Well tonight ended my stint as Stand-In Instructor for the Full Circle Academy Fencing Class.

That sounds a lot more efficient and fancy than it actually was. I basically Let the Other Student’s practice any of the weapons/skills that they felt they wanted more practice on, and was just there to offer help, advice, and instruction as and when it was needed.

Tonight, we had an extra half hour sat by the heaters chatting.

On the positive side, I did start working on developing a version of the 5 count box set using two swords. I believe it can easily be done,  there’s just a block or two where I’m unsure.

For example, the block against the stab attack, Is it better to change the block for a opposite to normal block, or to use one sword to block as you would with a single sword, and use the other to slice open the opponent’s arms?

I just need some madman to work it out with. Volunteers please?

The Five Count Box Set, is a nice simple pattern to learn. Its good for warming up with, It looks impressive and can be used with a variety of weapons without much of a mindkill.

• Stick
• Sword
• Machete
• Knife
• Open hand
• Han-Bo

But once you master them and are happy with it, then it should get easier.

That is until you start playing about with ideas, and get into the conversation with your fencing instructor. “Hum! I wonder if you could do the 5 count box set with a Bo” after all, there is not much difference between a small stick and a 6foot staff.

We’ve been working on the pattern for a week now, and have got it almost flowing smoothly, but its still in the mind killing stage.

So after spending an hour working on it tonight, what do we go and do to relax. Help someone set up a wireless, shared internet network in their house.

After many problems with getting a laptop to talk to the rest of the computers, and trying every configuration setting we could find, we discovered (Thanks to a quick phone call to a work colleague) that some laptops will say their wireless is activated, and working but they are lying. You have to turn them on, even though they say they are on.

How many mind kills can you fit into one day…. :0)

Ah well..
That which does not kill us, only makes us stronger!!