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I'm gonna try and get more serious again, things are going fairly well so lets keep it up!! Challenges: Go to Krav 1x a week!! I got a groupon thing for a bunch of Krav Maga classes, but the schedule doesn't really work. The 2 times i can go are friday night or saturday morning and I know going 2x in a row would kick my ass. So just 1x a week would be great! Stay under 1462 calories 6x a week I followed a formula to get this number for how many calories I need to eat while on like a 20% deficit or something. I'll be monitoring this on myfitnesspal ( y'all can follow me there, I'm RoachRex ). And the 7th day is cheat day! (saturday is my cheat day). I am starting to learn about macros but tracking is a pain so I think I'll stick with this version for the time being. Level up in cooking! My goal is to bake a loaf of bread!! I'd also like to cook more, but bread is the focus this time around! Get outside! I've got some gear together so I really want to go camping!! But if I can't go camping, then at least I want to go on a day hike!! Weather may not permit me to go camping (I live in socal and our wild places tend to be a little bit on fire) but in that case then I'll try to at minimum go for a hike in a local park or botanical garden or something. Ideally more than once but, we'll see.

In 5 weeks I will be heading into a new mission phase and it's time to start preparing. My handler sent me the key skills he wants me to brush up on: Hand to hand: Krav Maga (0/6 sessions) Increase Endurance: HIIT Sessions (2/28) Study Up: Finish Pre-law school books and assignments (0/6) Get Flexy and Handstands: Handstand Drills (0/25) Flexibility Sessions (2/25) Nutrition: Calorie Counting (3/25) Internal Peace: Meditation (2/25)

This is the place to ask Krav-related questions, right? I'll be traveling for work in a couple of weeks, which means I'll be missing basically a week's work of Krav Maga classes. The school shut down for a week around the 4th of July and I suffered when classes started again because I did nothing in that week. I don't want to make that mistake again. I plan to do some cardio and bodyweight stuff, but is there any way I can do Krav-specific training while away? Work is putting us up in a fancy place, but that doesn't guarantee the gym has much more than treadmills and weight machines. I also can't pretend that the inevitable midnight swims with coworkers count as any sort of workout. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

After a very stressful (AND SUCCESSFUL - HELL YEAH THIS ASSASSIN IS GOING TO LAW SCHOOL) last challenge, I'm going to try to keep this one simple and relatively easy to follow. Here it goes: 8 sessions of Krav Maga (2/8) 10 Cardio Sessions (11/10) 8 Body Weight/Weight Lifting Sessions (7/8) 25 Handstand Sessions (4/25) 25 Meals made at home (22/25) 30 Meditation Sessions (15/30) 25 Flexibility Sessions (6/25) Go through closet and donate clothes (0/1) Start packing to move (0/1)

Agent Pond has become desperately bored in her current position and has recently decided to move up her self-determined deadline of requesting a mission transfer. With this comes a very intense deadline with multiple parts and the need to maintain a realistic physical routine. Notable Future Dates: Mission Transfer Request Due: April 30th Agent's Birthday: May 8th Side Missions: Agent Kat's pending move (find a new house, pack up and sell old house, move) Agent Dec's pending move (Weekend trip to help move things) Agent Pond's Pending move? (only applies if mission transfer is approved) Mission Parameters: Mission Transfer Request is number 1 priority and will be put ahead of all other tasks until complete (End date: April 30th) Parts: 1) Personal Essay 2) CV 3) Request References (First Email) Send Reference Link (2/2) Confirm Letter Receipt 4) Addenda 5) Request Transcripts 6) Pray for transfer approval and full funding of mission Bunk Overhaul (Have complete Bunk overhaul achieved by end of challenge) Krav Maga (2/12) Flexibility (4/20) Handstand Play (2/15) Running or Cycling (7/10) Body Weight Workout (8/10) (THIS IS MY COVERALL APOLOGY FOR MORE KINGSMAN STUFF. #NONEWCONTENT)

So here's the thing... I'm a bit paranoid about getting murdered. Young lady in today's society? Not the safest. So I started listening to a podcast called My Favorite Murder - which hasn't helped. But it also made me realize that my entire fitness regime is essentially about "Staying Sexy and not Getting Murdered". Goals: 1) Stay Sexy - 3 Workouts that are not Krav Maga per week (conditioning, running, climbing, weight lifting, pilates, dance, etc). 2) Don't Get Murdered - At least 2 Krav Maga Sessions per week 3) Here's the Thing... Eff Everyone - Can't move on or up without studying. At least 3 hours of studying per week (French, LSAT, or other intellectual pursuit outside of work) 4) Get Bendy. - Flexibility work at least once a day. No time limit but have to do something. 5) Get a Job. Buy your own stuff. Stay out of the forest. Collect some flags. - To Do Items (FYI - there's a lot of references throughout this challenge that may seem weird but come directly from Georgia and Karen - the hosts of MFM. I highly recommend listening if you are at all interested in true crime stuff.)

I'm taking a note out of @Jonesy's and @RogueLibrarian's pages and trying something new. Asa Pond takes on the mantle of an Assassin Assassins protect the innocent, fight the evil, and carve out a better future in the world. They do this in many ways - for me it will be: 1) Save the citizens: I signed up for a month of unlimited Krav Maga classes (paid already and everything). I should probably use them. Attend at least 2 classes per week of Krav Maga (starting January 15). Mission: Save 2 citizens per week (20 pts each - unlimited pts possible, 100 min) 2) Climbing buildings to escape enemies: One of the reasons I joined my current gym (other than getting recruited by the Kingsman) was because there is a huge climbing wall there. I have yet to use it and that needs to change. 1 Climbing session a week Mission: Avoid 1 enemy soldier per week (10 pts each - 50 pts min). 3) Eavesdropping I need to step up my language game - otherwise how am I going to know what my targets are saying. 2 hours per week of serious language study. Mission: Spend at least 2 hours per week eavesdropping on enemy plans (5 pts per hour - 50 pts min). 4) Collect Flags Other goals I have that are optional but important (2 pts each, 40 pts min): Spend 1 full hour cleaning X Spend 1 full hour studying X Get in a volunteering application. Read a full, real book (audible doesn't count) XX Spend time with a friend. Spend time learning something new X Change Bank Account Schedule an important appointment XXX 1 Session of yoga OR 1 cumulative hour of stretching XX 1 other type of workout (not climbing or Krav Maga) XXXXXXXXXX Cancel Old Gym Membership Take measurements and record for Team Havik Unpack and put away clothes from the holidays Grocery Shopping XXX Meal Prep XX Return Rented Violin Go to Book Club on the 18th *TBD*

New (well, old, but you know what I mean) Agent of the Resistance checking in. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me! Check out this mission briefing I got. How can I say no though, amirite? The Resistance needs me. Lemme know any ways I can help, my fellow Agents! For the Rebellion!

