So I'm really, really back to martial arts, in a no-compromise, give-it-all way. Which is great ... can't believe I've been doing just tidbits for the last year. But then, the last yar has been particularly tough, having to adjust to so many things ( Read more... )

I have finally been able to find and purchase the perfect weapon - after years of training with an oddly-balanced thing and now with a retractable one (better balanced than the old thing I have, though). It was sheer luck I bumped into it, but as I was told I needed a real sword by the master himself, and the thought of my unbalanced training piece ( Read more... )

The weekend sword seminar is over and it's been fabulous. Well, my legs hurt - now wonder, after 12 hours swordform practice in 2 days - but otherwise, everything is fine, even the strained sinew came to its senses and stopped protesting after midday on Saturday ( Read more... )

I have already give up on loking for a Demotic course in Berlin ... and I found one! Well, it kind of found me. Anyways, I missed the first two classes, but i hav permission to join and was given all materials. It's mostly co-workers of the institute, people with a PhD studying the course, together with four fifth-year MA students, so the class ( Read more... )

My entire body hurts, but the taekwondo training tonight was fabulous. I'm not as in form as I used to be, so it was really hard to stay technical in the last half an hour of the 1,5 hour long training, but incredibly, although I haven't done WTF taekwondo for about 7 years now, I still remember (most) of the techniques and can do them. If only my ( Read more... )

Just a quick note from work over my coffee: the sword training was woderful. Master Wang teaches clearly and even though this was a beginner class, I learned things I have bever been told before.


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As I watch Doctor Who in the background of trying to complete and edit the bibliography of my latest book (an extremely dull task which only the Doctor is making bearable), I am all excited -- tomorrow morning I have my first sword training class here in Berlin. It involves traveling through half of Berlin and I have NO idea what to expect, as I've ( Read more... )

( Yeah, it's all about Ianto ... )

I did realize the lecture yesterday did leave me exhausted ( Read more... )

I just swept across the news today, looking for nothing in particular, and stumbled into an article on Obama linked to this.

WTF?! It was possible, a mere 15 years ago, to implement a law banning gays from the military? And that law is still in effect? I think I might have to retract the enlightened 21st century of my last post. We're still deep, ( Read more... )