Cobaltsword's Journey

[cobaltsword]

Cobaltsword's Journey: The Battle Log

 

I need a break from the challenges for a while, maybe i'll just sit this one out. I need some rest. But i'll continue on my quest to becoming a true assassin. My training regimen so far after two years with Nerd Fitness (woot!)

 

Monday: Spartacus workout + mace training + bo staff trianing

Tuesday: Parkour + running

Wednesday: Spartacus Workout + mace training + bo staf training

Thursday: rest

Friday: Parkour + running

Saturday: Spartacus Workout + mace Training + bo staff training

Sunday: Parkour + running

 

So just a small head's up: yesterday i finally achieved a speed vault and what i dubbed a side kong vault. The true kong vault is within reach but not just yet. I need the mental strength to attempt it. But i also improved my stride jumps, my cat walk, and climbed a new building a few days ago (abandonned train station) i did not go al the way up for my grip strength is not quite there yet. But it's encouraging to see how far i've come

anyway, a big woot to me for now

[cobaltsword]

aaaah the sweetness of a rest day. I'm aching everywhere, my joints hurt and i'm super tired. But i've never felt better ^^

yesterday evening I pushed through a good 2 circuits of the Spartacus Workout. I'm already progressing like hell. I think tomorrow i'll try to go for the 3 circuits. The funny thing is the first time I tried the workout I barely finished 2 circuits and collapsed (my gf's dog immediately came to my side to see if I was okay, awesome doggie ). But yesterday, it went waaay better than in the beginning, I mean I reached the 30 consecutive push ups before failing in both circuits and the first time i barely made it to 15. I can see the 50 push ups in the horizon *.*

In addition I train with the Bo Staff (thank you Nymeria) and i'm going to learn the first steps to a beginner Kata this evening when it cools down. after dinner of course (tonights menu: veggie chicken hawaï with rice and curry).

the day before yesterday, as you can see on the organizer above, I went for a parkour run. I finally added the Speed vault and 'side kong' vault to my repertoire of vaults. Feels so bad-ass when I jump over obstacles now. My abs hurt a lot afterwards but that's all worth it

Allright, so now i'm going to go back to my rest day. No studying today, no workout, just leasure and hobbies to do => working on the Hidden Blade, meditation, reading and bo staff training. looking forward to it ^^

[Twilight]

Awesome!

[Nymeria]

Awesome!  I'm glad the bo staff training is working out for you.    It's a really satisfying weapon, and there are so many neat moves to do with it.  

 

I know you're trying to take a break and keep things light and easy, but you should consider joining my pull up PVP.  It seems right up your alley.  

[cobaltsword]

Awesome!

 

thanks ^^

 

Awesome!  I'm glad the bo staff training is working out for you.    It's a really satisfying weapon, and there are so many neat moves to do with it.  

 

I know you're trying to take a break and keep things light and easy, but you should consider joining my pull up PVP.  It seems right up your alley.  

Thanks, it's so much fun trying to correctly master the movements. Do you know the Kata I talked to you about? I feel so bad ass performing the movements. I never understood why martial artists tended to shout out when doing moves, but I find myself shouting out at some points because you feel awesome doing the Kata XD

i'll check in on it, i don't really know how i'd do pull-ups right now because i'm at my gf's for a month now and I haven't done pull-ups in a while :/

 

 

Okay update time:

Yesterday i took a forced break. I just felt like one, I was just too tired to even think about doing the Spartacus Workout. It probably has to do with the fact hat right now my day to day rythm is so messed up. My gf's dog needs to be hand fed 4 times a day (with very exact measurements) and we're taking care of a stray cat who had a big gaping wound on its neck, it's closing now but it's taking a lot of our time and energy. So yesterday I think i had a small dip in physical stamina and just decided to take another rest day.

Had some super tasty sushi yesterday and still practiced the Bo Staff kata for an hour which was relaxing.

The day before that (friday) I went for a Pk Run and finally, FINALLY accomplished a Kong Vault. (wiiiiii ^^) I was practically dancing at my training spot once I did it. I figured that by putting my hands further along the obstalce i'd be forced to keep my legs behind me (instead of kicking them to the side) and thus accomplished the kong vault which brings me to mastering 4 of the 5 basic vaults, now i just need to find a place to train the Turn Vault

Aaah this evening i'm going for a run again, time to train some more vaults, get faster and stronger and more of an assassin every day

[Twilight]

Sounds like a good reason to take a rest day. Poor dog and cat.