I'm going without a theme for this challenge. They go to hell in two days anyway Goals will remain the same: CrossFit and Nutrition. In addition to that I'll add a third, looser goal called “Start the World”. I' ve recently finished reading “The Way of Men” by J. Donovan. Donovan is an author whose books I refused to read because of ideology incompatibilities. You know, the whole white supremacy, anti-feminism thing made me a tad uncomfortable. I decided to give it a chance; after all if it turned out to be total crap it would only cost me 6 bucks. I devoured the book(yes, even the rather disgusting bits) in two sittings and to be honest I really enjoyed it. What's more, it made me realize how I've neglected the development of the “tactical virtues”. Just as an example, I've not even once practiced the fire starting and shelter making techniques I learned during No Fear of the Setting Sun, my camping axe(which used to be my grandfather's) still has the crude handle I was going to change a million years ago and remains embarrassingly dull. I' have not lit up the forge in forever... you get the point. So the goal will be oriented towards investing some of my time in training and developing my “primal manly self”. If you wanna read on the subject but don't feel like buying Donovan's book or putting up with anti-feminist bullshit I recommend you visit The Art of Manliness and read the articles about honor, manly virtues, tactical virtues(and pretty much everything else because is the best blog evah) The battle log style of posting worked out well last time, so I'm sticking with it

So, got laid off for a couple of weeks last round, used the opportunity to build a movement park at my house. Also did a bunch of Adulting. back to work (at the same place), but my new work schedule means a little less time for cross training at work. But I still get to roll/spar on occasion. Combatives: MACP/BJJ/MMA Striking 3 times a week at work (hopefully), Sunday Fight Club (Gracie Combatives/Krav Maga Worldwide) at home once a week. KMW Daily Curriculum on any days missed. Front Site Post eye training 2-5 minutes with bed time routine (not graded). Cross Training: (Tactical Strength and Conditioning (TASC), MovNat Strength and Conditioning) Tactical Strength and Conditioning program at work will probably be only 2 days a week. MovNat Strength and Conditioning at home to make up the difference. Mixed Movement: (running, walking, hiking, balancing, jumping, crawling, climbing, swimming, Parkour, dancing, Capoeira, physical labor, informal training, throwing, catching) Environmental Movement (Parkour/MovNat) integrated into cross training as much as possible. Swimming, Hiking, Working, etc.. movements integrated. Also includes recovery. Adulting: Always struggled with being a grownup. Heroes should do grown up stuff. Q16.01 Combatives: 0 Q16.02 Cross Training: 0 Q16.03 Mixed Movement Arts: 0 Q16.04 Adulting: 0

I have gone from 26% bodyfat to 22% bodyfat since starting nerd fitness. Meh, I don't care. Because, to me, it's a side effect. So many people are trying to look like LOOK a superhero, so few people are training to BE like a superhero. Everyone should be specialized, no one should be overspecialized... Crossfit got us closer... but I think MOVNAT actually has the baseline answer... If we are specializing too much, we are still deconditioning our general fitness and overspecializing Still recovering from injury. So wisdom/prudence tells me I shouldn't do something, Optimism tells me what's left is what I should do. Combatives: -Shouldn't: Spar (no BJJ rolling or kickboxing, no strikes to the body, no ballistic kicking) -Should: Work on form, shadow box, test for MACP Level II (in fact, test is tomorrow) Cross Training: -Shouldn't: Sprint, work abs, split squats, planks, rows. -Should: Jump Rope, Jinga Mixed Movement -Shouldn't: Climb using legs, swim using legs, sprint, high line vaults. -Should: Roll, Break fall, most floor work (Acrobatics, Handstands), balance beam work, isolated pulling, short precision jumps. So, Starting Quest 14.. Q14.01 Combatives: 0 Q14.02 Cross Training: 0 Q14.03 Mixed Movement Arts: 0 Q14.04 Regeneration: 0

Like it says on the tin. What I need is someone who is willing to exchange email and texts to keep me on the straight and narrow nutritionally and physically, who reminds me that "I mentally feel like crap" is not an acceptable reason to skip training, and who absolutely won't put up with bullshit excuses. I'm more than happy to return the favor! Anybody willing?

"There are threats everywhere, and the world is draped in camouflage... Tecumseh said, ‘Although a single twig will break, a bundle of twigs is strong.’” Starting weight baseline: 193 lbs. Capability Score: CrossFit Skill Metrics MANDALORIAN ALCHEMY: Nutrition accountability HP meter [-10% for minor overage, -20% for major]. APEX PREDATOR: Activity meter, Co-ops & PvP [+XP]. SELF-IMPROVEMENT JUNKIE: Big 3 goals for the week. Experience Bar activities... CHALLENGE INSPIRATION: The Modern Viking theme continues with another action-packed, adrenaline-fueled roller coaster of a challenge drawing heavily from such sources as The Expendables, Star Wars: Wraith Squadron and the Star Wars: Rogue One trailer, featuring highlights from the graphic novel series Black Powder / Red Earth. It’s Conan the Barbarian meets the modern day mercenary-adventurer in a no-holds-barred race to June! A familiar format comes hooked up to a re-imagined gamified challenge mini-quest game to get other members involved alongside my efforts to inject regular activity into my weekly routine; so grab your Go-Bag, reload your primary weapon system, and tug your boots on for another fast-paced adventure challenge from Rurik Harrgath, Inc.! “Like Alexander the Great and Caesar, I’m out to conquer the world… But first I have to stop at Walmart and pick up some supplies.” - Jarod Kintz

Like it says on the tin. What I need is someone who is willing to exchange email and texts to keep me on the straight and narrow nutritionally and physically, who reminds me that "I mentally feel like crap" is not an acceptable reason to skip training, and who absolutely won't put up with bullshit excuses. I'm more than happy to return the favor! Anybody willing?

My Pokemon and I have journeyed far and wide through Kanto collecting 8 badges, honed our skills in preparation for the Elite 4, made our way to the Indigo Plateau to defeat four of the region's top trainers and finally stand before the ultimate challenge, the Champion of the Indigo League. Oops! Charizard knocked out all my Pokemon! (I tore a tendon in my knee during my first Krav Maga Class). Alternate challenge: Pidgeot - mobility every day, alternating between feet and shoulders. Maybe look up some videos of exercises for the neck and wrists, since I'll be spending a lot of time drawing in an armchair with a laptop on my lap rather than my ergonomic desk, which isn't as good for my knee. Writing up workouts tomorrow. Gyarados - 3x seated aerobics per week. I'll try out some videos until I find one I like. My workout buddy has agreed to join me for some of these so we'll connect a computer to the big TV screen and pretend we're in the gym. Otherwise I should be able to do them in my room in the morning. Rhydon - 2x strength workout per week. Once I can get someone to bring me a pair of 5kg dumbbells from the shed. I can do rows, overhead press, seated deadlifts (are apparently a thing), bench press, bicep curls. They'll be too heavy for rotator cuff exercises but I could use cans of soup - I got that idea from one of the low mobility workout videos "And now… I am the POKEMON LEAGUE CHAMPION! BITTEROYSTER! Do you know what that means? I'll tell you. I am the most powerful Trainer in the world!" I had this planned out from way back that the Champion's six Pokemon would correspond to six weeks of the challenge, but since it's four weeks now I'm upping the ante and taking them all on - each Pokemon represents a quest. This is more than recommended but I'm confident that they're achievable goals. To reflect the magnitude of the end of my Pokemon journey, I'll do this for two consecutive challenges, with a small increase in difficulty if I do well. Rhydon - Fitness #1, Strength Training Not going to mess with success - keeping up my routine of 2 Stronglifts workouts and one Pump class per week. Charizard - Fitness #2, Krav Maga I've paid for three trial classes and I'll do one per week with one free week in case I need a recovery. Gyarados - Fitness #3, Swimming/other Use the gym at least one other time per week, usually for swimming but can include Yoga or other classes. Pidgeot - Life #1, Drawing Draw at least two things every day - one drawing copied from a real life object (plant, cat, person, landscape etc) and one drawing out of my head. Sorry to say I won't be uploading these as I've found in the past this becomes a barrier to actually doing the drawing, but I might post one or two. Alakazam - Life #2, Light Screen No backlit screens for one hour before bed. Instead, tidy up, play with the cats, read a book or Kindle, draw on paper, anything without a backlit screen. Exeggutor - Life #3, Relaxation Relaxation meditation at least once a week before bed. Rather than trying to make a regular habit I'm curious to see what happens if I don't meditate daily, but put aside more time for it when I do. Quality over quantity. Bring it on!

