Spear Warrior II - The Padawan Challenge

[Spear Warrior]

Hi!

 

I am a Taekwon-Do practitioner and instructor who plans to branch out into some cool bodyweight skills later. I just blasted through my Youngling (Recruit) challenge, and figured because of my current plans I'll do this challenge as a Monk.

 

I plan to make a theme for my challenges, based on my nerdy interests and goals. This is my Padawan Challenge because it's my first Monk challenge, I have some clear basic martial art goals with a test December 4th and last but far, far from least: Episode VII.

 

Main quest: Become a better martial artist. Specifically strengthen my side kicks and improve side splits flexibility.

 

 

Quest 1 - Force Control: Like a Jedi needs to be able to control the force to avoid harming himself or others a martial artist needs to be strong enough to control the precision of his kicks. Press side kicks with ankle weights every other day. A minimum of 50 kicks, 21 days total. (That's over 1000 kicks). Main focus week one: Technique. I've got one detail to fix before the national championship 7th-8th Nov.

Measurement: A: 21 days, B: 18 days, C: 15 days.

Awards: A: +2 Str, +1 Dex, B: +2 Str, C: +1 Str.

Side Quest: Splits stretching. No easy stretches here. I'll measure in number of stretching sessions since I have no idea how fast I can improve. I can't do this every day, because I will need a few days rest. I aim for a proper deep stretch every other day.

Measurement: A: 21 sessions, B: 18 sessions

Awards: A: +2 Dex, B: +1 Dex.

 

Quest 2 - Lightsaber Combat: A Jedi's combat training and easily comparable to what I do. Weeks 1-5: Work on unarmed defense against knife attacks and pre-arranged sparring. An average of 4 days a week, 20 days total. Test is December 4th.

Measurement: A: 20 days, B: 17 days, C: 14 days.

Awards: A: +3 Dex, B: +2 Dex, C: +1 Dex

 

Quest 3 - Force Sense abilities: A Jedi needs to feel the living force in and around himself and like a martial artist needs to have a balance between body and mind. Do a proper yoga/flexibility session of more than half an hour at least twice a week. It works very much like meditation for me, with the added flexibility benefit.

Measurement: A: 12 days, B: 10 days, C: 8 days

Awards: A: +1 Dex, +1 Wis, +1 Sta, B: +1 Dex, +1 Wis, C: +1 Wis.

Side Quest: Match weight. I want to get down to just under 80 kilos. I am at 82 currently (I started watching meals and 3 kilos melted off during the last challenge, without really planning for it). My weight class is <78 kilos, but the last two are quite easily lost when I get close to a competition. I do not participate in sparring (which requires a weigh-in) this year.

Measurement: Weight at the end of the challenge (weigh in is Friday morning every week): A: <80 kilos, B: <81 kilos.

Awards: A: +2 Con, B: +1 Con.

 

Life Quest: Study mathematics. I need to prepare for serious studies next year to get the job I want. I work on Khan Academy, and will work on Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry for this challenge. I measure my work on how much I have completed on average on those three subjects. I am at 46 % average at this time.

Measurement: A: 95+ % average, B: 80-94 % average, C: 65-79 % average.

Awards: A: +3 Wis, B: +2 Wis, C: +1 Wis

 

Motivation: Ever seen a picture of Taekwon-Do students? How often was it a black belt showing off their crazy high kicks? I want to do that (without cheating with fast shutter times on my camera). I also want to be a serious contender for power breaking medals, and need a bit more fine control in my kicks. Bruce Lee, Chloe Bruce and my own instructors, friends and opponents are serious sources of inspiration.

[Taijibum]

 

 

Goals will include:

 

Force Control abilities

Lightsaber combat

Force Sense abilities

Dang! Subbed for sure!

[LCLimey]

Hi!

 

Goals will include:

 

Force Control abilities

Lightsaber combat

Force Sense abilities

This is amazing.

[Spear Warrior]

It can be amazing. They are just the names of my quests, but the content will relate to the theme.

