Finnegan's Wake

[ghostwipe]

Weapons Combat Training
2 hours.
The first hour focused on fire spinning practice. Weapons used were: Sabre, short sword, long sword, bastard sword, staff, spear, and shinai. My focus is going to be on bastard sword, spear, and shinai, as these are the weapons I'm going to use in my fire routine. A 7 foot long flaming spear should be quite unique.

Hour two was combat training w/ shield and sword, shield and spear, spear only, and sword only. We did some conditioning stuff as well inspired by Greek Hoplite training. Shield drills included holding ground, punch blocking, shield push, and "tree fucking," which is where one guy pushes against a tree, and the other puts his shield against the first guys back and pushes as well. The shields we use are about 8-10 lbs. Weapons practice was all slow paced and focused on stringing together combinations. I suck at sword and shield something fierce. Most of my practice is with a Scottish Baskethilt Claymore, Polish Sabre, Iaijutsu Katana style, and a bastard sword; none of which drequire a shield to use.

Impressions Doing shield work is a great way to build your endurance for keeping your hands up. It isn't a fist coming at you if you let your left arm drop, it is a fucking sword ( axe handle in practice). We didn't have armor on tonight, so we didn't do any full sparring.

I gotta start hanging out with people like you.

 

[feezy]

You are THE man, Finnegan.

 

[SmashiusClay]

I miss weapons training, not only great fun, but nothing did more for my hand speed and punch coordination than knife work.

 

[finnegan]

I gotta start hanging out with people like you.

Go to an SCA event. Forget the guys who spend 3000 dollars on a tunic, and look for the guys drilling shield wall and formations. Chances are, at least one of them is a blacksmith.

This photo was taken at Pennsic. Pennsic is a full scale, two week war. There has been 10,000 people show up to this annual event. I've yet to go, but it looks like a lot of fun.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsic_War

 

[finnegan]

Hack Squat
295 x 3
325 x 3
350 x 3
375 x 1
405 x 1, +30 lbs PR *chalk after two failures*

BORs <overhand grip>
205 x 5
225 x 5
235 x 5
254 x 5
255 x 5

Zercher Squats
205 x 5
235 x 5
255 x 5
275 x 5
315 x 5

Impressions: I'm just now realizing how much my grip sucks. It is worse than I feared. I added 30 lbs to my Hack squat with the aid of chalk. My grip sucks hard. For one thing, I've been doing mostly Zerchers for the last 6 weeks, and my grip strength hasn't kept up with my strength gains. Looks like it is Farmer's walks for me in the near future.
I think that the 315 x 5 on the Zercher squats is another PR, but I'm not sure. I'll have to review the log.

 

[finnegan]

Short Term Goals

1 RM
These are goals from 4/ 13/ 07.

Deadlift: 470 (2x bodyweight) within 3 months. +45lbs
Bench Press 325 within 3 months. +10 lbs
Zercher Squat get some sawhorses and find out my 1rm. I suspect it to be around 315.
Hack Squat 405 within 3 months. +30

Reps
Deadlift 425 x 5 within three months. +4 reps
Bench Press 300 x 5 within one month. I can do this now, but not consistently.
Zercher Squat 300 x 5 within one month.
Hack Squat: 375 x 5 within 3 months. + 4 reps.

1RM
Deadlift: met and exceeded.
Bench Press: Bah!
Zercher Squat: Met and exceeded.
Hack Squats: met.

reps:
Deadlift: met.
Bench Press: Met (mostly)
Zercher Squat: met and exceeded.
Hack Squat: not met, but possible.

OVerall, I think I've done pretty good. Still need to work on bench, but I moved Push Press in its priority slot. Other than that, I'm doing good.

Current 1RMs:
Deadlfit: 475
Bench Press: 315
Zercher Squat: 315 (definitely more. Still procrastinating on the saw horses)
Hack Squat: 405
Zercher Deadlift: 375
Push Press: 185

Current 5 reps:
Deadlift: 405 x 5 (this will go up really soon)
Bench Press: 300
Zercher Squat: 315
Hack Squat: 350, probably closer to 375 now
Zercher Deadlift: 325
Push Press: 165, possibly 175 soon.

