blkhole24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World

[blkhole24601]

 

I fell in love with fencing. Obviously this calls for a Utena-themed challenge.

 

So last challenge did not end so well for me. I was getting burned out on life and everything, and then tragedy hit and I just couldn't with anything anymore. After giving myself the past couple of weeks to regroup and recuperate, I have a clearer path going forward in all sorts of things, which makes my summer less panic-inducing (if you're just joining in, work is going to be crazy busy PLUS I'm going to be in rehearsals for Evita starting on May 22), and I know what I want to do with my fitness goals. Because I love fencing, my workouts will all now be tailored towards conditioning for the sport. But I'm also dealing with a back muscle injury of sorts, which is thankfully just a benign injury of the strain/spasm/knot variety, so I need to make sure I take care of that, too, while also making sure that it never happens again! I'm too young for back pain...

 

So, without further ado!

 

MAIN QUEST: Maintain my sanity as I rehabilitate my back, juggle work and rehearsal and life and fitness, and continuing to pursue my newfound love for fencing!

 

QUEST ONE: ENDURANCE TRAINING [+2 STA]

 

In fencing class, my strength is great, but cardio is kicking my butt in ways I did not expect.  Seriously, when you’re a very fit person and you have to sit down because your cardio is sub-par, it is a super embarrassing thing.  So, twice a week, I will dedicate my workouts to cardio training.  It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as my heart rate is pumping, I’m calling it good!

 

A = 2x/week of cardio | C = 1x/week of cardio

 

QUEST TWO: BACK CONDITIONING [+1 DEX, +1 CON]

 

As mentioned, my back has been bothering me and it's been preventing me from doing a bunch of exercises like working through pull-up progressions, toes-to-bar progressions, and sometimes even bench presses and other variations of push exercises. Also, working on anything that deals with back flexibility has been a no-go. The doctor gave me a list of stretches I need to do every day, and other self-care tips, of which I intend to follow through on. So I'll do this quest in two parts: 5x/week I will do the flexibility exercises, and 5x/week I will give my back some heat therapy and/or some massage/foam rolling loving.

 

A = 5x/week | B = 4x/week | C = 2-3x/week | D = 1x/week

 

If my back is completely back to normal before the end of the challenge, part one will continue but part two will either be revised or given a pass for the remainder of the challenge. Here’s hoping that this is a bridge I WILL have to cross!

 

QUEST THREE: SMART SNACKING [+2 CON]

 

The winter months are over and I can no longer use my “I’m a mammal so I’m mammaling” excuse for eating like an asshole.  Therefore, over the course of the challenge, I’m allowing myself 8 non-freggie, non-protein snacks.  Basically: popcorn, chocolate, candy, ice cream, drinks that aren’t water or tea or my chai latte, Snapea Crisps (SOB THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HARDEST THING – and no, I’m not counting is as a freggie), etc are all restricted.  Chocolate milk is okay ONLY IF I consume it within an hour of a workout.

 

A = 8 or less snacks | B = 10 or less snacks | C = 12 or less snacks | F = did you even try to control yourself

 

LIFE QUEST: SPRING CLEANING [+2 WIS]

 

My summer is going to be super busy and there is going to be a lot of things in my life outside of work and rehearsal that will fall by the wayside.  That will include keeping a clean home. So that my apartment doesn’t fall into complete chaos and disarray over the coming months, every week I will focus on each area of my house and give it a nice, good, and hard spring cleaning treatment. The four areas will be: bedroom and home office, bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room, and the living/dining room.

 

A = 4 Areas Cleaned | B = 3 Areas Cleaned | C = 2 Areas Cleaned | D = 1 Area Cleaned

 

SIDE QUEST: PIANO PRACTICE [+2 CHA]

 

I’ve been itching to relearn the piano again for years now (I used to be so good, I don't understand why I quit, wtf 11-year-old me), so why not start now?  At the very least, I want to master a song, and that song will be the theme song from Tonari no Totoro because as my family and friends will tell you, I am a Totoro fanatic.  No joke, 50% of the things I own are Totoro-related. Over the course of the challenge, I will log at least 240 minutes towards practicing, which averages out to be about 1hr/week.  This won’t get me from Zero to Hero over the course of the next four weeks, but it’s a start, at least! 

 

A = 240+ minutes | B = 180+ minutes | C = 120+ minutes | D = 60+ minutes

 

 

 

Ready to do the thing!

 

If you binge-watch the show, you seriously start to get super annoyed at how often they reuse this particular animation sequence...

[blkhole24601]

 

Week 1 Recap

Week 2 Recap

Week 3 Recap

Week 4 Recap

[RogueLibrarian]

I'm in!

[starsapart]

UTENA.

 

 

I keep meaning to re-watch this and then I am like, wow am I emotionally ready for this, no, no I am not emotionally ready for this.

