RisenPhoenix Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 The Summer is approaching! 4 Quote RisenPhoenix, the Entish Aikidoka Challenge: RisenPhoenix Turns to Ash "The essence of koryu [...is] you offer your loyalty to something that you choose to regard as greater than yourself so that you will, someday, be able to offer service to something that truly is transcendent." ~ Ellis Amdur, Old School Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted June 15, 2020 Report Share Posted June 15, 2020 In Texas it arrived last month. Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
ChrisWithaStick Posted June 16, 2020 Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 What is this “summer” that you speak of? Quote Human | Plays with Sticks | Monkish Leanings | Rangerish Overtones Occasionally Updated Facebook Link to comment
Kyellan Posted June 16, 2020 Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 Summer is three weeks of hot-but-pleasant weather, and then six weeks of suffocating humidity and thunderstorms. Then snow again. Because New England can't have more than three weeks of nice weather at any given stretch. It's incapable, I think. 2 Quote "You are what you do. Choose again, and change." - Miles Vorkosigan Challenges 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted June 16, 2020 Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 7 hours ago, ChrisWithaStick said: What is this “summer” that you speak of? Summer is that season in Texas defined by being in between the seasons of "Almost Summer" and "Still Summer." Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Open Fracture Posted June 16, 2020 Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 Question for the group: Sure this has been shared before, but is there a good starting point to learn some basics of martial arts and do some workouts without joining a school? Like Daniel learning from a video in Karate Kid. Quote Open Fracture - Lvl 1 Ranger Class Challenges: 1st Link to comment
RisenPhoenix Posted June 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 5 hours ago, Kyellan said: Summer is three weeks of hot-but-pleasant weather, and then six weeks of suffocating humidity and thunderstorms. Then snow again. Because New England can't have more than three weeks of nice weather at any given stretch. It's incapable, I think. Hey, I'd argue we're on week three of nice weather and this is week four! I mean, some terribly humid and muggy days, and a few storms, but these are all good! 25 minutes ago, Open Fracture said: Question for the group: Sure this has been shared before, but is there a good starting point to learn some basics of martial arts and do some workouts without joining a school? Like Daniel learning from a video in Karate Kid. The way to learn martial arts is to go to someone who knows them, and get them to teach you. If you already have a base you might be able to use youtube to watch people train and teach, but for the basics you need someone. If you try doing it without some instruction, what happens is you'll ingrain bad habits and muscle memory, which will take even longer to correct than if you had held off and learned with an instructor. (And muscle memory is strong. I get teased sometimes by my yoga instructor because I do movements that are aikido based, and not yoga-based like she's trying to get us to do.) What you *can* do though is things like yoga to help with balance and strength. Or do sprints for endurance. Or straight training for, er, strength. Do those things to prepare for martial arts, and then find someone when you can to teach you. Because remember, the point of the video in Karate Kid wasn't that Daniel was learning from it, because he wasn't. He had to find Mr. Miyagi to learn Karate, because he required instruction that a video doesn't give. 4 1 Quote RisenPhoenix, the Entish Aikidoka Challenge: RisenPhoenix Turns to Ash "The essence of koryu [...is] you offer your loyalty to something that you choose to regard as greater than yourself so that you will, someday, be able to offer service to something that truly is transcendent." ~ Ellis Amdur, Old School Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 16, 2020 Report Share Posted June 16, 2020 3 hours ago, RisenPhoenix said: What you *can* do though is things like yoga to help with balance and strength. Or do sprints for endurance. Or straight training for, er, strength. Mobility is underrated, IMO. Martial arts requires more joint and muscle mobility than a lot of sports, and it's hard to gain from doing the art itself. 2 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
ChrisWithaStick Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 5 hours ago, sarakingdom said: Mobility is underrated, IMO. Martial arts requires more joint and muscle mobility than a lot of sports, and it's hard to gain from doing the art itself. Mobility is underrated until you're a marital artist of a certain age. Then you realize you should have paid more attention to mobility and keeping the joints healthy and the muscles around them strong. 14 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said: Summer is that season in Texas defined by being in between the seasons of "Almost Summer" and "Still Summer." Sort of the opposite of Seattle then. We have not quite summer, and 'you missed it, summer was yesterday afternoon'. 3 Quote Human | Plays with Sticks | Monkish Leanings | Rangerish Overtones Occasionally Updated Facebook Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 26 minutes ago, ChrisWithaStick said: Mobility is underrated until you're a marital artist of a certain age. I don't remember who I was having the discussion with about how all arts have their own innuendo, but this is probably everyone's favorite. Where's your challenge thread, Chris? I need a sword buddy. (Even though I'm not really doing swords.) 1 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