 

Kong vault! Yay!

[cobaltsword]

Sounds like a good reason to take a rest day. Poor dog and cat.

 

Kong vault! Yay!

 

amen, it helped ^^ doggie and cat are getting better thank god XD And yay Kong Vault, finally

 

Update Time:

 

Yesterday I completed a good 2 circuits of the spartacus workout, i wanted to do 3 but it was about 9:30 pm when i started and 10pm when i finished the 2nd circuit. So i just did the bo staff kata about 6 times before stopping, cold showering and meditating before bed. I felt it during the SW though that it's been a few days since I did the workout, I barely reached the 20 pushups before failure. *sigh* i'm still a long way from my goal.

The day before that I went for a delightful Pk run; I passed a giant walking group on my way and zig zagged between them (a very good Pk training for quick reflexes), went to my usual bench and trained the Kong, Lazy, Speed and side kong vaults Afterwards I kept running, always looking for other places where i can train Pk moves. Used a small channel to train my precision jumps and an old crane for pull ups and speed bumps for strides. I trained my dash vault at the usual spot and sprinted for the rest of the way. When I got back from my run I went straight to the garden, grabbed my bo staff (broom handle) and trained the Kata and strikes several times. Today is Pk day so i'm going to run this evening when it cools down looking forward to it ^^

Any Tai Chi practitioners out there btw?

[Nymeria]

Good job with the PK vaults!  

 

And I did go and watch the staff kata video!  Stylistically, it's more similar to what I did with spear or pu dao than staff, but it's very cool!  I'm really glad that the guy doing the kata is so good at explaining what you're doing with the moves.  It really should help you visualize things.  

 

For not doing a challenge this time, you're still getting so much accomplished!  Great job!

[Twilight]

Sounds like a really fun workout!

[Batwoman]

PARKOUR!

[cobaltsword]

Good job with the PK vaults!  

 

And I did go and watch the staff kata video!  Stylistically, it's more similar to what I did with spear or pu dao than staff, but it's very cool!  I'm really glad that the guy doing the kata is so good at explaining what you're doing with the moves.  It really should help you visualize things.  

 

For not doing a challenge this time, you're still getting so much accomplished!  Great job!

 

thanks ^^ aha okay, but i'm glad you think that it's a good kata to train. And yes he is indeed very clear in his explanations, it took me about 2 hours to get every moves down and now i practice the kata almost everyday after my workouts.

Thanks, that means something you saying that. I was feeling a bit down, of-centered, the short time away from the challenge is helping me to figure some stuff out.

 

Sounds like a really fun workout!

 

Fun and exhausting XD

 

PARKOUR!

 

Assassin all the way

 

Update time:

Yesterday was Pk run day, today Spartacus Workout. My run yesterday went pretty well, i pushed myself again a bit so as to break the plateau i'm sitting on these last days. Whilst training my vaults I fell once, my leg snagged on the bench and I fell face forward. Good thing I mastered the roll so I avoided injury. I only have a small scratch/chafe across my eye. Kind of gives me a Witcher like scratch XD But aside from that everything went great, finding more and more places to train parkour, spots I never saw in the first place. I suppose it's true that you get parkour vision the longer you train.

Today I was forced to do an altered version of the spartacus workout for inside because it was raining (and my gf doesnt want me to train in the rain for fear of catching a cold, bless her). But I did a workout centering around core exercises and the sweat really dripped off me Oo been a while since that happened. XD Tomorrow Pk run again, looking forward to it ^^

[Twilight]

PK in the rain sounds dangerous, but it's not like you only need it to be slippery to hurt yourself.    Glad you're ok!

[cobaltsword]

Okay here comes a very late Update:

 

These last few days have been very packed, what with the marriage of some friends and the caring for all the animals here at home and following my training.

