There is class this Saturday, but not Monday or Wednesday because of March Break. Next week is the opposite so it balances out. Fitness Side to Side Squat Feet Together Squat Fencing Advance Lunge vs Gathering Step Lunge Break Patterns Create Space Slip Riposte John Taylor's 1st & 2nd Lesson Stretching Supine - Rotated Sidebend Lift Sitting - Rotated with Sidebend Sitting - Sidebend with Rotation (And no, this isn't a typo or repetition.) Quadruped - Retraction with Rotation Self-Massage Quad Massage ..read more

Welcome to March. It's going to feel a lot like January on the fencing side, and here's why. The Spiral Model of learning uses repetition of fundamental ideas over and over again, so that each time you revisit a lesson you can deepen your understanding and approach it with increasing complexity. I'm sure you've heard me talk about that more than once. But that's part of the spiral, isn't it? Fitness Squat month in class coincides with the last month of Squat training in the Solo Training Plan. Coincidence? Basic Bodyweight Squat Toe Hold Squat Fencing Appel vs False Step Check yourself for pa ..read more

This is month three of three for our Squat solo training. If you're still working on things from January and February, keep going. This is meant to build you up step by step, so it will be challenging to move on if you haven't finished step one. I treat the Squat portion as one training block, and Broadsword as another. If I can get a third training block in each week I will repeat the one that needs the most work, or train with a different weapon to break the repetitiveness. Squats We've all done squats, and we're all in different places with our squats. So here's a reminder why we're workin ..read more

Last week of February. Are you ready? Fitness The key this week is to get comfortable moving between positions and to flow from one exercise to the next, and not necessarily in the order we learned them. Watch the video for some inspiration. Flow & Play Fencing Tournament Practice The goal this week is to run you through matches like in a mock tournament. Get comfortable facing different people of all skill levels and see what you can learn from them. Stretching Classic floor or with bench, play with foot up, down, side to side. Much like the fitness lesson this week, this stretching exer ..read more

This Winter Seminar week, meaning no regular class Saturday or Monday. No new fencing lesson this week, but there are Fitness, Stretching, and Massage lessons to work on at home before next week. Fitness Quadruped on Elbows Torso Rotation A-Frame Torso Rotation Foot Across Fencing Winter Seminar Weekend with Xian Niles Stretching One legged squat with leg on bench Self-Massage Rotator Cuff ..read more

Welcome to February! For fencing we're continuing with Highland Broadsword, but for Fitness, Stretching, and Self-Massage we're changing it up. Fitness We're working on some core workouts you may not be familiar with, and I'm hoping will challenge you. Quadruped Knee to Same Side Elbow Quadruped Knee to Other Side Elbow Fencing Footwork - Change it up, break your patterns. Practice specific movements in isolation and together. Lonnergan's Double Hit - Not the 'doubles' we talk about during sparring. Stop Cuts to the Arm - Sometimes called 'Time Cuts'. Super important, very effective, and one ..read more

We're in month two of three of our Squat and Broadsword solo training. If you're still working on things from January, keep going. This is meant to build you up step by step, so it will be challenging to move on if you haven't finished step one. I treat the Squat portion as one training block, and Broadsword as another. If I can get a third training block in each week I will repeat the one that needs the most work, or train with a different weapon to break the repetitiveness. Squats We've all done squats, and we're all in different places with our squats. So here's a reminder why we're workin ..read more

Week 4 of Highland Broadsword Fitness Backward Roll Pummeling Moving from clinch to throw positions Fencing Back foot retreat Opposition Direct Disengage Stretching Quadruped Torso Rotation Self-Massage Full Lower Leg Massage ..read more

Week 3 of Highland Broadsword Fitness Roll into squat Pummeling with reactive and active partners Moving from clinch to throw positions Fencing Retreat & Slip Retreat, Slip & Lunge Creating Space Slip Riposte Stretching Quadruped Sidebend Self-Massage Calf Massage ..read more

This is our second week of Highland Broadsword. Fitness We're continuing mat work this week, reviewing breakfalls and building on from there. Forward Rolls Pummeling from Collar & Elbow as well as Neck & Elbow Fencing Continuing with Highland Broadsword. False Step Advance Lunge Cuts with Opposition Parry Riposte from St George, Cut 3 & Cut 4 Stretching Half-Pancake Self-Massage Tibialis Anterior (Outer Shin ..read more