It’s times like these when I realize what a superhero I am. - Iron Man The truth is a matter of circumstances, it's not all things to all people all the time. And neither am I. - Black Widow The strength and brilliance of Iron Man, the courage and ability of Black Widow - together they are unstoppable. My ultimate life goal is to become the equivalent of the love child of Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff. They are literally the best of both worlds, brilliant, devious, cunning, and willing to do what it takes to achieve their goals. Natasha has the grace and ability to pull off deadly assassinations and complicated missions, Tony has the strength to crush his enemies and the intelligence to get out of tough situations. Put them together and there is literally nothing they couldn't do. Ultimate Goal: Become the Iron Widow Challenge Goal: Step One - Climb Grace, strength, flexibility. All are important to the Black Widow. Develop all the skills necessary to scale a building in 20 seconds flat (or a climbing wall in at least 2 hours) by climbing twice a week. Step two - fight Attend Kickboxing every week and start up with Krav Maga again (attend 2 classes each week after joining gym). Step Three: Strength and endurance Two body weight, barbell, or running workouts a week to keep up strength. Life Goal: Get to work before 8:45 4 out of 5 days per week. Asa Out

“Hither came Rurik Harrgath, wild-bearded and sullen-eyed, weapon in hand, a ranger, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the wild places of the earth under his booted feet...” Starting weight baseline : 190 lbs. Maximum pullups: 12 strict. Next goal: 15. Double-unders Combo: 24. * * * BUFF THE HEALTH POOL: Also known as Barbarian Alchemy & Eat To Perform. Health meter starting at 100% and losing 20% for every calorie overage. Reward: +2 WIS, +2 CHA, +1 STA, +1 CON. MINE IS THE FURY: Activity meter. Gains 10-30% per activity above and beyond WODs. Reward: +1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 STA, +1 CON. GOLD FROM IRON: Journey to financial freedom. Pay off 60 gold sovereigns in debt and accrue no further financial burden. Reward: +2 WIS, + 3 CHA. * * * CHALLENGE INSPIRATION: I said it better last challenge than I could ever hope to again... Pairing the woodsy, earthen scents of cedar wood, birch bark, and smoldering tobacco from the highlands of World of Warcraft aside an exotic mélange of heady urban musk, notes of amber, bourbon vanilla, and roughly cured leather from Conan the Barbarian, you’ll have a unrestrained, fierce palate prepared for any quest. With just a hint of Diablo 3 upon the finish, all chaos and brimstone, this challenge will leave you with a profound feeling of satisfaction and a driving thirst for adventure! And now the Golden Age of the Barbarian continues, so strap on your armor and raise your banner. Grab your weapons, those finely-wrought tools of war, and step toward the wayward path. Adventure looms, and we’d best not keep it waiting!

Hi Rebels, I would like your thoughts on something. I have been following a fairly regular regime for the past year. It looks like this: Monday and Wednesday - 6-7am Strength training - 8-9:30pm Krav Maga class Friday - 6-7am Strength and heavy bag training Now I've added archery lessons on Saturday 9-11:30am. It's not much of a workout but I do use my muscles so I count it as training. My conflict is, I would like to start rock climbing. I've done the math and with some tweaks on my work schedule I could do it Tuesdays and Thursdays for a couple of hours in the afternoon. My workplace provides very flexible hours. I can see the time is there but I'm afraid my body can't take it and I don't want to give up the other things I do. I already experience burnout every few weeks and either I get sick or some part of my body starts hurting, which results in a week or more without working out. A couple of people in my life have suggested I'm over-training, but this doesn't sound like that much to me. I think it should be able to take it. I have an office job I love, but an office job after all, and I would like to mitigate the impact of sitting for eight hours as much as possible. I think it's relevant to mention that I do get enough sleep, 7-8 hours, although I don't always feel rested. What would be your advice? How many activities or workouts do you do during the week? What do you do when you are legitimately too tired to work out?

The MAIN QUEST: I've established the foundation for a life nearly worthy of being called a [barbarian Ranger], but the road is a long and winding one, with many adventures yet to partake of. Queue the added dramatic flair and inspiration of the Warrior Skald. In Dungeons & Dragons, the Skald is what happens when you marry the Barbarian to the Bard while blasting heavy metal music over the mountaintops. Reciting epic verses, chanting magnificent lines, and howling the battle cries of legendary warriors, the Skald is what the Barbarian would be if he carried a banner, electric guitar, and a battle axe as well. He is a Lord of War, and his game is the inspiring of himself and others, such as mine is. Starting weight baseline: 185 lbs. Maximum pull-ups: 12 strict. Next goal: 15. Double-unders Combo: 22 consecutive. * * * TRAIN IN THE GLADIATOR’S SANCTUM (+2 DEX, +2 STA) “I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead men were strewn in heaps thigh-deep about him. But at last they dragged him down, a hundred against one.” – A Witch Shall Be Born, 1934. Goal: Mess with the best, die like the rest. Attend one martial arts class per week; Krav Maga, MMA or other.Bonus Adventure: Hone those Barbarian combat skills through a Darebee martial arts/weaponry workout. UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF THE SPIRIT LODGE (+2 DEX, +2 STR) “In so narrow a cleft, his foes could come at him only one or two at a time – provided they did not scale the cliff to attack him from above, or to get behind him, and provided they had no bows and arrows. Conan was wearing no armor, and he knew that not even his panther-like agility would enable him to dodge arrows loosed at close range.” – Conan and the Spider God, 1980. Goal: Train that panther-like agility and loosen up my overworked bulk by completing one Yoga session per week, plus additional Barbarian Ranger accessory work (double-unders, ring dips, muscle-ups, pull-ups)Bonus Adventure: Despite the winter chill, get some fresh air while enjoying a session of Ranger Yoga in the wilds. VISIT ‘THE FILTHY ANIMAL’ (+1 CON, +1 WIS, +1 CHA) “He was concerned only with the naked fundamentals of life. The warm intimacies of small, kindly things, the sentiments and delicious trivialities that make up so much of civilized men's lives were meaningless to him. A wolf was no less a wolf because a whim of chance caused him to run with the watch-dogs. Bloodshed and violence and savagery were the natural elements of the life Conan knew; he could not, and would never, understand the little things that are so dear to civilized men and women.” – Beyond The Black River, 1935. Goal: It's time to eat like a Barbarian. I will track and report Eat To Perform macros and calories for accountability. Attempt one new exotic recipe per week.Bonus Adventure: Warm-up that Wilderness Lore trait to conduct a wilderness survival scenario. AT DAY’S END :: THE DAILY QUESTS (+2 WIS, + 2 CHA) “Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content." - Queen of the Black Coast, 1934. Goal: After a long day of harrowing adventure, I share the exploits of my daily activities, including any Domestic Rangering, and track my Daily Quests / To Do List. * * * CHALLENGE INSPIRATION: This long-ranging Barbarian now stalks the wilds of Azeroth. Pairing the woodsy, earthen scents of cedar wood, birch bark, and smoldering tobacco from the highlands of World of Warcraft aside an exotic mélange of heady urban musk, notes of amber, bourbon vanilla, and roughly cured leather from Conan the Barbarian, you’ll have a unrestrained, fierce palate prepared for any quest. With just a hint of Spartacus upon the finish, this challenge will leave you with a profound feeling of satisfaction and a driving thirst for adventure! In keeping with the Golden Age of the Barbarian, my overarching theme for 2016, we’ll be keeping the momentum rolling with another savage challenge. I will overcome the bleak midwinter doldrums with BLOOD & THUNDER! Inspiration is everything, and I aim to become a BAMF the likes of which the world has never seen before. Let's do this.