ChrisWithaStick Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 1 hour ago, sarakingdom said: Where's your challenge thread, Chris? I need a sword buddy. (Even though I'm not really doing swords.) I’m still contemplating. I’ve developed the finest of ruts, so I’d have to do something drastic, like get up before 6 am. Then again, I am a martial artist past a certain age, so probably need to work on that mobility and conditioning more... 1 Quote Human | Plays with Sticks | Monkish Leanings | Rangerish Overtones Occasionally Updated Facebook Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 16 minutes ago, ChrisWithaStick said: Then again, I am a martial artist past a certain age, so probably need to work on that mobility and conditioning more... Same, bro. I'm doing three conditioning workouts and three yoga workouts a week. (Strength/cardio HIIT for conditioning, lots of hip openers and hamstring on the yoga.) Since I can't train, I can at least build up a good baseline fitness level for when I go back. I could use a consistency buddy. I'm not great at consistency. Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted June 17, 2020 Report Share Posted June 17, 2020 6 hours ago, sarakingdom said: I don't remember who I was having the discussion with about how all arts have their own innuendo, but this is probably everyone's favorite I know I was involved in said conversation 2 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted June 21, 2020 Report Share Posted June 21, 2020 1. Any monks in Habitica who wanna form a party? I'm playing around with the idea of picking up my idle account again for the summer. 2. Guys. My lower back. Which is to say, my rear pelvis. Let's talk. I can't tell if it's weaker or tighter, but it's something. I used to have some sort of muscular imbalance, so one side got tired faster. Now it all gets tired really fast. I'd believe weaker, cuz I'm moving less during lockdown, but there are also hints of muscular tightness that doesn't stretch out easily, maybe from sitting more in lockdown. Any good exercises and stretches? Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted June 21, 2020 Report Share Posted June 21, 2020 4 minutes ago, sarakingdom said: 1. Any monks in Habitica who wanna form a party? I'm playing around with the idea of picking up my idle account again for the summer. 2. Guys. My lower back. Which is to say, my rear pelvis. Let's talk. I can't tell if it's weaker or tighter, but it's something. I used to have some sort of muscular imbalance, so one side got tired faster. Now it all gets tired really fast. I'd believe weaker, cuz I'm moving less during lockdown, but there are also hints of muscular tightness that doesn't stretch out easily, maybe from sitting more in lockdown. Any good exercises and stretches? Regarding number 2, this article has some good stretches for that area complete with gifs showing the movements https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/how-to-stretch-glutes#benefits 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
ChrisWithaStick Posted June 24, 2020 Report Share Posted June 24, 2020 On 6/20/2020 at 5:11 PM, sarakingdom said: .... 2. Guys. My lower back. Which is to say, my rear pelvis. Let's talk. I can't tell if it's weaker or tighter, but it's something. I used to have some sort of muscular imbalance, so one side got tired faster. Now it all gets tired really fast. I'd believe weaker, cuz I'm moving less during lockdown, but there are also hints of muscular tightness that doesn't stretch out easily, maybe from sitting more in lockdown. Any good exercises and stretches? Been doing any kind of squats lately? I know squats have helped my lower back some - when I was doing lots of goblet squats, I didn't have as many tweaking/tirednes issues. Perusing the youtubes, I've come across videos talking about lower back pain possibly being due to over compensation for weak or less active glutes in terms of stabilization, which seems to be a point in favor of that observation. Basically posterior chain work. Quote Human | Plays with Sticks | Monkish Leanings | Rangerish Overtones Occasionally Updated Facebook Link to comment