 

So first off, the marriage: the marriage was pretty fun on its own accord. But my own moment of 'personal glory' was near the ending. You guys must understand that i'm a very calm person, don't really like being the center of attention, and lack some confidence in some aspects of my life (dancing is thus one of them). But my gf dared me to dance to PSY's Gentleman and Gangnam Style, and remembering an article on NF stating 'you should always try to do something you're scared of', I did it. I danced the musicvideo choreographies of Gangnam Style and Gentleman with a circle of 30-40 people cheering me on and all my acquaintances looking flabbergasted (gf laughing in the corner) knowing it to be so unlike me XD okay i was proud afterwards, but i did feel a rise in confidence afterwards. Noted for next time ^^

 

Now, the training: the PK runs and the Spartacus Workout are going great. I've got a few bruises on my legs and knees from training the vaults and hitting my legs but nothing too bad ^^ Yesterday I went for a run and it began pouring as I ran, it felt so envigorating and liberating at the same time. Combine that with Wing Chun forms + Bo staff tao lu in the rain and you feel just pure awesome.

 

I'm going to train some more kata's this evening as a rest fase after finishing a crushing Spartacus Workout earlier today. My schoulders are still hurting XD

 

[Batwoman]

He he good for you, dancing. That's very cool 😁

[Twilight]

Right on! Nothing like doing something scary in front of a friendly crowd.

[cobaltsword]

He he good for you, dancing. That's very cool

 

thanks, allthough i do hope there is no footage out there X)

 

Right on! Nothing like doing something scary in front of a friendly crowd.

 

true, 30 sec of bravery Oo

[cobaltsword]

Once more into the breach my friends, once more...

 

Hey guys,

I know my updates and presence on your threads has been zilch these couple of weeks and i'm afraid it's going to go like till end of this challenge. My exams are taking up everything of my time. so besides studying, taking care of the animals here and my training I don't even have the time to tell you guys how awesome my training is going.

My parkour skills have improved drastically, I'm faster and stronger, I can wall chimy with ease now (so going from jump to cat landing and then scooting along the wall), my precision jumps are better and better (going further all the time). and i'm pretty sure that ever since i've incorporated martial arts kata's and other forms (courtesy of the amazing Sifu Jake Mace from ShaolinCenter on youtube) into my workout i've been getting better. I'm doing bo staff sequences (strenghtens arms and trains hand coordination), bo staff kata's (for fun, feels awesome to smack imaginary templars in the face ), wing chun forms, Qigong forms for balance and flexibility and the incredibly taxing General Yue Fei Qigong form (a killer on the legs). I'm just feeling stronger and better every week. Plus I meditate more effectively these last weeks so i'm very happy about that.

I wish I could be as excited about my exams but right now i've got stress up to here and don't know how everything is going to turn out. *sigh* if god willing I pass i'm going to work my butt off next year so as not to have exams during the summer. Oh well, it's almost over, last exams coming up this wednesday, friday, saturday and last one next monday. Wish me luck.

 

And again, forgive me my absence from all you awesome threads, i've been watching just not posting :/

[Nymeria]

Good luck with your exams!  While I miss your presence on NF, your school and training are much more important.  You're doing so wonderfully with all of your training.  Keep it up!

[Batwoman]

Good luck! Glad your training is going so well sounds like you are doing great (minus the exams). Nice to hear from you every once in a while. Not like you need to be on the boards all day every day like me... ahhh.

[Twilight]

Keep up the great work! Exams will be over soon.

[cobaltsword]

I love how this thread didn't get updated in so long, but i tend to gravitate towards the challenges and then leave this one on the side.

but now i'm in my exams so i can't do a challenge correctly thus just do my usual training during my exam period

 

so up till now, how's it been going you ask?

 

well, exam wise i've had three of seven. And so far so good, some very surprising easy exams, either i got lucky or i knew my subjects better than i thought either way, i'm going strong.

 

Training wise, i'm improving. I'm not running as often as i would like but i did find an awesome parkour training spot which i think is going to be my main spot to train. there are so many little walls where i can train vaults, striding, jumping, precisions... and spots where i can pull up, wall run, tic tac... i found my parkour nirvana XD and in this region, that's quite a find

so training wise, i'm runnning 2km first (interval) and then practicing parkour, then 2km back (interval) and when i can some BW to finish off (and some bostaff stuff, thanks again Nymeria). On other days i'm doing weight training too when i can. but this exam month is not going to make it easy.