Last time on as the Vikings Burn....I mean last challenge which had to drop to the wayside as I acclimated to a new schedule and fun Kara moaned as she burrowed deeper into her sleeping furs, trying to hide the light creeping through the window from her eyes, struggling to find a comfortable place to rest. It seemed her sore muscles had sore muscles after the week that had just gone by. Even now, laying in bed and sleeping (or trying to), there was no way to get comfortable with how aching and battered her body was. Closing her eyes to try and snatch a few more hours she let her thoughts drift to the week. While she had managed to get up every morning before the Old Goat wandered in with another bucket of water to freeze her with missing that first morning had set the tone for the week. Punishment. Clear and simple. The whole body was beaten and wracked and destroyed to build it back stronger. She knew at this rate she was going to spend the next few weeks aching and exhausted. But she felt hopeful. Better. Mayhaps even....excited about what was coming. The training the Goat had pushed her through had been maneuvers and actions her body was not used to. She had lifted, ran, contorted, twisted and put her body through exercises she had never even heard of before. When she was done working her body he had pushed her weapons on her. The hammer normally wielded to devastate enemies everywhere had been used to make her arms to turn to jello. Twisting. Lifting. Turning. The hammer had been swung, held, cradled, twisted and even flipped at some points. Then the weapon had been turned to a pile of leather off casts, beating them as if they were Sutr himself standing before her again and again. All of that she could handle. But the running. Allfather watch over her the running was almost too much. Full armor. Weapons and shield on her back as she ran through the woods. Through the halls of Valhalla. Through the plains where the souls of fallen warriors practiced for Ragnarok. It didn't matter where it was Kara had run through it, often being pointed at and laughed at by those who saw her training with the Goat as he was called by all. She gritted her teeth and endured, ignoring the laughter and comments about a Valkyrie trained by a Goat. She noticed none of them said a word when he was with her. They knew better than to try and ridicule him. He would trounce them and leave them begging to be done. There had been plans to begin training her on how to train without weapons but the tutor he had promised had not been able to make it on the day planned. She had been hopeful perhaps that ridiculous idea could be overlooked but it was not to be. In the weeks ahead she would be taught by this tutor she had never met multiple days a week instead of just once. The young Valkyrie wasn't even sure how she was going to survive the running and the lifting and all the cross training the Goat made her endure. Throw in taking a beating multiple days a week was no doubt going to put her over the edge. She winced and burrowed her face into her furs at the mere thought. Blessed sleep was disturbed only a short time later as her whole body was shaken. The Valkyrie merely cracked an eye open, not even bothering to leap out of bed. If this was an enemy she would provide little fight. But, as expected, she found the Goat standing there smirking at her. "Wake up Curly One, time to get out of bed." "Go. Away. You promised me a day to sleep today." "Yes, I did and I will keep my word. But the All Father summons you." Kara shot to her feet immediately at that statement and she moved to put her armor and gear on. "You should have said so at the start, fool!" "I thought that's what I just did." "You did not such thing." She hissed at him, a whirlwind of movement as she donned her attire and then raced from her room still lacing up boots and strapping on weapons. She slid along, moving through the halls as fastly as she could move, soon entering the great hall and bowing before the Allfather, face and forehead planted on the floor. "Rise, Valkyrie." Odin's voice boomed through the hall, echoing off the tall ceilings and stone walls. Kara lifted to herself to her feet, face set stoically to hide the pain she felt as she moved her body about at his bidding. Her eyes turned upwards and she regarded the King of the Gods and Asgard it's self. There was no denying that Odin was an imposing figure to behold. Two dark shapes sat silently on his shoulder, beady eyes fixated upon her and watching her intently with a shining intelligence no normal Raven should hold. She knew Huggin and Muggin had probably been the ones to report her actions to Odin and her lips thinned as she regarded them. Without actively doing so her eyes shifted from the ravens gracing his shoulder to the ruined mass of one eye, the price for the knowledge granted by those creatures alighted upon him. Scars radiated out from the center, marring his face and disappearing down into his hair and beard. The puckered flesh was laid bare for all to see, no attempt made to hide it. Odin was proud of his bargain, for his knowledge, and for the price paid. He wanted all to see it. Only years of exposure to such let her observe it without a reaction, she had grown accustomed to the sight over the years. Beard and hair were white, the color of winter and ice. Kara often considered that they reminded her of water poured over a statue then frozen in place. Harsh and unforgiving as the craggy face they covered, Odin spoke of age and time and battle. The white on white on white of his face and beard and the stark blackness of the Ravens on his shoulder said something about the God himself. It was a statement of many things, even if he was not aware of it. Blacks and whites. rights and wrongs. His words and those who opposed him. With a shake of her head Kara cleared her thoughts, not wanting them to be ehard or seen by any looking her way. "Thank you, majesty." "So, I hear you have begun training with the Goat this last week." She fidgeted at his words, wondering how he would take this. "Yes, Allfather. I have sought out his wisdom to learn to be a better Valkyrie for you." "And why seek him out and not myself or another of our vaunted warriors such as Thor?" He eyed her darkly with his one good eye, the scorn for her actions clear upon his face. The Valkyrie must tread carefully here, the Allfather was...well...the Allfather. Anger him and she could find herself like Loki. "I did not wish to disturb you or your son with my simple request, Allfather. I sought not to waste your time or his with someone such as myself. I can get training from the Goat and not burden you in anyway. I only sought the basics of such learning, not to master such skills yet as you do." A little flattery never hurt, perhaps. Odin peered intently at her and she kept her eyes downcast,r efusing to meet his gaze and let him see the falseness of her words. She had her own reasons for what she was doing and neither Odin nor Goat were going to stop her from what she was about. She stood motionless, letting him weigh her words. Time ticked by, the throne room of people shuffling and moving as they waited for a response. "I see. How....intriguing." She nodded, as if agreeing with him about his observation. She said nothing still and let the silence continue before even the Allfather himself finally stood and strode from the throne to stand before her. "And why pick Goat for such training, Valkyr?" "I have long heard of his prowess on the battle field, Allfather. His skill with the hammer and shield. His ability to best many of our warriors. I felt he could provide me with much to learn if he was half as good as the stories say of him." "And is he? Half as good?" "Yes, my lord. He is." "And you think he has knowledge to pass on that would aid you in your duties to me." "Yes, Allfather." A large hand reached out and took hold of her chin, forcing her head back and her eyes up to his face to meet his gaze. "I think you're lying Valkyrie. I think you're hiding something from me." Kara stilled all thoughts. All observations, working to keep her face devoid of anything but her devotion to Odin and Asgard. This was no lie. She was devoted to the people, the realm, and it's survival. "My lord....I am not. I simply sought to learn more, fight better, and be able to do my duties." This much was truth. Best to wrap the truth around her actions as a shield against observation and examination. It would keep things from being discovered. "We shall see, Valkyr. I will be watching you." At this statement both the birds on his shoulder shifted, ruffling their feathers and fixing beady eyes on her. They reminded her of Loki or the world serpent, all slick and dark and full of secrets. She refused to look at them too long, instead bowing before Odin once more. "Of course my Lord, I live to serve." "So you say, Valkyrie. Leave my sight." At the dismissal Kara left the throne room, moving as quickly as she could without it being obvious she was running. Once she crossed the threshold and was back