Mistr Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 On 6/17/2020 at 12:57 AM, sarakingdom said: Same, bro. I'm doing three conditioning workouts and three yoga workouts a week. (Strength/cardio HIIT for conditioning, lots of hip openers and hamstring on the yoga.) Since I can't train, I can at least build up a good baseline fitness level for when I go back. I could use a consistency buddy. I'm not great at consistency. I'm in. My consistency has been for crap. I don't know what Habitica is. How would using that differ from checking in here? On 6/16/2020 at 12:52 PM, Open Fracture said: Question for the group: Sure this has been shared before, but is there a good starting point to learn some basics of martial arts and do some workouts without joining a school? Like Daniel learning from a video in Karate Kid. I agree with what the others have said. You want to have a coach to correct your form when you are learning the basics of an art. Getting in good shape will help regardless of which art you practice. Aerobic endurance, mobility, strength, all are good. Quote Level 68 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 On 6/24/2020 at 12:34 AM, ChrisWithaStick said: Been doing any kind of squats lately? I know squats have helped my lower back some - when I was doing lots of goblet squats, I didn't have as many tweaking/tirednes issues. Perusing the youtubes, I've come across videos talking about lower back pain possibly being due to over compensation for weak or less active glutes in terms of stabilization, which seems to be a point in favor of that observation. Basically posterior chain work. Probably not enough. I have chronically tight quads, too, which is also a lack of glute activation. So that's probably a good call. Maybe some bridges, too. On 6/29/2020 at 2:37 PM, Mistr said: I'm in. My consistency has been for crap. I don't know what Habitica is. How would using that differ from checking in here? It's basically a gamified to-do list with cute cartoon characters. It runs like a mini RPG, where you do your tasks, and if you're in a party with a quest, you pool your points and damage. (Other people interact there, but I don't. I just get gold and pets.) Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
chemgeek Posted July 7, 2020 Report Share Posted July 7, 2020 Exercises my pt suggested for my lower back/sciatica following car accident: * Squats * Toe touches * Trunk twists * Bridges * Cobra pose * Star lunges * Yoga squats (feet wider than standard squat, keep feet flat on floor) * Etc Basically movement, movement, movement. 1 Quote Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted July 22, 2020 Report Share Posted July 22, 2020 Guys, this is a super weird idea, but these are super weird times. I'm trying to turn my bathroom into a Japanese bathhouse for relaxation purposes, only it occurs to me that what is inevitably missing from that and all my other activities these days is socializing. Also, I have waterproof Bluetooth speakers that will do conference calling in the shower. Anyone wanna join a virtual monastery dojo and hang out in the techno-onsen once a week to drink beer, soak, and casually discuss monk things, like monks do? (Other acceptable bathing metaphors: Avatar, Totoro and other Ghibli films, probably some Kurosawa films, I've definitely seen some onsens in Lone Wolf and Cub.) Bring snacks. We'll also need an ambient background DJ to play bathhouse noises. I guess actually being in the bath would be optional, since we couldn't prove it either way, but conference calls are tired and socially distanced bathing is wired. If we weren't destined to have conference calls in the bath, they wouldn't headset-enable waterproof speakers. 3 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Mistr Posted July 26, 2020 Report Share Posted July 26, 2020 That's a great idea. For one thing it allows socializing while mostly away from the computer. I would certainly soak in the tub longer if I didn't get bored. Let me know what technology platform and pick a time. 🥳 Quote Level 68 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
sarakingdom Posted July 26, 2020 Report Share Posted July 26, 2020 34 minutes ago, Mistr said: That's a great idea. For one thing it allows socializing while mostly away from the computer. I would certainly soak in the tub longer if I didn't get bored. Let me know what technology platform and pick a time. 🥳 I'm thinking something like Google Hangouts? Not sure what their limit on number of participants is, but it's probably more than us. Personally, I'd favor something in the evening, which is fine for us, but gets harder if we collectively span too wide a range of time zones. 1 Quote I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever. Current Challenge: #24 - Mrs. Cosmopolite Challenge Past: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11a & #11b, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23 Link to comment
Scaly Freak Posted July 26, 2020 Report Share Posted July 26, 2020 Hangouts group calls are up to 10 people in the free app 3 Quote The Great Reading Thread of 2023 “I've always believed that failure is non-existent. What is failure? You go to the end of the season, then you lose the Super Bowl. Is that failing? To most people, maybe. But when you're picking apart why you failed, and now you're learning from that, then is that really failing? I don't think so." - Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020. Rest in peace, great warrior. Personal Challenges, a.k.a.The Saga of Scalyfreak: Tutorial; Ch 1; Ch 2; Ch 3; Ch 4; Ch 5; Ch 6; Intermission; Intermission II; Ch 7; Ch 8; Ch 9; Ch 10; Ch 11; Ch 12 ; Ch 13; Ch 14; Ch 15; Ch 16; Ch 17; Intermission III; Ch 18; Ch 19; Ch 20; Ch 21; Ch 22; Ch 23; Ch 24; Ch 25; Intermission IV; Ch 26; Ch 27; Ch 28; Ch 29; Ch 30; Ch 31; Ch 32; Ch 33; Ch 34; Ch 35; Ch 36; Ch 37; Ch 38; Ch 39; Ch 40; Intermission V; Ch 41; Ch 42 Link to comment
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