Still working on my parries. I figure I will always be working on my parries. I did better with not rushing my opponent, though I was fencing one of the newer fencers who likes to rush her opponent. I did okay against one of the newer fencers with his shield, but I need more practice against shields.
Overall, it was a pretty laid back practice. I didn't feel great but I didn't feel horrible like last week.
Also, I am still running my smol runs. I am considering moving over to C25K next week, to see how that feels. I need to think about it more.
Anyway, those are my notes.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
Let's Talk About Running
"Cardio wins Crowns."
His Grace Brennan says this. It is my new current mantra when it comes to running. That and "I will fence better." Even if it were in the realm of possibility, I don't want to win a crown. Actually, I am indifferent to winning things in general but I do want to be a better fencer. So cardio. Stamina. Being able to run into battle and stay in battle. That is the goal.
Running is something I really like. I don't dream about flying. I never have. My "flying" dreams are about me running, fast and sure, from one place to another. In some ways it feels as impossible as flying. Still, it can't hurt to try.
Once, at Tales of Valor, I was playing a young woman who was going back and forth between the players and another NPC. I don't know what possessed me, but I did this by running. I was nimbly jumping over rivulets in the paths, up hill none the less. I remember being a bit out of breath but it was thrilling and almost like my dreams. It made me start thinking about trail running but as I looking into it, I realized that I was likely too slow and too out of shape to keep up with any of the groups in the area.
In my younger years, I was tormented by the Presidential Fitness Challenge. I failed at it every single year. I remember one year, it was both picture day and the day we were being tested on sprinting. I wanted so badly to pass the sprint test and tried so hard. I ran as hard I could all the way past the finish line and stumbled and tumbled to a stop. I put everything my little, chubby, fourth grade legs could put in. I still didn't pass.
Anyway, all of this is to say I am running again. I am doing what I call "smol runs". I am putting on my gear, bluetoothing up my headphones, and going out to run short intervals. I have done this three times in the past week. This morning when my brain said, "ugh, you have to run today," I told it, "no, I get to run today." I am never going to win a Presidential Fitness Challenge or a Crown, or a fencing tournament, but maybe I will be better. Maybe I will learn to fly.
His Grace Brennan says this. It is my new current mantra when it comes to running. That and "I will fence better." Even if it were in the realm of possibility, I don't want to win a crown. Actually, I am indifferent to winning things in general but I do want to be a better fencer. So cardio. Stamina. Being able to run into battle and stay in battle. That is the goal.
Running is something I really like. I don't dream about flying. I never have. My "flying" dreams are about me running, fast and sure, from one place to another. In some ways it feels as impossible as flying. Still, it can't hurt to try.
Once, at Tales of Valor, I was playing a young woman who was going back and forth between the players and another NPC. I don't know what possessed me, but I did this by running. I was nimbly jumping over rivulets in the paths, up hill none the less. I remember being a bit out of breath but it was thrilling and almost like my dreams. It made me start thinking about trail running but as I looking into it, I realized that I was likely too slow and too out of shape to keep up with any of the groups in the area.
In my younger years, I was tormented by the Presidential Fitness Challenge. I failed at it every single year. I remember one year, it was both picture day and the day we were being tested on sprinting. I wanted so badly to pass the sprint test and tried so hard. I ran as hard I could all the way past the finish line and stumbled and tumbled to a stop. I put everything my little, chubby, fourth grade legs could put in. I still didn't pass.
Anyway, all of this is to say I am running again. I am doing what I call "smol runs". I am putting on my gear, bluetoothing up my headphones, and going out to run short intervals. I have done this three times in the past week. This morning when my brain said, "ugh, you have to run today," I told it, "no, I get to run today." I am never going to win a Presidential Fitness Challenge or a Crown, or a fencing tournament, but maybe I will be better. Maybe I will learn to fly.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Fencing, October 17, 2018
Last night was one of those nights where you hope that your suckatude is leading to a breakthrough. I was trying to focus on the things from last week: low stance, small parries, keeping from squaring up. Thinking while fighting makes you slow. And that is what I was facing. So it was a bad night of fencing.
However, at the end of the night I faced Grim and his long sword. I hate facing long swords. I constantly feel out of measure against them. And I tend to get thuggy (hitting too hard) in my attempts at aggression (you have to work on getting inside the long sword's range to even have a chance at a point). I was a bit thuggy, but I got several good hits on Grim. I think I gave as good as I got. So that felt good.
Also, after talking to Rob a bit about exercise outside of Fencing, I took a short interval run this afternoon. When I wanted to quit, I told myself, "You are doing this to be better at fencing."
I don't have any illusions of ever being a great fencer, but sometimes I see myself being a good fencer. And even bad practices are fun.
However, at the end of the night I faced Grim and his long sword. I hate facing long swords. I constantly feel out of measure against them. And I tend to get thuggy (hitting too hard) in my attempts at aggression (you have to work on getting inside the long sword's range to even have a chance at a point). I was a bit thuggy, but I got several good hits on Grim. I think I gave as good as I got. So that felt good.
Also, after talking to Rob a bit about exercise outside of Fencing, I took a short interval run this afternoon. When I wanted to quit, I told myself, "You are doing this to be better at fencing."
I don't have any illusions of ever being a great fencer, but sometimes I see myself being a good fencer. And even bad practices are fun.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Fencing Oct 10, 2018
Things I am working on:
Keep my stance low. Looking a pictures of a recent tourney, my stance is crap. I tried to remain mindful of keeping my knees bent and my right shoulder back.
Smaller parries. With all my off hand parries, my movements are too big. I need to bring my parries in so that I keep my lines closed.
Lunges and not rushes. I try to rush people and that leaves me open to easy attacks. I need to just lunge and redouble and keep my stance so I keep my lines closed.
Watching for tells. I want to be better at telling when others are moving. Right now, I can only see the big tells and I tend to watch on area of the body. I need to work on being able to see the whole body and watch for the tells.
Keep my stance low. Looking a pictures of a recent tourney, my stance is crap. I tried to remain mindful of keeping my knees bent and my right shoulder back.
Smaller parries. With all my off hand parries, my movements are too big. I need to bring my parries in so that I keep my lines closed.
Lunges and not rushes. I try to rush people and that leaves me open to easy attacks. I need to just lunge and redouble and keep my stance so I keep my lines closed.
Watching for tells. I want to be better at telling when others are moving. Right now, I can only see the big tells and I tend to watch on area of the body. I need to work on being able to see the whole body and watch for the tells.
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