outside Goat fell into step beside her, turning his head to regard her with the same probing gaze Odin had. She scoffed some and looked sidelong at him. "What?" "You're hiding something, Curly One." "You hide everything Old Goat." "This is true. But you...you're hiding something from me and Odin and others." "Mmm. Perhaps." His hand snaked out grabbing hers and yanking her to a stop. She winced and moved to yank her arm free but found his grip like iron upon her limb. He forced her to look at him much as Odin had done in the throne room, trying to divine intentions in her gaze. "Tell me or we will ceasae this training." "No. My secrets are my own! I will find another to teach me then." She shook her arm again to try and leave but he held tighter, fingers digging in deep enough to mark her pale flesh. "What game are you up to, Valkyrie?" "None, I merely wish to survive, Goat. Nothing more." She let the partial truth of her words be seen, knowing that while he may realize she still kept secrets that much was truth. She kept her face still as his fingers dug in deeper and deeper, his anger at not knowing what she was trying to do expressed through that grip. Finally he shook her violently and pushed her away, letting go. "Bah. You lie and keep secrets like those damnable birds. But I will keep you close until I am sure you are no threat." "I am not a threat, Goat. I am a Valkyrie. I serve Asgard and Valhalla. Nothing more." This was utterly true, even if he chose not to believe her. "Hmph. I will pry your secrets from you Valkyr, even if I have to flay it from your skin in training. Be ready, tomorrow you will learn what it is to lie and defy me." "I do not fear you, Goat. No more than I fear the, Allfather." "We will see, Curly One, we will see." With that he stalked off, leaving Kara to return to her room to try and regain some of the sleep she had been pulled from. Sleep was not forthcoming for Kara however and the young Valkyrie soon dressed for the day and headed out to the practice grounds with her shield and hammer upon her back and her armor upon her body. She ignored the sidelong looks sent her way, knowing that many were whispering and discussing her after the debacle in the throne room. No doubt many would be eagerly spying for the Allfather, in addition to those two blasted nosy birds. Not only that but some would be angry at her for what they perceived to be a betrayal in the making. How little they knew or realized was truly happening. However for the moment Kara ignored them all and set to work focusing on her practice. She worked the same moves that the Goat had been teaching her, pounding into leathers with her hammer. Swinging it and letting her body growing acclimated to using it. Then a run through the woods with full armor and weapons upon her back. Escaping the whispers and stares was exactly what was needed after the abysmal start to the day. The icy grounds and snow covered trees however did not help to make her run any easier. More than once she struggled to move through small snow drifts and across icy slicked ground that was already uneven from rocks and dirt and leaves hidden beneath the snow. Still, Kara struggled forward to race through the woods and complete her training, opting to work out her anger with events instead of resting. Though resting would probably have been the better choice with the way the day was going. Her body already ached from a weeks worth of activities. Now she was pushing it further than she should. Still, they didn't call it braving the elements for nothing. Though more like stupidly crazy is what the Valkyr mumbled to herself as she moved along the woods. She continued on bravely stubbornly and soon circled back to the outer fields of Valhalla. Making her way through the stone edifice and into the small room called hers the Valkyrie collapsed, aching and soaked to the skin. She barely managed to strip herself of her attire and find her warm furs before sleep claimed her. Tomorrow she would have to start again, after failing the Goat in his eyes, and she knew it would be murder. Perhaps literally. So last challenge blew up. I rocked out my first two hardcore, did total win and then...real life. Bam to the face. School started. New job working 6pm - 3am. Working out 7am. All of it combined to keep me offline except for intermittent pit stops here and there. I managed to maintain my workout schedule but flopped on eating Paleo with a snow storm, err two inches of snow are a storm here in the South I suppose, and not having supplies in the house. What I learned? Make a schedule and stick to it to make time for what you enjoy. I enjoy this site and you guys so I've scheduled NF into my week every week. (This morning before Crossfit) Two, always have emergency rations in case a light storm...I mean snowmageddon....hits. And finally we don't always ace everything we do. The true test is if we pull ourselves up, move forward having learned and continue to go forward. Ranger up! Fortunately I had planned my last challenge to continue into this one. I wanted my challenges to span two months, with small adjustments, to build lasting changes and affects. So my goals are much the same. Goal 1:Strength- Being born with the strength of the Gods is all well and good but when the Gods and other beings of the 9 realms are your enemy and are stronger than you that must change. You need to build that strength up to stand toe to toe with Giants. For this challenge I will do 3 strength exercises a week, a combo of Maces and Crossfit. Goal 2: Endurance- Being strong and facing down Frost Giants or a handsy drunken Thor is only one aspect. Valkyries live on battlefields and collecting souls sometimes means taking part. Being strong doesn't help if battles are long and drawn out (or if you're running around tables to elude Thor until Sif can knock him cold and drag him off.) To be the best Valkyrie you need the endurance to withstand enemies in battle. I will do four endurance/cardio based workouts a week, any mix of Rucking or C25K sessions. Goal 3: Defense- Knowing how to swing a hammer and block a shield is one step in being able to fight. Learning more than one way of fighting and moving is useful along with improving agility and flexibility. One can never say when they may be stripped of their weapons in battle. To this end I will do one Krav Maga session minimum a week. Preparing for battle of any kind is the task of a true Valkyr! Goal 4: Buck Furpees! - Preparation is a key to battle. Going into a fight means taking care of yourself, your armor, your supplies. It means knowing what you may face and being ready for whatever is thrown at you. Being prepared for me means facing the dreaded Burpee head on. I will be doing the Spartan in June and Burpees will inevitably be a part of that. I must prepare, even as I curse them. Every week I will do Burpees before bed and when I wake up. Each additional week I will add on 5 Burpees until I can easily do those I need to in preparation to become a Spartan Valkyrie! I am on 25 burpees....kill me now. Goal 5: Nutrition- Swilling wine and mead and beer is all good for any Cup Bearing Valkyrie. But feasting and drinking until one is swimming in it is not. The body must be ready for battle along with the mind and reflexes. Stuffing my face is not part of that. The holidays are over. Time to Ranger Up! I will eat 2 primal meals a day every day of the week, allowing myself one day to eat Primal only once. The day is my choosing but it does not mean I will gorge. Only that I can relax and let myself embrace my inner Valkyrie with a little good food and good drink. Life Goal: Live- Winning a battle is all well and good but one must learn life is not always about the next battle, the next fight. One must enjoy and live. Fear must not hold back your life. So every challenge I will pick one new thing to do, one thing I am uncertain of or afraid of. I will do it and will conquer it. I don't know what it will be each time. It may be something small and simple. It may be life changing. But it will be done and I will post in my wrap up what I did each challenge. Last month it was starting Krav, even being nervous about going and my fitness level. I enjoyed it all and still doing it. This month.....we shall see. The next morning Kara was pulled from bed by the Goat, his hand yanking her by the hair and throwing her to the floor. It was hours before she was normally up. But it seemed he was eager to punish her for her "lies" as he perceived them. "Up traitor, time to earn your beating and punishment from me. Let us see how much you are willing to betray Asgard this morning." He threw her aside as he snarled and stomped out, making Kara wonder why he even bothered. If he was truly this angry why even continue teaching her anything. Why give her more skills to betray Asgard and it's people if he thought that is what she was up to. With a sigh and groan she stood and began to dress, adding the mystery of his actions to the growing pile of worries and questions plaguing her on the path she had begun.