[starsapart]

OMG I am sorry I also have to share this one.

 

[blkhole24601]

22 minutes ago, RogueLibrarian said:

I'm in!

 

YAY!!! Glad to have you~

 

15 minutes ago, starsapart said:

UTENA.

 

 

I keep meaning to re-watch this and then I am like, wow am I emotionally ready for this, no, no I am not emotionally ready for this.

 

I binge-watched the entire series maybe about a year ago? And omg, yeah, no, was not emotionally ready for it then and definitely not ready for it now. Then I think, maybe I should watch the movie and then I decide not to because, well, THAT MOVIE. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

 

14 minutes ago, starsapart said:

OMG I am sorry I also have to share this one.

 

 

jf;lkajdsfkl;jsdf OMFG THESE TWO I AM DYING.  

 

Also Saionji wear a helmet, even Touga of all people is wearing one. Or don't. And fall off and die. That works too.  

[starsapart]

1 minute ago, blkhole24601 said:

 

YAY!!! Glad to have you~

 

 

I binge-watched the entire series maybe about a year ago? And omg, yeah, no, was not emotionally ready for it then and definitely not ready for it now. Then I think, maybe I should watch the movie and then I decide not to because, well, THAT MOVIE. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

 

 

jf;lkajdsfkl;jsdf OMFG THESE TWO I AM DYING.  

 

Also Saionji wear a helmet, even Touga of all people is wearing one. Or don't. And fall off and die. That works too.  

 

I hate to break it to you.

 

The helmet is probably a euphemism.

 

Saionji is in the sidecar.

 

Only Touga needs a helmet.

 

YOU ARE WELCOME.

[blkhole24601]

10 minutes ago, starsapart said:

 

I hate to break it to you.

 

The helmet is probably a euphemism.

 

Saionji is in the sidecar.

 

Only Touga needs a helmet.

 

YOU ARE WELCOME.

 

 

I almost forgot the show we're talking about.  

 

I BLAME AKIO AND HIS CAR TBH??????

[starsapart]

1 minute ago, blkhole24601 said:

 

 

I almost forgot the show we're talking about.  

 

I BLAME AKIO AND HIS CAR TBH??????

 

I mean, motorized vehicles in this show are 100% of the time metaphors.  So.  Thank Akio.

 

 

 

If you have no idea what this is, brave readers, I recommend not watching at work.  It's TECHNICALLY SFW but really that's.... just a technicality......................

[blkhole24601]

I'd say that it's how they got away with sex on TV, but............... this is Utena we're talking about. Metaphors are kind of the show's Thing.  

 

OMG I need to watch that video but I left my earbuds in my fencing bag which is at home so I can't even get to my cellphone to watch it on there. SOON AS I GET HOME because if this is exactly what I think it is, I need it in my life!

[starsapart]

HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN IT?

 

Someone was at the pinnacle of their AMV game, believe me.  But yes, headphones.

[blkhole24601]

1 hour ago, starsapart said:

HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN IT?

 

Someone was at the pinnacle of their AMV game, believe me.  But yes, headphones.

 

It................ must have slipped past me somehow????????? IDK???

[StevePirates]

Which weapon are you fencing with?  I'm best at epee, but enjoy sabre the most.  Good luck with your challenges!  Make sure you work out your off-hand!

[Myrik]

I'm in, if not just for the amusement of watching @blkhole24601 and @starsapart fan girl over UTENA.

[blkhole24601]

52 minutes ago, StevePirates said:

Which weapon are you fencing with?  I'm best at epee, but enjoy sabre the most.  Good luck with your challenges!  Make sure you work out your off-hand!

 

I'm only just starting out, and the school I go to has the beginner classes start with learning all three styles. Once we're ready to move on to the intermediate level, that's when we choose our weapon. I've only fenced foil and epee so far, and I think I like them both fairly equally though for different reasons. I'm predicting that I won't be ready to move up to the intermediate levels until at least August, though, so I have plenty of time to figure it out.

 

And ohhhh yes, my off-hand. After last night, I can already tell that if I'm not careful, my sword arm will Hulk over it.  Sooooooo much DOMS in my sword-arm today, omg. (And so many bruises from last night's class; it was epee night and wow, I should not be this proud over bruises...)

 

22 minutes ago, Myrik said:

I'm in, if not just for the amusement of watching @blkhole24601 and @starsapart fan girl over UTENA.

 

Welcome!!  And always much love for Utena. Even if I'll admit to never having gotten through the movie all the way. Maybe during this challenge I'll make another attempt. Because, well, THAT MOVIE:

 

[Myrik]

Just now, blkhole24601 said:

Welcome!!  And always much love for Utena. Even if I'll admit to never having gotten through the movie all the way. Maybe during this challenge I'll make another attempt. Because, well, THAT MOVIE:

TBH I have never watched it, was never into Anime that much.  But if the opportunity presents itself I might have to check it out just for the sake of understanding what you two are carrying on about.