Goals:
Deadlift: 500 within one month. *w/ straps/ chalk* +25 lb
Bench Press: 325 before I die. +10 lbs
Zercher Squat: get some fucking sawhorses and do 350 or more within one month.
Hack Squat: 415 within one month +10 lbs
Zercher Deadlift: 405 within one month (primary goal) +30lbs
Push Press: 205 within one month +20 lbs
Grip Work: Turn my weak hands into steel cables. Will know more later after some tests.

 

[Cap'n]

You met those goals awfully quickly.

I don't feel as bad about my crappy push press now, as it's the same as yours. :icon_chee

 

[the_w1se]

Damn nice job fin

 

[Lusst]

Weapons Combat Training
2 hours.
The first hour focused on fire spinning practice. Weapons used were: Sabre, short sword, long sword, bastard sword, staff, spear, and shinai. My focus is going to be on bastard sword, spear, and shinai, as these are the weapons I'm going to use in my fire routine. A 7 foot long flaming spear should be quite unique.

Hour two was combat training w/ shield and sword, shield and spear, spear only, and sword only. We did some conditioning stuff as well inspired by Greek Hoplite training. Shield drills included holding ground, punch blocking, shield push, and "tree fucking," which is where one guy pushes against a tree, and the other puts his shield against the first guys back and pushes as well. The shields we use are about 8-10 lbs. Weapons practice was all slow paced and focused on stringing together combinations. I suck at sword and shield something fierce. Most of my practice is with a Scottish Baskethilt Claymore, Polish Sabre, Iaijutsu Katana style, and a bastard sword; none of which drequire a shield to use.

Impressions Doing shield work is a great way to build your endurance for keeping your hands up. It isn't a fist coming at you if you let your left arm drop, it is a fucking sword ( axe handle in practice). We didn't have armor on tonight, so we didn't do any full sparring.

Awesome....

I'd love to be like Polynikes...run up to some dude in full sprint, then bury your shield/shoulder into the foe...sending him/her flying.

 

[feezy]

Nice status report Finn. Those are some cool lifts.

 

[finnegan]

You met those goals awfully quickly.

I don't feel as bad about my crappy push press now, as it's the same as yours. :icon_chee

A lot of this was newb gains. I had a 375 x 1 hack squat out of the gate, for example. Much of this was stuff I'd never done before, and it progressed very quickly once I started (esp. Deadlift). It was a good transition from the "old man" strength I had been cultivating w/ the firetending, blacksmithing, fighting, etc. to heavy lifting. Much of the progress (especially the Zercher Deadlift) was just getting the right form down.
Oh, and on the subject of the push press:
Our Zerchers were even once before too...

 

[finnegan]

Awesome....

I'd love to be like Polynikes...run up to some dude in full sprint, then bury your shield/shoulder into the foe...sending him/her flying.

Shield rush. Yes, it is immensly enjoyable. I'm sure you've got an SCA chapter in your neck of the woods. See if you can find out if they have a combat practice any time soon, and ask you be schooled. Most of the SCA guys I know are more than happy to let a new guy try out the equipment to see if they like it or not. Bring your own cup.

 

[finnegan]

Submission Grappling
1 hour
Focus tonight was triangle choke escapes. Yes, I got to use the Zercher Deadlift. I picked up my 275 lbs Judo instructor and sat him back down gently like a tiny baby in a crib before he could my arm across. Feels good to do that.
Other than that, I thoroughly sucked in free sparring. The squats this morning nuked my legs, was slow on the shot and didn't get a single takedown. The only highlight I have is using my face to block a spin under armbar attempt. I should rest more.

 

[bacon]

Takedown technique is perfected when you're tired. You can't muscle through it when you're muscles are boycotting any and all activity.

 

[finnegan]

Firetending this weekend and most of next week.
Taking some time off, even though I can taste 400 lb Zercher deadlifts...
Anyway, I'll try to get some decent pictures of fire and manliness.

 

[Lusst]

I'll look forward to it man!

 

[juanlawnmower]

Takedown technique is perfected when you're tired. You can't muscle through it when you're muscles are boycotting any and all activity.

You know, no one ever really respects that you need a set of balls to do grappling.

 

[the_w1se]

You know, no one ever really respects that you need a set of balls to do grappling.

plus one on that, everyone gives you shit for life, because you have to wear those tight spandex thing or you play with other men. its a singlett and grapple with other men haha

 

[bacon]

I've forcefully planted a lot of large men on their back whilst defending the honor of my beloved wrestling. Fuck em.

 

[Lusst]

Can you teach me how to forcefully plant large women on their backs?