Got my third white belt strip at the end of quest. Still need to get better at sweeping the ground and pound from under top mount (whole point of training). Current Stats: Rebel Monk Level 8, STR=11.5 DEX=9.2 STA=9.2 CON=10.9 WIS=1.5 CHA=.5 Quest 8.1-(Monk/Druid)=10% per class/workout (MACP/BJJ/MMA STRIKING/TAIJUTSU) (STR/DEX/STA/CON) Quest 8.2-(Ranger/Warrior)=10% per workout: Resistance Training or Tactical S&C Power WOD (STR/CON) Quest 8.3-(Ranger/Assassin)=10% per workout: Parkour Flow/Tricking or HIIT or Distance Movement or Tactical S&C ESD WOD(DEX/STA) Quest 8.1 Long Term Goals: Six Strategies, 20 tasks (note, in real world escape/evade takes priority over confrontation) Six basic Unarmed Combat strategies and my 20 training tasks: -Sprawl and Brawl- 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 -Throw and Go-5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 -Lay and Pray-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 -Get and Submit-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20 -Ground and Pound-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 -Wall and Maul- 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 20 tasks Order of Priority: 1-If on bottom of top mount, defend against strikes/common submissions and sweep the mount 2-If on top of top mount, maintain position while striking strategically or lock down opponent until submission becomes available, maintain 360 awareness and bail if necessary. Lay and pray/ground and pound/bailout takes priority over submission. 3-If on top in full guard, be able to strike strategically while defending against submissions, keep 360 awareness and prepare to stand and bailout. Pass guard without getting triangled. 4-If on bottom in full guard, defend against ground and pound and maintain arm/head control..don't hold guard if getting slammed, sweep if guard broken. Sweep or return to guard is more important than submission. I would like to be able to threaten a bottom arm bar to triangle to omaplata or situp armbar, but that will only happen after I get good at locking down strike defense. 5-If on top in side control, first priority is lay and pray, second is select strikes, third is submission, fourth is full mount attempt. Maintain 360 security and prepare for bailout. 6-If on bottom in side control, defend strikes, wait for opponent to make a mistake and sweep (four sweeps for regular sidemount, three options for scarf and one for knee on belly). 7-If on bottom of half guard get head to side, defend against strikes and return to guard or sweep to back mount 8-If on top of half guard avoid submissions and deliver strategic strikes. Passing guard or maintaining half guard is more important than strikes or submissions. 9-If in turtle on bottom: (other than back mount)-attack hips/leg takedown, if opponent sprawls turn into his side mount. 10-If in turtle on top: North/South=Seatbelt to underarm RNC choke (darce/anaconda/etc), if not in north/south then achieve back mount. NO STRIKES FROM BACK MOUNT! 11-In little spoon in back mount: Two on one-Defend chokes, Turn into mount/guard unless armbar presents itself. 12-If big spoon in back mount: Seat belt to RNC/NINJA choke, NO STRIKES 13-Ground defense from multiple attackers: Kicks from ground/rubber guard/Helicopter Sweep/Stand in base 14-Breakfalls and Sacrifices: When off balance sit and spin. Front/Side/Rear break falls, Front/Side/Rear rolls, Spider Guard to Helicopter Sweep. 15-Offensive Grapple/Takedown: Achieve Clinch, get double under, takedown in direction of movement (Body Fold, inside/outside trip, outside/inside sweep, hip throw, rear clinch/side clinch sacrafice takedown, drop to single/double leg. If in single overhook then whizzer) 16-Defensive Grapple/Takedowns: SPRAWL!!!!!!!!!!Standing Strait Armbar (see variations below), Standing Single Wing to outside sweep or whizer, Double or single leg takedowns from knees, Front Bear Hug to any double under, Rear Bear Hug to heal pick, Suplex Defense from rear, Suplex Defense from front, Double Collar Tie/knee strike defense (high crotch) 17-Basic Boxing for MMA/Combatives-Peakaboo defense, slips, Jab/Cross/Hook/Uppercut, basic footwork and level changes, combos, no knuckle variations (palm heal, ridge hand, hammer fist, knife hand), elbow variations. 18-Basic Kickboxing for MMA/Combatives: Add in defensive (pushing) front/side/back kick, basic kick checking, round kick to legs. 19-Weapon Takaways/Weapon Retention: Weapon Takeaways: Standing Strait Armbar to shoulder lock (with wrist lock/knife/gun variations), if fails go to Standing Bent Arm Bar to sweep/hip throw (with wrist lock/weapon variation) if fails go to standing single wing triangle with sweep or wizzer. Weapons Retention: Post/Hook/Frame, 20-Basic Submissions from all positions: Have at least one no-gi choke from all positions and basic defense for each one. Properly get a strait arm bar, bent arm bar, reverse bent arm bar from all major positions, transition from Arm Bar to Triangle to Omoplata from bottom guard. Last priority is submissions even though most training time is BJJ. Long Term Quest for 8.2: Priority is full body Tactical Strength, nice to have is more mass in arms. Able to do the 300 challenge. Long Term goals for quest 8.3: 100m obstacle course and still have wind: Speed Vault, Safety Vault, Parkour Roll bailouts, Stick 5 Floor Precisions in a row at 4-6 Feet, Wall Pop to Climb Up (10 ft obstacle), Wall Splat bailout, Cat Hang to wall muscle up, Cat Hang to Cat leap, Tic-Tac to cat hang 10ft, Quadrupedal Movement 100m, Basic bar swing w/control from hang Current Martial Qualifications: BJJ: White Belt-3rd Strip Army Combatives: Level 1 Tae Kwan Do/Hapkido: Yellow Belt Kuk Sul Wan: Orange Belt Combat Akijujitsu: Level 1 (six weeks) MMA Striking: 11 Hours Judo: 3 Hours Akido: 1 Hour Folk Wrestling: 1 Hour Taijitus/Ninjitsu: 10th Kue (white belt no stripe) Wing Chun: 1 Hour Fire Arms: Special Forces Basic Combat Course-Support Driving: Gryphon Group Mobile Security Course Survival: SERE C Sword and Shield: 5 hours SCA Heavy Fighting Street Weapons: 1 hour Filipino Martial Arts basic weapons.

