Training Journal

A journal of my martial arts training

Tag: wcos

  • Class with Sal and Chris, Don called out. Stretch and basics. Reviewed kata ich once. During the break they worked on their sword books some, then we armored and had 20 matches total of one-on-one sparring.

  • Class with Don, Sal and Chris (Chris observed). Stretch, requirements, review of cutting pattern 1 and a couple practiced moves. After the break, we did Refined Strikes, thrusting rings and unarmored parry.

  • Yesterday I ordered two new live steel swords for WCoS combat, both tempered high carbon spring steel Slayer’s. Neither was exactly what I was looking for, but as with the gauntlets, I have not left myself the luxury of time to wait, so I had to go with what was readily in stock. They should arrive by next Friday.

    One-handed Sword with Spherical Pommel & Downturn Guard – 36″ total/28″ blade, 3.25lbs

    Hand-and-a-Half Sword with Faceted Conical Pommel & Downturn Guard – 43.875″ total/31.875″ blade, 3.5lbs
    (image of similar but not exactly the same sword)

  • Class with just Chris. We went through all of our respective requirements, particularly focusing on his Green Braid requirements for his upcoming evaluation, took a break, then did Refined Strikes and Unarmored Parry.

  • Just ordered two pairs of gauntlets from By the Sword.

    Milanese Mitten Gauntlets

    Medieval Finger Gauntlets

    They only ship one size, which is one reason I ordered two pair as I waited too long and need them for the upcoming October steel fighting coliseum in Half Moon Bay.

  • Class with Don, Sal and Chris. Stretch and requirements twice through with separate partners. After a break, we did Refined strikes for a short while, then machine gun drills for head; then head, neck or decap; then neck or leg.

  • Class with Don, Sal and Chris. Discussed the upcoming Shadow Wood event, stretch and basics. The second half we did some machinegun drills and finished with some multi-opponent boffer melee.

  • Class with Sabrina, Sal and Chris. Stretch and requirements, followed by a switch of partners and cutting pattern 1 and three moves of choice. After the break, Sabrina, Sal and I had 25 sparring matches total.

  • Class with Don and Chris, Sal called out, Sabrina is back in Humboldt County. Stretch, followed by my going through requirements individually with Chris, then Don. After a break, we rotated through the thrust ring station and paired Refined Strikes, then did a multi-opponent Refined Strikes with one person in the middle and the surrounding opponents making a variety of static poses which the center person had to analyze and respond to. The final time through, the outside opponents were permitted eighth to quarter speed movement once the center person engaged them.

  • Class with Sabrina and Sal. Stretch and requirements, then I worked with them individually on specific techniques. After a break, Sal and I armored up and had 22 matches total.

  • Class with Sal and Chris. Stretch and body builders, then requirements, after which I reviewed Cutting Pattern 1 with each of them along with a focus session on a couple key things they each need to work on. After a break, we started with Refined Strikes, then Fortress Defense (defender is given a one meter circle to defend from, attacker moves and attacks from any side), and ending with Multi-Opponent Fortress Defense.

  • Class with Sal and Chris, no word from Don. Discussed dues for sparring, then stretched. Paired Sal and Chris for requirements, myself on my own, after which I reviewed kata ich with both of them, and then individually went through Cutting Pattern 1 and one of their practiced moves. After break, we had Balance 1 and 2 with raised beams and flattened cabers, bricks on various faces, and grounded cabers.

  • Class with Sabrina, Nate, Sal and Chris. Stretch and body builders, once through on requirements, then a short focus session on Jumping Tiger 2. After the break, we had sparring, each of them getting 7 clean matches each against two opponents for a total of 48 matches while I marshalled.

  • Class with Sal and Chris, Don arrived late for the second half. Relayed the results of the Best of the Best in seiza, then stretching and body builders followed by requirements. Afterward, I reviewed Akira and The Mantis with each individually. Took a short break, then watched the 25 or so matches that I got on video, reviewing good and bad technique, stance, etc. Finished with five light to mid contact matches between each student and myself.

  • Class with Sabrina, Chris and Nate. Stretch and body builders, then requirements twice through, changing partners. I worked with Nate initially as it was his first time back about seven months, then I paired him with Sabrina and I worked with Chris. After a break, I setup three stations that we rotated through: one pair doing Refined Strikes twice each set the rotation pace, the other two were on the thrust rings or Balance 1 & 2 (raised 6×6, raised flattened caber, four bricks on end). Finished with machine drill for head cuts and then any of head or either neck.

  • Class with Sabrina and Don. Stretch, body builders, requirements. I then worked one-on-one with each of them for a bit. After a break, we armored and had one-on-one sparring, totalling 17 matches.

  • Class with Sabrina and Don. Nate came to watch the whole class, saying he’ll be starting back up next week, and George watched the first half to see if he may be interested. Stretch and body builders, then requirements after which I did a short focus session with each of them individually. After a break, we worked on skill drills, doing Balance 2, thrust ring targeting, Refined Strikes, and I arrange four 6×6 posts, two end to end and the other two at 45 degree angles to the center join, then had them practice Jumping Tiger 2 and The Mantis, with the partners forward knee directly over the join.

  • Class with Sabrina and Chris. Stretch and body builders, then requirements once through. I then worked on kata ich with both of them, then worked individually with them on specific techniques, covering decap chops and advanced thrust with Sabrina and working on refining Chris’ basics. After a break, we had 25 one-on-one matches total.

  • Class with Sabrina, Don, Sal and Chris. Stretch and body builders. Requirements twice through. After the break, we had balance 1 and 2, along with some elevated cutting pattern 1. Finished with Refined Strikes.

  • Class with Chris and Sal, Don called out. Direct into requirements today, after which I specifically reviewed each of Chris’ and Sal’s practiced moves, seperately. After a break, we had 1-on-1 sparring, ten matches against each of the others (i.e. 30 total matches, not including DKs).

  • Class with Don, Sal and Chris. Stretch, body builders and requirements, then a focus session on stance and movement. After the break we did refined strikes followed by machine gun drills for head/neck and neck/leg defense.

  • Class with Don and Sal. Stretch, body builders, and requirements. I then did a focus session with each individually, going through Cutting Pattern 1 and one of their moves (Jumping Tiger 2 for Sal, Lighting for Don). After a break, we had one on one sparring totalling 33 matches (not including DKs).

  • Class with Don and Chris, Sal called out. Stretch and body builders, followed by a focus session on Thorn, then Requirements. After the break we had one-on-one sparring.

  • Class with Don and Chris, Sal called out. Stretch, body builders, requirements. After we had all gone through our requirements once, I worked specifically on neck cuts with Don and Chris individually, using the Basic Cuts and Mantis as the vehicle. After a break, we rotated through three stations: a precision and control target dummy, ring thrusting, and Balance 2. I finished with refined strikes.

  • Class with Don and Chris, Sal called out sick. Stretch and requirements, then I reviewed the three moves they each felt they needed the most work on. After the break, we did multi-opponent drills and melee using boffers due to lack of armor.