[Spear Warrior]

I figured out most of my quests. I may need some help to which abilities I want to award myself with on the Lightsaber Combat quest.

If you think I can improve something I appreciate all feedback.

[Kyellan]

Welcome to the Temple, young Padawan. You'll fit right in here. =)

[Kishi]

Yay, more Jedi! Always fun to see.

[Spear Warrior]

Thanks for the welcome, guys! As expected there are a bunch of Star Wars themed challenges now. It will be awesome to be a part of this journey towards TFA.

 

I am super stoked, and counting the fact that I've never bought into the internet-induced hate against the prequels I am going to enjoy this one immensely. I wasn't born when the original trilogy came, and 15 in -99. I grew up with Star Wars on VHS. I loved Revenge of the Sith when it came. I love Darth Maul. I liked the Phantom Menace. Even Jar-Jar has his moments (Comparable to Ewoks. Love them too). Bad stuff? The love thing in Attack of the Clones was too flat and too slow, but other than that? It's Star Wars. Even A New Hope has at least one thing that bugs me. Why didn't Chewie get a medal?

[Kyellan]

Darth Maul is awesome. (Even awesomer if you're a completionist.) 

 

I did re-watch The Phantom Menace not long ago, and it... really didn't hold up. It was really slow. Like, it actually put me to sleep. :/ But I fell asleep right after Darth Maul's first appearance and woke back up in time for his second, so it ended up being an okay flick.

 

Supposed to be re-watching Clones this Sunday... we'll see if that one's any better.

 

But you're right--all of the films have their flaws. And despite the Ewoks, Jedi is still my #1 Star Wars flick.

 

 

I figured out most of my quests. I may need some help to which abilities I want to award myself with on the Lightsaber Combat quest.

If you think I can improve something I appreciate all feedback.

 

 

I've found that my lightsaber training (like... actual lightsaber training) is primarily good for speed and balance conditioning, so I'd put it on Dex. There's a lot less strength required for melee weapons than D&D would have us believe.

[Spear Warrior]

I've found that my lightsaber training (like... actual lightsaber training) is primarily good for speed and balance conditioning, so I'd put it on Dex. There's a lot less strength required for melee weapons than D&D would have us believe.

Yeah, and my knife defense training is most about avoiding the knife and controlling the hand/arm holding it. Dex it is. The pre-arranged sparring is full speed and hits quite hard (except for the finishing strike). It's more about timing and judging distance than power.

 

I'd love to try proper lightsaber combat (or any other sword combat), but there are no one doing that anywhere nearby.

(To the video: Stop grabbing the blade! It's supposed to be a lightsaber...)

[Kyellan]

Yeah, and my knife defense training is most about avoiding the knife and controlling the hand/arm holding it. Dex it is. The pre-arranged sparring is full speed and hits quite hard (except for the finishing strike). It's more about timing and judging distance than power.

 

I'd love to try proper lightsaber combat (or any other sword combat), but there are no one doing that anywhere nearby.

(To the video: Stop grabbing the blade! It's supposed to be a lightsaber...)

 

Haha--he's not grabbing the blade! He has a sliding handle, which isn't immediately obvious from the video if you don't already know. It's a prototype weapon my Sifu designed, based on this fan video:

 

https://youtu.be/-GuAzHtBQCU?t=4m34s

 

If you're ever up New England way, let me know and I'll see about getting you a demo.

[courtneyc]

Nice looking challenge! I especially like the math goals. Khan Academy is a great resource for learning, too. I used them extensively to review math before returning to school a couple years back.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Cool that you joined us.

And I also like the prequels.

[Kishi]

So... what do people think of the Machete Order (IV,V,II,III,VI)?

[Kyellan]

So... what do people think of the Machete Order (IV,V,II,III,VI)?

 

The next time I re-watch them, I'm going to try a slight modification... what I'm tentatively calling the 'Alchete Order'

 

A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, listen to The Saga Begins by Weird Al, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Return of the Jedi

[Spear Warrior]

So... what do people think of the Machete Order (IV,V,II,III,VI)?

