They’re pricey, so I want to make sure I get the right one!

I think that’s it for now. I’ll try to update more consistently. I really hate these weekly walls o’ text, but my schedule has been hectic. Thanks for bearing with me.

Last Wednesday I went to Krav and helped students in my more active teaching role. I feel completely out of my element.

On Friday I got to go to UWF fencing practice, and I actually got to DO some fencing as well as teaching.

Saturday involved some beach yoga and a walk to the pier and back. I’d say I s wam, but I mostly just floated around.

On Sunday I resumed SCA fencing practice. Introducing a new student to rapier was a welcome break from the heat. One disadvantage to training indoors is you forget how to train outdoors. I emphasize lots of breaks and lots of hydration.

Yesterday, however, I decided i needed a break. I’ve been feeling kind of down lately, and I wasn’t up to any sort of challenge. I stayed home and worked on an art project instead. Yoga is cancelled tonight, which is kind of a bummer, but I’m looking forward to actually being in my house for some time before class. Tomorrow, though, I’m getting back into the groove!

Since my last post ran long talking about my beach adventure, I figured I’d put my real update here.

On Friday night i went to UWF fencing practice. We mostly sparred since Fridays are short days. I’m fencing with both hands now, but I’ve been using a lighter (and shorter) sword in my right hand more often than not. The finger is still stiff, and I’m still doing my stretches and exercises four times each day, but I am seeing progress.

On Saturday I went back to the beach. Because of the beach restoration efforts, my walk to the pier was cut short, and I didn’t really have a good space for beach yoga. I did get to pick up some neat shells, and I saw a bunch of seagulls chilling out in the hard hat area because there weren’t a bunch of people in their way. That was pretty cool. I did get back in the water, and I swam around for a good portion of the day. After that, I borrowed Nik’s phone and played Pokemon Go a little bit on the island. The poke-stops were a reasonable distance apart, and I managed to catch some pretty cool creatures.

I did not attempt to have fencing practice on Sunday because the forecast was so bad, and I also really needed to do some sewing. I finished NIk’s shirt in its entirety and the base of his pants. His doublet is still mocking me. I will still be naked for the ceremony. Fortunately we’re taking a little trip to see the lady making his court garb, so I’ll have plenty of time to work plus some skilled hands I can borrow if I get stuck.

Last night I went to Krav. There were new people, so I was helping one of them – a young man in his teens. He was pretty chill, but he admitted that he shouldn’t have eaten so close to class and had to have a little break at one point. I told him there was no shame in that – I fart loudly in class all the time. It’s just life. Anyway, he recovered, and I think he made some progress and had a good time. After the new students left, the P3 students (man, that’s exciting to say) worked on stationary kicks. I’m actually fairly good at these, so while I drilled this skill a lot last night, I didn’t have the frustration of constantly correcting.

No practice for me last night. I rested up and worked on elevation garb a bit.

Tonight, I intend to rest until the SCA meeting, attend the meeting, and then get out of there in a timely fashion so that I can pull an all-nighter making garb.

I hope like hell I’ll make it to UWF fencing tomorrow night. It sucks that I’m missing a perfectly good gym day tonight.

I passed!

I’m really excited and relieved because my training partner and I both passed our P2 tests. Last night’s class was pretty brutal, but I know working out harder and longer (now we help with P1 and P2 7-8 and train P3 8-8:30) will make me stronger and more adept. I am also very very tired.

I’m looking forward to yoga tonight. I’ve been working on correcting my posture this summer, and yoga really helps me keep everything aligned. I’m also trying to increase my flexibility in my hamstrings and lower back – that whole region can get super tight and (I think) cause cramps in my calves when I’m working out.

My Krav class is helping with a self-defense seminar on Wednesday. I’m thinking I’ll take the opportunity to fence that day at UWF, but I told my coaches to call me in if they’re short handed since the two practices will be close by. It would be kind of funny to show up in my fencing gear to Krav!

Blind Krav went well enough. We focused on a handful of defenses, and then I met up with Kita on Thursday to work through the rest of the module. We made it about halfway through. I’m hoping to make some decent progress tomorrow.

On Friday and Saturday I went to the beach. Friday I went alone, so I did walking, swimming, and beach yoga. On Saturday I brought a friend, so we went for a stroll and played in the water.

I cancelled SCA fencing practice on Sunday because of the heat index. It wouldn’t be so bad if we didn’t have to wear so many layers!

Last night I went to UWF fencing practice. We had some new students, so that was exciting. I helped a couple of our club officers get ready for Arabian Nights.

Today is yoga day, and that’s about all I’m up for.

I did some more beach yoga on Saturday and lots of walking – the leg felt much better after that. I ended up canceling SCA fencing practice on Sunday because there were a lot of things that needed to be taken care of at home. I’m a little bit overwhelmed with things that need to be done by the end of the month, but I know I have it in the bag.

Monday’s UWF fencing practice was long because we had a demo in addition to our regularly scheduled time. One of my students is a challenge for me. He’s super fast, and that’s a fantastic advantage to have, but I also really want him to learn skill. I have trouble showing him skill in real time because I’m not nearly as fast as he is. I want to be a good teacher, so I’m working on finding ways to emphasize technique without downplaying his natural advantages.

I forgot my stupid contact lenses at my stupid house. Looks like I’ll be doing blind Krav tonight…

I felt pretty good after yoga and went to Krav last Wednesday. We aren’t having official classes, but I worked on some skills with a friend. I was able to go to the beach and UWF fencing practice on Friday, and I even ran a 5K on Saturday! Okay, “ran” is a bit generous – it was a zombie 5K, so we walked when there weren’t any zombies around. When there were zombies around, though, we booked it!

Sunday’s SCA fencing practice got rained out. Fortunately UWF practice is inside, so I got to make up for it on Monday. Tuesday was another yoga day, and Wednesday I met up with a small group of Krav people to study for the P2 test.

On Thursday morning I woke up with a raging Charlie horse, so I took it easy that day and ate as much potassium as I could. I walked around and did a couple sun salutations on the beach today. I didn’t swim much because of all the seaweed, but I moved around enough that my calves aren’t too sore now. I’m about to head to UWF fencing right now.

I’m really trying not to forget I have a blog. At least I haven’t been updating because I’m busy/forgetful, not because I’m not moving.