[starsapart]

Personally I think the movie just muddies the water.  There's nothing going for it but pretty animation.  It doesn't really fit into the canon.  I IGNORE IT BASICALLY.

[RogueLibrarian]

I have no idea what any of you are talking about. I insist that you not explain it, though.

[StevePirates]

3 hours ago, blkhole24601 said:

 

I'm only just starting out, and the school I go to has the beginner classes start with learning all three styles. Once we're ready to move on to the intermediate level, that's when we choose our weapon. I've only fenced foil and epee so far, and I think I like them both fairly equally though for different reasons. I'm predicting that I won't be ready to move up to the intermediate levels until at least August, though, so I have plenty of time to figure it out.

 

And ohhhh yes, my off-hand. After last night, I can already tell that if I'm not careful, my sword arm will Hulk over it.  Sooooooo much DOMS in my sword-arm today, omg. (And so many bruises from last night's class; it was epee night and wow, I should not be this proud over bruises...)

 

 

 

All three weapons are great, don't specialize too early, enjoy them all!  And if you find that you like the history and "practice" better than competition, know that there are a ton of resources for historical fencing and other swordytype sports and martial arts.  I've been fencing off and on since 1992: even in years when I don't compete I always think of myself as a fencer.

 

You gotta work the off-hand and rear leg to stay kind of balanced.  Even then your sword hand and forearm will be stronger.  Honestly though, it's kind of cool, because you see the size difference as the result of really good work!

[blkhole24601]

19 hours ago, Myrik said:

TBH I have never watched it, was never into Anime that much.  But if the opportunity presents itself I might have to check it out just for the sake of understanding what you two are carrying on about.

 

The TV series is the one worth watching. I think it's on Hulu? I know the movie is, at least, but:

 

19 hours ago, starsapart said:

Personally I think the movie just muddies the water.  There's nothing going for it but pretty animation.  It doesn't really fit into the canon.  I IGNORE IT BASICALLY.

 

This, basically. I only want to watch it so that I get all of the Utena and thus have a more valid opinion of the movie than, "I heard it got REALLY REALLY WEIRD." ;;;;;;; 

 

19 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

I have no idea what any of you are talking about. I insist that you not explain it, though.

 

I'm not entirely sure if we could explain it, tbh!!  starsapart would make a much better stab at it, but Utena is better experienced than explained?

 

15 hours ago, StevePirates said:

 

All three weapons are great, don't specialize too early, enjoy them all!  And if you find that you like the history and "practice" better than competition, know that there are a ton of resources for historical fencing and other swordytype sports and martial arts.  I've been fencing off and on since 1992: even in years when I don't compete I always think of myself as a fencer.

 

You gotta work the off-hand and rear leg to stay kind of balanced.  Even then your sword hand and forearm will be stronger.  Honestly though, it's kind of cool, because you see the size difference as the result of really good work!

 

Tbh, that's why I chose the school I did over another one I was looking at; my school has the beginning classes experience all three weapons, and the other school I looked at basically made you choose before you even took your first class, which is completely unfair, imo. (They also only have classes for two of the three weapons, and knowing my luck I'd wind up most loving the weapon they don't teach ) We do have a couple of HEMA schools in the area and I may go one of those someday when I can find the time for it!

 

Do you have any recommended exercises to keep the balance? Right now I'm thinking that when I do my strength conditioning, I make sure my right side (sword side) is dealing with no heavier loads or reps than my left side (off side), but is it worth trying to fence on the opposite side every once in a while, even if only in practice/warm-ups? Or is there something better than either of these options?

 

 

 

 

In other news, I saw this on Instagram and it's legit justifying my desire to continue to pursue all of my flexibility feats like splits.  I don't care if this is most likely a posed picture, dammit, extreme flexibility is beneficial everywhere!

 

[starsapart]

2 minutes ago, blkhole24601 said:

 

I'm not entirely sure if we could explain it, tbh!!  starsapart would make a much better stab at it, but Utena is better experienced than explained?

 

 

The bolded part, tbh.

 

I have no idea how one would explain Utena and have it actually make any sort of sense.

[starsapart]

"High schoolers duel with deadly weapons over possession of a princess, or maybe world-shattering power, or maybe just the opportunity to sleep with the school principal.  It's complicated."

[blkhole24601]

4 minutes ago, starsapart said:

"High schoolers duel with deadly weapons over possession of a princess, or maybe world-shattering power, or maybe just the opportunity to sleep with the school principal.  It's complicated."

 

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

[starsapart]

4 minutes ago, blkhole24601 said:

 

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

 

"Now featuring several sets of over-attached siblings, cars as euphemisms, stampeding kangaroos, and elevators to another dimension."

[starsapart]

"And a monkey."