Blade - Brawling

Greg showed and two new fellas, Mitchell and his son Chris. Started with Bowie. Looked at Military Saber briefly & discussed navaja material. Took a short intro to Military Saber (as much as possible inside a garage) and then moved into bowie. Did some basic cut patterns, then a thrust & parry drill.

Next Irish stick: Discussed living lineages and reconstructions and the difference between stick systems designed as a stick system and stick systems evolved from practice for swords. Intro-ed the strikes and blocks then did strike/block drills. Ended with 1/2 speed "sparring" just because it's fun.

Point of Taoist/Buddhist philosophy

Could any one let me know their thoughts on how to reconcile the idea that we should live our lives in full awareness of the possibility that each moment could be our last, with the business making plans for the future?

As an example, so far in my life I've made no financial provision for my future, and am wondering if maybe I should set up some kind of pension.

Many people do this, but why, if our expectations about the future are so likely to be misguided?

How about revising the idea of living our lives in full awareness that each moment could be our last, which is a very life-centric notion that itself distorts the purity of any concept of living our lives in "full awareness," with an awareness that part of our experience inevitably includes the experience of human society.  

We live in constructed realities, some of which are quite powerful and persistent.  Preparing for the future doesn't guarantee a future, nor does it guarantee that any underlying assumptions about the persistence of particular powerful realities will actually persist.  Preparing for the future is thus a present experience, an expression of an inner attribute that recognizes external socially constructed but persistent illusions of reality. 

 

Deciding to take present action to "prepare" for an unknowable future can be a respectful kindness to our experience of constructed realities and, I believe, can be entirely consistent with maintaining an active awareness of the unknowable future - as long as we don't start pretending that it's more than it is by confusing our plans with reality.

round 43 modification suggestion?

Planning on launching round 43 next week and watching the DVD now. In the turbo section, lots of tuck jumps... majority of my classes don't like to do these, so the obvious thing is to substitute jacks. Curious if any of you have other modifications for tuck jumps or modifications, in general for round 43 that seem to be working well. Always love hearing your ideas,

I usually demo a Pulsing squat for 3 counts, then the option of standing back up or jumping instead of the Burbee. I usually show all options during the Turbo. The Tuck jumps I can sub with a Jack or alternate knee pulls.

Here's the R43 modified turbo that I do:

Remember all the tuck jumps can just be jacks.

Run up w/ Double Jabs 

Quick Feet/Football run, 1 Jack @ "Power!"

Plyometrics: Squat & Jump; Low: All squats

Double Bob, Double Uppercuts

Leap heels back, Leap Knees Up

Double jab, Speedbag, Jab, Jack

Run to corner 8 cts, 2 Jacks, 2 Jumps

Zig Zag, 2 Jacks (or 1 jack, 1 jump like in R42)

Hi Hi Lo Lo slow 2x, Hi Hi Lo Lo Quick/Tempo 2x, 4 Jumps or Jacks

yeah I don't do the tuck jumps either... either jumping jacks or squat jumps.

 

I taught my first week of round 43 last week and the class can't get the 3 back kicks and knee that is in the punches and kicks section.  I'm having to figure out something about that.  They can't get it going straight from the running man to kicks.  I tried reversing it and doing the kicks, then running man, but several people came up to me after class and said they didn't like that way either.  Any suggestions?  I may just make them front kicks I guess... I love back kicks, though... so good for your booty! :)

Have u tried doing 2 back kicks and two knees? Then it will still on the right knee lift and put u back at the top with uppercuts . 

I taught my first week of round 43 last week and the class can't get the 3 back kicks and knee that is in the punches and kicks section.  I'm having to figure out something about that.  They can't get it going straight from the running man to kicks.  I tried reversing it and doing the kicks, then running man, but several people came up to me after class and said they didn't like that way either.  Any suggestions?  I may just make them front kicks I guess... I love back kicks, though... so good for your booty! :) 

I will try that.  I think a lot of people are tired of back kicks because Round 42 had a lot.....  I still love them and need them! 

:)  Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Pregnant and teaching Turbo Kick

I have been teaching Turbo Kick for about 5 years and of course love it. Like many people, it has completely changed my life, I actually met my husband 3 years ago in my Turbo Kick class. He was the smart guy that tried out the class because there were lots of hot girls in there! Well we married about a year and a half ago and now we are expecting our first baby. I am 25 weeks pregnant and still teaching 2 classes a week. I wear a HRM and do everything low impact to keep my heart rate as close to 140-150 as possible. And we all know how hard that is! I am lucky to have a really great class of regulars who know what they are doing. I usually demo it a few time and once my heart rate starts to go up I walk the room and coach. I have been "coaching" more and more as I progress through my pregnancy. 

