Training Journal

A journal of my martial arts training

Category: Uncategorized

  • Class with Bryce, and Cat observed. Stretch and green braid requirements which I joined him on. Focus session on The Mantis. Short break followed by a few rounds of Add-On. We then got full armor on and did a few sets of advanced response training, followed by one attack parry, three attack parry, and ended with 27 one on one sparring matches (first 10 and last 7 i was one handed).

  • 5m elliptical warm-up (60cal)
    4×3 HiiT set, 30/30
    – four-way lunge w/25lbs
    – Pull ups w/ L sit
    – standing long jump / high jump
    – pushup lat extenders w/ 20 lbs
    5m elliptical cool-down (60cal)

  • Class with Bryce. Stretch and we both went through the Green Braid requirements, him leading. Spent some focus time on Thorn, working on improving the footwork, synchronization, and speed, as well as a digression into facing a righty vs a lefty and how best to defend from counter attack. We then spent some time on Advanced Response training, taking turns as the aggressor, and finished with some 1-attack light armored parry.

  • Joined Sabrina on a couple cardio burner workout videos. First one focused on glutes, second one was a more full body. About 12 – 15 minutes all totaled.

  • Basic elliptical cardio, level 4, 20 minutes. Machine read 384 calories, 0.94 miles, I think.

  • 3 minute elliptical warmup
    3 x 4 30/30 set:
    – Squat pop w/35 lbs
    – Unstable press w/25 lbs
    – Roller crunch (but with my sliders)
    4 minute elliptical cooldown

  • Just a basic cardio day, approx 20+ minutes on the elliptical at resistance setting 4.

  • Class with Bryce. Stretch and his requirements. Did a couple lengths of the training space doing standing long jump / high jump to get our blood going (cold, sub-freezing night!). Spent some time doing a four rounds of Add-On, with me changing from two to one handed for the second half of the rounds. Put on helmets and gloves and did one-attack light armor parry, then moved onto the curb moulds for three-attack parry while doing Balance 1. Moved us to a barked area that still had light snow cover (inch at most) and did switch-parry. Returned to the regular training space for several rounds of advanced response training with boken (me always the agressor, him responding).

  • HiiT workout, back to being on my own. Just a quickie today, 3m warmup, 3×3 30/30 set, 3m cooldown.
     – Long jump / High jump
     – Pullups
     – Lat extender plank (20lbs) with pushups

  • Class with Bryce. Quick stretch and once through on his requirements, then we geared up and had a total of 30 one-on-one matches (for me, 15 one-handed, 15 two-handed).

  • Class with Bryce. First class of 2018, we did a stretch and went through all of our respective requirements (green braid for him, silver chain for myself). He was gifted a blunted steel sword which I examined. The quality and feel appears good, though I cautioned it is a bit early in his training to be thinking much about steel. For continous full circle cuts it may however prove useful though I also cautioned to be aware of wrist strain and not overdue it due to possible injury (that being much more common with one handers). We then did unarmored parry, starting with 1-attack, then 3-attack, then Switch. We finished up with a couple rounds of add-on, making it several techniques each in before reaching an impasse.

  • Workout with Chris.

    Warm-up, 4×3 set, cool-down

  • Workout with Chris

    Warmup, 4×3 set, cooldown

  • Workout with Chris. 5 minute elliptical and brief stretch.

    4×3 cycle:
    – lunge with twist (10lbs)
    – jump rope
    – yoga ball crunch
    – divider hops

    5 minute elliptical

  • Workout with Chris. Warmup on ellipticals, then a 3×3 30/30 set:
    – pop squat (25lbs)
    – unstable tricep dips
    – jump rope
    Comedown on ellipticals

  • Workout with Chris. Ellipticals were full so I hopped on a stationary bike for warm up. We did a 3×3 30/30 set:



    Comedown on the elliptical.

  • Workout with Chris. Warmup on elliptical followed by 4×2 30/30 set, ending with elliptical comedown.

  • Workout with Chris. Five minute elliptical warmup, stretch, and two 30/30 cycles of:
     – pop squats (25 lbs)
     – high knees in-place jog
     – pushup / lat extenders (10 lbs)
     – slider crunches
    Another five minutes on the elliptical to settle down.

  • Workout with Chris. Five-ish minutes on elliptical and short stretch, then two cycles of 30/30:
     – Medicine ball lunge and torque (15lbs)
     – Mountain climbers
     – Unstable one arm press (20lbs)
     – Divider hop
    Another five-ish minutes of elliptical for cool down.

  • Class with Bryce. After class opening, I had us get into our full protective gear immediately, then we went through Bryce's Green Braid requirements (myself doing them, too). Afterward, we did 30 one-on-one matches. First 10 I did one handed and we used the complete near-halfcourt basketball space. The second 10 I went two handed and narrowed it to the key plus one side. The final 10 I went back to one handed and we did just the one side (no key). Stepping out of the boundaries were death for all of this.
    This concludes the 2017 class year, we'll be in break until mid-January as holidays, vacations, etc proved last year that it wasn't worth trying to schedule a class here or there.

  • Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through his requirements. I forgot he didn't have torso protection, so we just donned helmet, shins and gloves and did a lot of armored parry (1 attack, 3 attack, switch, and ended with one round of open parry).

  • Class led by Brent. Stance tag, stance drills, ear game. Tonights focus was on using a push with the guard as the blade is inverted to deflect and guard and following with a counter cut.

  • Class led by Marsha (brent out on medical). Warmup with jog medley, ear game, binding game. Focus tonight was on thrust from vantaug, and a couple counter thrusts.

  • Class with Bryce. Stretch and our respective requirements in full. Advanced response training, Three-attack and four-attack light armor parry.

  • Class by Brent. Standard warmup exercises and drills. Second night on krampau.