Kara gritted her teeth as she raised her shield up to ward off the blow of the sword arcing through the air. Metal met metal in a clang that resounded through the air and jarred all the way up through her arm and her body, shaking her with it's strength. A flurry of curse words flew past Kara's lips as she countered the attack, bringing her own hammer up and sending it crashing down on her enemy. He brought his shield up to deflect the blow then twisted in a maneuver she had not seen before that allowed him to block and attack almost simultaneously. The shield on her forearm was brought up to counter the swift attack and he simply shrugged the efforts off and continued to rain blow after blow at Kara. She struggled to protect and defend and find a way to attack herself, even as her strikes seemed to show little to no effect on her opponent. The young Valkyrie cursed and attempted to roll away from her opponent as he let loose a barrage of attacks swifter than she could anticipate or protect herself from. She let loose with a torrent of curse words as she put some space between the two of them and warily eyed the man moving after her. She had the strength of the Gods, she stood toe to toe with the denizens of the Nine Realms, and yet to him it was as if he was under assault from a fly. If not for the shield in hand there was no doubt that her body would be a mass of cuts and injuries. As it was head to toe throbbed, every slash and thrust deflected sending jarring pains and aches all over. The shield arm was suffering the brunt of it and Kara knew the next day her limb would be unusable and numb with bruising and pain. The rhythm of battle was interrupted by a sudden shift in tactics on the part of her enemy. A sword was brought up as if to attack and Kara moved to block it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw, too late, his shield coming up to be used in the attack as well, the dual attack shifting her focus to move away. But it was too late,. She had already moved her own block and shield and even as she turned to roll from both blows the shield caught her entire right side firmly across her breastplate. She flew back on to the ground and he followed her down. With one hand he slammed the shield down, pinning her weapon in place, his weight upon her shield and his sword brought to her neck. A sharp sudden motion and she felt the sting of the cut as the sword slid across her neck, leaving a shallow cut to mark his victory. “You lose Curly One†“I know. No need to state the obvious, you Old Goat!â€Expletives followed her comment and he managed to raise his brow even as he pulled back and stood up off of her. “I was not aware one could do that with a hammer, my face and a sheep. Perhaps you can demonstrate with your own at the next feast.†“Perhaps I can use my hammer on that tiny excuse for a manhood you claim instead?†“Such a violent young woman.†He reached down and grabber Kara's hand, yanking her to her feet with a smirk. “One would think you could channel that into fighting better yet I find you, once again, laying on your back before me.†She shot him a dirty look, practically snarling at him and his comment. “I fought fine you Goat! I would have had you in another few blows.†“Pah. You had nothing Valkyr. You're blows were like that of a gnat biting at a horse. You were exhausted swiftly, easily. You did not anticipate or react quick enough to my change in tactics, too stuck in the idea of hack and slash. No doubt you are still swimming in last nights mead. You are ill prepared for the battles ahead with the abysmal training you've received. How are you to survive battlefields the world over much less Ragnarok when you cannot even spar with me. You will take no souls for Asgard and Valhalla the way you are now!†“What shall I do then?†Her insults were gone, the bravado shattered with the truth. Her eyes shifted to her teacher seriously and he nodded with a smile. Finally she would take this seriously. “You will build up your strength. You will exercise your body. You will train in battle and defense. Stop filling your body with bread and booze. Being a cup bearer does not mean you have to drink enough to pass out every night, Curly. You will prepare. You will listen. You will rise as a Valkyrie, not a silly girl any longer.†Goal One: Strength "Come, Curly. Follow me and I will show you what you need to do with that hammer of yours and a few other items I have." Her teacher guided her through the practice yard and took her to piles of discarded leather from armor crafting cut offs. "Stand here. Hit the leather. Don't stop until I say." "You want me to hit....leather? Why?" He sighed and eyed Kara fiercely. "Do as I say Valkyr, or leave and let me find another student who can listen." Growling the Valkyrie lifted her hammer and began to slam it into the pile of leather over and over. Being born with the strength of the Gods is all well and good but when the Gods and other beings of the 9 realms are your enemy and are stronger than you that must change. You need to build that strength up to stand toe to toe with Giants. For this challenge I will do 3 strength exercises a week, a combo of Maces and Crossfit. Goal Two: Endurance "Keep running." "I haven't stopped, Goat!" "You're slowing down, Curly. Keep moving or they'll get you." "They haven't got me yet!" "Shutup and run or they'll bite you!" The gnashing of teeth as one of the hounds chasing Kara lunged at her calf reiterated the point and the Valkyrie turned to keep running, trying to ignore the pain in her side as the weight of her armor slowed her steps and burned in her lungs." Being strong and facing down Frost Giants or a handsy drunken Thor is only one aspect. Valkyries live on battlefields and collecting souls sometimes means taking part. Being strong doesn't help if battles are long and drawn out (or if you're running around tables to elude Thor until Sif can knock him cold and drag him off.) To be the best Valkyrie you need the endurance to withstand enemies in battle. I will do four endurance/cardio based workouts a week, any mix of Rucking or C25K sessions. Goal Three: Defense "Why don't I have my weapon?!" "Because I took it from you." "And?" He growled, turning to backhand her, the blow ringing through her face and ears, leaving her gaping at him. "Because if an enemy manages to take it from you it won't be a slap you'll be facing." Any further comment was cut off by a growl as Kara leaped through the air to land on him and begin pummeling him with her fists, making him laugh. "That's it, girl. Now you understand!" Knowing how to swing a hammer and block a shield is one step in being able to fight. Learning more than one way of fighting and moving is useful along with improving agility and flexibility. One can never say when they may be stripped of their weapons in battle. To this end I will do one Krav Maga session minimum a week. Preparing for battle of any kind is the task of a true Valkyr! Goal Four: Buck Furpees! He watched the young woman as she cleaned out not only her armor and weapons but even the sweat stained under tunic. He hovered, making sure every last drop of moisture was dried, that no rust would be forming on her gear. Then observed her sharpening her sword and checking over the mace for any weak points are cracks. "I would have thought hitting you with this would have made it crack, as hard headed as you are, Old Goat." "There you go, thinking again." She snarled but he merely chuckled, causing her to shake her head at him in disgust. She muttered obscenities under her breath but keep working on her gear and making sure it was ready for battle. Preparation is a key to battle. Going into a fight means taking care of yourself, your armor, your supplies. It means knowing what you may face and being ready for whatever is thrown at you. Being prepared for me means facing the dreaded Burpee head on. I will be doing the Spartan in June and Burpess will inevitably be a part of that. I must prepare, even as I curse them. Every week I will do Burpees before bed and when I wake up. Each additional week I will add on 5 Burpees until I can easily do those I need to in preparation to become a Spartan Valkyrie! I will start with 5 my first week. Goal Five: Nutrition Halfway through throwing back the cup of mead Kara found it wrenched from her hand and thrown to the floor. The young woman turned to face the einherjar she was sure it was and found her face to face with her teacher. The snarl that had been forming died on her lips and she stared at him pouting. "That was my mead." "What did I say." "To stop swimming in my food and gorging myself." "So..." She frowned and bit her lip but reached out and grabbed some meat and cheese and fruit to eat along with a tankard of cold, refreshing....water. Ugh. Swilling wine and mead and beer is all good for any Cup Bearing Valkyrie. But feasting and drinking until one is swimming in it is not. The body must be ready for battle along with the mind and reflexes. Stuffing my face is not part of that. The holidays are over. Time to Ranger Up! I will eat 2 primal meals a day every day of the week, allowing myself one day to eat Primal only once. The day is my choosing but it does not mean I will gorge. Only that I can relax and let myself embrace my inner Valkyrie with a little good food and good drink. Life Goal: Live Winning a battle is all well and good but one must learn life is not always about the next battle, the next fight. One must enjoy and live. Fear must not hold back your life. So every challenge I will pick one new thing to do, one thing I am uncertain of or afraid of. I will do it and will conquer it. I don't know what it will be each time. It may be something small and simple. It may be life changing. But it will be done and I will post in my wrap up what I did each challenge. Completing each challenge I will award myself a static set of stat points (subject to change with tomorrows release of more info) based on what my focus for each challenge was. At the end of everything if I have achieved all my goals I will reward myself with something from my list. My newest tattoo. Piercing. Massage. New athletic gear. Kara listened to all her mentor laid out for her and nodded with a sigh. She looked at the looming edifice that was Valhalla and watched those inside. The souls of countless warriors in battle taken before she had come along and there would be countless more she would add to the teeming mass. She could not approach this as casually as the others may. She was collecting souls for battle, for Ragnarok and she was determined they would not lose, no matter what the Norns and the prophecies claimed. Asgard would stand strong, she would serve the All Father. She would do what it took. “Let us train some more then, Old Goat.â€