It makes for a different Star Wars experience. I will probably try the Machete order (perhaps with ep. I before II) when I rewatch them before TFA.

I don't think any order is better or worse than the others. The good parts are still good, and the bad parts are still bad. On a whole I think the prequels get too much hate. Sure, I and II weren't near the rest in quality, but they are far from the worst movies I've seen.

 

On topic: I weighed in at 81.2 kilos today (180.4 lbs). I'll try to go down slow and steady, then maintain a weight just under 80.

I have worked on splits and side kick strength for a while, but I have done it more frequently this week, after I wrote the goals.

 

Pull-ups were a part of my previous challenge, and I've maintained a session every two days. I upped my reps to 10 today, and managed 9 and a half on my first set (I finish with negatives).

[Kishi]

Nice. Nine-something in a single set? Not too shabby at all, man, and negatives definitely help with that. Kudos to you!

[Spear Warrior]

Thanks! 9 in one set. My PR is 10, about this time last year (but then I participated in sparring, and weighed a couple kilos less). My goal is 10 in my third set (before adding weights).

[Styx]

Cool theme! Good luck on your challenge!

Sent from a Jedi Holocron

[Spear Warrior]

My challenge work so far this week:

I've done a good job with the weighted pressing kicks. I have about 12 hours of travel tomorrow, but I think I'll get a splits stretch and a yoga session done in my hotel room or while waiting between my competitions in the championship. I'll try to do some math work in the airports (but there's a possibility I'll meet friends and be social instead).

 

Force Control:

Sidekicks:

19%

19%

Splits:

9.5%

9.5%

 

Lightsaber Combat

15%

15%

 

Force Sense

8.33%

8.33%

 

Life

Math average

49.33%

49.33%

[Kishi]

Friends are better than math. I don't think that's just my bias showing.

 

Careful with the yoga/stretching in-between competition. You don't want to get too loose or put too much stress on tendons and ligaments if you're going to need them working for you.

[Spear Warrior]

Yeah, I don't stretch hard before I need to move. Any stretching then will be more maintenance/warm up. Looks like I'll finish my own match(es) early tomorrow, but I'm needed as a coach as well. Will be fun.

[Spear Warrior]

I lost in the early rounds, but picked up some valuable experience. My focus on rehabilitating the shoulder paid off in the way that I could compete, but it reduced my technical training too much. Next year I'll be back and better.

 

Challenge-wise last week was a mixed success. I am behind in yoga/flexibility and math. The math goal is way harder than I initially thought, but that will make it more rewarding when I finish.

 

 

Force Control:

Sidekicks:

23.8%

23.8%

Splits:

14.3%

14.3%

 

Lightsaber Combat

20%

20%

 

Force Sense

16.7%

16.7%

 

Life

Math average

50%

50%

[Spear Warrior]

This week has been good so far. I weighed in at 80.8 kgs yesterday, I think I'll be able to make it, Christmas is the main challenge in that area anyway.

I've caught up on most of my work, and if I get a yoga session tomorrow I am good. My math work is getting better and more focused.

 

 

Force Control:

Sidekicks:

33.3%

33.3%

Splits:

28.6%

28.6%

I noticed a marked difference in balance and control, when doing multiple-kick combos at Taekwon-Do practice this week. Basic work is good.

 

Lightsaber Combat

40%

40%

I'm almost on top of what I need to do for my test in three weeks. I know what I need to do, and just have to practice to make my responses automatic. Knife attacks are difficult to defend against.

 

Force Sense

25%

25%

Yoga is feeling great. I think the youtube sessions I follow are good, but seems over too fast.

 

Life

Math average

53%

53%

Getting better. 94 % average for an A will be very hard.

 

Edit: Today's workout numbers. Managed 10 and a quarter pull-ups!

[Kishi]

I'm glad the rehab has allowed you to compete better. That's what it's supposed to do. Technical stuff is practice and time, and you can do both of those now because of the rehab.