 

Next to that there's Muay Thai training twice a week and that's always a blast, i'm improving well ^^ only thing that is annoying is that i'm suffering from Snapping Hip Syndrom, it's not painfull, just annoying...ugh...any you guys encountered it? i'm trying to do some exercises to work it away, just not sure if they'll help

my iron palm training is progressing as usual and my hand has gotten noticealy harder when i punch my rice bag

 

A side note which is a big woot for me.

 

In november i applied for a project doen at my university: the Model EU simulation. A 2 day simulation of the european council with each selected student taking the place of one of the 28 head of state members i applied and got in! i'm one of the 28! I'm so excited but i don't know what country i'm representing, hopefully not a too high profile one X) i'll keep you guys posted.

 

on another note, i'm thinking about participating in the Spartacus run this year. For those who read my previous challenge I completed the Neptunus Run which is one of four races in the Spartacus series, 10 km with 15 obstacles in the way. The Neptunus Run was set at the belgian coast, so nice and wet and cold. The Spartacus run will be in may, so it should be warmer but no less tough i'm going to see if i can't best my time

[Twilight]

Great update! Good luck with the rest of your exams, excellent parkour find, congrats on the council, and do iiiitttt for the Spartan!

[Elastigirl]

Awesome progress. Wasn't lick in the exams, you worked hard, and deserved it. Congrats on being in the EU simulation, that sounds like it will be very fun and educational

[cobaltsword]

-----

the sun was rising over the Assassin training camp, the gentle mist of dawn was still laying like a blanket over the terrain and the occupant assassins were slowly waking from their slumbers. The soldiers of the shadows stepped outside one by one, ready for another day of training and bettering themselves.The sun was rising over the hill tops, clearing the mist in it's wake; an assassin looked up to the rising orb, squiting at the top of the hill. A silhouette stood there, gazing upon them.The newcomer moved out of sun and moved towards his brothers and sisters, garbed in his own robes and hood.

----

Cobaltsword Returns!

I'm back from being MIA for quite some time now.The exams got in the way most of itbut then school started once again with all the organization that comes with it and just life in general happened.

I never slacked from my training, but I failed to find the time to write on my Daily Battle Log to keep you guys up to date. but now I have some time so I'll fill you in on what you missed

The exams are over like I said, but the results are stil not out and based on last year i'm probably going to have to wait until end of february for them X) The courses have restarted and i'm glad because I was getting bored from not doing anything, i just need some time to organize my work because it's a whole load of new courses.

training wise: well...I sprained my ankle about 3 weeks ago after Parkour Training so I haven't been able to run for all that time, i'm finally able to somewhat run again so i'm going to have to move in to it, bit by bit. Due to the same sprained ankle I missed about 2 weeks worth of Muay Thai training but i'm going back to my lessons this week and i'm glad, i missed it a lot. But I didn't sit idly by while my ankle was sprained, oh no. The first week I focused on upper body exercises and the next week I did upper body and easy lowr body exercises, and funnily enough it had an impact on my capacities, for exercises I couldn't complete in the Muay Thai lessons before I can now do completely ^^ so that's a win

Of course when I train i'm wearing an ankle brace so as not to over stress my ankle but i'm slowly getting back into it.

I'm going to need to because i'm going to compete in the Spartacus Run this year, for you who followed I participated in the Neptunus Run last year (10 km, 15 obstacles at the belgian coast), and this one is the same but a bit drier Xp i'm really looking forward to it, but i'm going to have to get back in to running before I can even think of bettering my time. Keep your fingers crossed for me fellow rebels

On another note, I've joined a Model European Council Simulation at my university this year. I posed myself as candidate and I got chosen as one of the 28! The idea is that 28 students simulate the European Council, each student representing a head of member state, i'm going to be austria We are going to debat a subject that is going to be discussed at the real council and attempt to resolve the debats amongst us to get a feeling of how these council meetings go. I'm really excited, i'm already doing all my research needed for the simulation is on the 27th-28th of February i'll keep you guys postes.

And that's all for now, I think i'll stick to the battle logs for now but once i can i'm going back to the challenges ^^

[NightWatcher13]

Hi Austria (no, I have NOT seen Hetalia, yes it is on my list of things to watch soon)