I completely fell behind, and stuff IRL is changing.

Lately, the term “aliveness†and “practical self defense†have been thrown out there in regards to martial arts and styles. I wanted to put some meandering thoughts out there and see what others thought on the subject. There are multiple reasons for practicing the martial arts. Some choose it as a hobby, for fitness, for sport or possibly for self defense. I’m going to focus the thoughts on Self Defense for this lengthy piece. When I break self defense training down into two core components, I get the actual movements or techniques and also what I refer to as the mental toughness, or killer instinct. It is in a way what aliveness training gives you, the mental fortitude to accept ahead of time that you are willing to do violence on another if necessary. Many schools are good at the techniques, but maybe not so good at the mental toughness. Many places do a good job of the mental toughness, but perhaps are limited in their curriculum. Note the basic punnett square below: Like a good street fighter without training, you can do well enough with just the mental toughness. Similarly, a person with good training and technique, will do well enough, when push comes to shove even without a ton of mental toughness training. I think it is obvious that your preference should be a school that has a complete curriculum of solid techniques, as well as providing the necessary mental training necessary. Many people poo poo traditional martial arts as being non-relevant for self defense, and I can see where they are coming from. Many schools started to focus so much on the kids, that the violence training part got watered down. Then when those kids grow up and start schools of their own, they are starting from a watered down perspective. This created an opportunity for schools that marketed as being “deadly†or “mean†and “nastyâ€. Schools that went hard, hit hard, and pushed the mental toughness. Schools that want to sound tough, so they say they are used by Navy Seals, or Israeli Commando’s or some SWAT team somewhere. The concept of being “mean†or “Nasty†is not new, and not invented by these “hardcore classesâ€, targeting knees, groin, eyes, throat has been in every system since the start of hand to hand fighting. One thing in martial arts that kind of concerns me are incomplete systems. When someone says they formed their own style by throwing out the bad stuff and only keeping what works, it sets off a red flag in my head. Do they really think those “bad†moves were in the system for no reason at all? Or to be bad on purpose? Maybe they just did not fully understand it, or could not make it work for themselves. So they throw stuff away, then their students throw stuff away when forming their own schools, and what are you left with? Something possibly quite incomplete. This extends into the systems the Navy Seals learn, or Israeli Commandos use. They only use their hand to hand when their rifle, handgun and big knife don’t work. And by the way, their hand to hand only has to work long enough for their teammate to help them out. How are those moves and that training practical for an unarmed civilian by himself in a different setting? While this may seem like I’m picking on Krav Maga, this all could have been said about a different popular art in the 1980’s, and a different one in the 1970’s, etc. Saying you are learning Krav Maga is like saying you are learning Army Combatives. Krav was invented by Imi Lichtenfeld and taught as a supplement to the regular training a soldier may get. All Krav Maga is not the same, when it was brought to the U.S. it had to be changed to work for civilians in civilian settings, not just for soldiers. Different people that brought it here added different things, so that there are now different Krav Maga versions. What was added? Who added it? Where did it come from? How was it tested? If you add moves from a traditional martial art to make it work better, why not just learn that traditional martial art in the first place? My point is that you need to look at the school and instructor and not the style so much. There are traditional martial art schools that are very good, and use aliveness training to teach the mental aspects, and there are traditional schools focused on kids or sport or fitness. There are Krav Maga schools that are truly excellent at technique and mental training, and there are Krav Maga places that got their certification to teach after a couple weekends of training. There are good and bad; Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo, Japanese Karate, Kung Fu, Krav Maga, etc. places. How do you know? Visit several times. Do they practice self defense in a realistic manner? Do a lot of Law Enforcement and EMT’s train there?Does the instructor do a good job of explaining the movements?Is the class mostly physical or technical or a mix?Do they work timing and footwork?Do they add stressors to provide realism?My last point is that I’ve talked to many people from these “combatives†classes they took and how awesome they were. When I ask what they did, they say, “Lot’s of push ups, situps, squats, burpees,…†I say that sounds more like a fitness class than a self defense class. Well, then they say they hit pads too, so then it sounds more like a kickboxing class. Fitness aspects are important, but also not at the expense of valid technical training. And that fitness topic will be a thread of it's own soon.

Background: Okay, as explained in my challenge thread (linked in my sig), I'm a newbie, aspiring monk. I'm also a mum of a toddler and a 3 month old baby. My toddler is in daycare, but my baby is with me, and has taken a dislike to the cot, giving me very little time to exercise. I've also started krav maga classes, and since my husband and I can't both have the time to practice at home, I'd love workouts I can do on the bag. We have a heavy punching bag (not a full body one) in our garage that I can use. I used to do bench presses and barbell squats before I got pregnant with my toddler, but haven't done any heavy exercise since then. Since my baby was born, I've been doing basic bodyweight exercises - lunges, tricep dips, squats, dumbbell curls (3kg) - really light stuff. But I'd like to increase my strength and power, along with speed, for krav. Looking for: I basically just want a few basic things I can practice on the bag that are going to be useful for my krav training, that will help increase my strength. I don't have gloves or wraps for my hands or anything - thus far I've been doing wimpy elbow strikes (using the back of my upper arm more than my elbow due to the pain factor), kneeing the bottom of the bag (which is about my waist level), and sort of side striking the bag with the back side of my forearm. I am sure these are probably all pretty crappy or useless exercises, so I'd love to get suggestions as to what I can do instead. I think three or maybe four different exercises would be good. Additionally, if there are any bodyweight workouts that would strengthen me for krav (I'm guessing mainly core?), please feel free to suggest them to me! I'm happy to google for instructions for different things, I just don't know where to start. Thanks in advance!