So my question is, who out there has taught all the way through their pregnancy? Any tips for me? When did you return to teaching after giving birth. I want to teach as long as possible, but like everything else during your pregnancy each day is a little different and new. I have had a fairly easy pregnancy so far (no sickness or anything), and a normal amount of weight gain. I am just starting to really look pregnant and little akward doing some of the dancey moves. 

Anyway, just thought I would see if anyone has any advise. Thanks so much!

i just had my 2nd lil one and taught turbo kick and zumba through the entire pregnancy... last class was 3 days before he was born! you can do it girl... just listen to your body - you will know when your trying to do too much!  Amee gave a lot of great pointers!  i also used a belly brace... get the more expensive one... if you go to motherhood store, theyll let you try the different ones on and help fit you in one that works for you!  mine looked crazy it was like 3 different pieces, but it worked sooo good!  helped me be able to still do my crazy jumping around and not hurt from it!  twards the end of my pregnancy... like last few weeks i didnt use it anymore b/c it was not comfortable... but through most of the pregnancy it was a LIVESAVER!!  listen to your doctor as well... every pregnancy is different!  I wish you the best of luck -- and i know your super excited to get to meet your lil one :) 

I hope you have a wonderful pregnancy!  Just keep telling yourself to keep up the movement... i swear by it!  i didnt workout during my first pregnancy, and my 2nd i did - and labor was soooooo much eaiser with the 2nd one!!  and your body recovers much faster too!  i havent gotten back to pre-preg size yet, but its getting there.  he is 4 months old and i have about 5 more lbs to go!  oh, and i returned to teaching at 4 weeks... but labor was good - so that really depends on your labor.  you will know when your body is ready to go back :)

best wishes!!

Whitney SummersCertified Zumba InstructorCertified Turbo Kick InstructorCertified Hip Hop Hustle Instructor "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." -unknown

I like you have been teaching for 5 years, and taught during my 3rd pregnancy! I actually taught until my water broke!  (it didnt break at gym, even though the doctor joked that it would) :) I did wear my support belt, due to round ligament pain, and pressure.  I highly recommend you wear one!  Also, use it as a time to show the low options!  Use one of your front row divas to show the "high option".  Be careful on lunges! Do not lay flat to do abs, as it depletes your oxygen, but TKB is awesome about having abs that have the "leaning abs".  My doctor used me as an example for all his patients who think they become invalids during pregnancy!  I returned to teaching a full schedule in 4 weeks! I felt awesome and was back in my size zeros at my babies 11 week bday! Just embrace your body and have fun with it!! :)

Congrats on your pregnancy! :) I'm also 25 weeks pg and am teaching 4 classes a week (2 Zumba and 2 TK) down from 7 I used to teach. I'm not really concerned about my heart rate being below 140-150 and neither is my dr. It's old-fashioned advice. Most progressive doctors believe that you can continue your pre-pg regimen if you were an active regular exerciser before you got pregnant. As long as you have no complications and keep well hydrated and take breaks if you feel you need them, you should be okay. I still haven't modified much for myself. I don't base my modifications on the heart rate, I base them on what my body tells me. I still do high impact moves, I just don't go for high impact ALL the time and I don't do a VERY high impact. Like I still do jumping jacks, but I don't do air jacks. Instead I would cue "Air jack!" and make arms really big to encourage the participants to go all out. I also demo the high impact move and then stick to a lower one if I feel like it. If I feel like I need a break, I tell them to keep going and walk around a little. I have reduced the range of motion on my zig zags and wheels. As for lying abs, I'm not concerned about them, as the abs section is only 3-4 min long and it's not like you're lying on the floor all that time with all the reaches and punching and rolling up moves. A couple of times, ab work felt awkward and so I stopped and just cued. I really do just listen to my body. This is not the time to push yourself through pain and discomfort, but at the same time you really should be able to just follow your own body. I did get a support brace as well, but haven't used it yet as I don't seem to have much discomfort jumping or bouncing yet. Hoping to teach for as long as possible as well! :)

Here's a book that was recommended that has more modern view on exercising while pregnant: http://28907462.linkbucks.com