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NFC Blog for Th...

NFC Blog for Thursday-Glen Ellyn

5/24/2007 11:17:39 AM

Will

627 posts

NFC Blog for Thursday-Glen Ellyn
Modified By Will on 6/9/2007 8:01:11 PM)

Howdy everybody! This is Will Mego, of course, and I just now decided to try an experement, something those of you that know me well are used to hearing from me. I always try to improve, and certainly sometimes (or many!) of these attempts turned out to only prove that something isn't ideal, sometimes we actually make some pretty interesting things happen. So, I want to start a PUBLIC NFC "blog" of sorts. At first, I think it's best to keep it in the forums rather than a seperate page, because I want to encourage use of the forums in general. I intend to comment on general topics of interest concerning current, past, and upcoming classes.

One forum note: there are several "special" member's only forums, available only to registered NFC members, so if that's important to you, it does exist. Why that would be important to you, I'm not sure.

Please feel free to post replies, comments, questions either here to this post, or start or add to any threads you feel like! On with the show...

5/24/2007 12:20:54 PM

Will

627 posts

Re: THE NFC BLOG
Modified By admin on 5/24/2007 12:38:43 PM)

Tonight a new session begins in Glen Ellyn (Downer's Grove isn't til June 11th). And for the summertime, Glen Ellyn fencing is at a new location, Forest Glen School, located at 561 Elm St,. Glen Ellyn.

I just found out that contrary to what I figured, BOTH programs in Glen Ellyn are almost full for the summertime. So I have no idea who these people are in the 7:30-9pm program, since we've had around 3 people in that class for a while, but it looks like there's a lot more now. I should be getting class rosters in a few minutes from the local administrators there.

The medicine ball I ordered for this summer's classes isn't here yet! I had over a month of terrible issues with the retailer I ordered it from, and we'll be lucky if we get it before week #2! Not to be put off, I'm bringing my old beat up leather Everlast medicine ball from home for tonight's classes.

Medicine ball, you say? What's this about? We'll be adding a number of somewhat low-impact strength, flexibility and power building based routines to the fencing program at all levels (meaning beginners too) beginning....tonight! We won't be able to hurl my old ball at each other too much, but the floors and walls are probably open game. Also, some weights might get into some classes as well. Of course, don't forget the NFC summer classics like "two-step". And believe me, I if I can get "scapjacks" into a class at some point, I will.....(hmm, note to self: My personal workout on friday: Heapin' Helpins' of Scapjacks)

So if you've been to NFC before, expect a large "ratcheting up" of the energy level from previous practices you're used to. We're going "Spartan". There will be 1-2 Medicine Balls available for training, as well as a pair of 35lb dumbells, and a jump rope, for those who like to use such things.

Also, I'm hoping to have a target up and running over the next couple of weeks, either my electronic TargetSpeed, or our beloved "bob" the standalone target built by John Scanlon.

So I'm not sure, but there should be about 20 of you tonight! I can't be too specific about what we're doing until I see all of you in person, because I won't know the mix of beginners and more advanced until then, but here's the highlights:

Intro (who I am, what we're doing)
Basic Footwork/Intense Footwork practice
Plyo: Guard Jumps (Medium/Low Impact...*See note at bottom*)
Medicine ball: Scoop Toss (IF the ceiling in the new gym is high enough! I haven't seen this new place yet!) AND/OR Chest Push.
Lunges: 5 by 5 [meaning 5 righty, followed by 5 lefty..repeat...stop before you barf]
Kids Only: I'm thinking about a light "farmers carry", but this is more experimental, as I'm not sure who I'll have tonight, and what would be too easy for them.
Bouting, 3 minute timed bouts, no score keeping please!

Last Thoughts:
The weights and medicine balls are serious equipment, although most of the things we'll be doing with them are a lot of good clean fun, they aren't toys, and everybody, whether kids or adults are expected to behave themselves with them, no stupid fooling around with them. NO medicine ball is to be thrown at a person, surface, or object that hasn't already been approved and readied for it BY ME. No weights are to be used without my permission, and then only for exercises and activities that I've approved! Why all this? Cause it's about safety, boys and girls. I like to have fun...which means you'll kill my fun if you do something dangerous to others or yourself!

Also, I'll post the activities for NEXT class well before next Thursday (or in the case of Downer's Grove, that Monday) so check back within a few days...and ask lots of questions, please!
-Will

[*Enguard jump note: these are listed as Low/Medium impact, and don't argue with me too much on that. Do them right, and they aren't very high impact...I know the comments several years ago about these when I practically invented them (those that know me know I don't often claim anything like this!) , and I personally ran them by US Olympic Trainers, and got not only 5 stars on them, but an atta-boy from Zach Weatherford, and approval from Paul Soter, at the time Head Coach of Men's Epee for the USFA, Zach is has trained too Olympians to count, look him up online....so, I'm not budging on this one. If you can't do it because you have existing issues, that's totally fine, I have no issue with people who have reasons they can't do something. Just don't whine at me that they aren't useful. You not liking something doesn't make it bad.*]

5/24/2007 10:05:52 PM

Will

627 posts

Post class...

Thurs. May 24th - post class...

Pretty cool, we've got 10 people in the kids class, 5 new, and someplace between 9 and 12 people in the adult, most new. 9-12 because several walked in having just signed up so I wasn't sure who belonged where. There was a last minute change on the Glen Ellyn Park District's part to move us back to Ben Franklin School, so that caused some issues, but it all worked out just fine. We should be there for another 2 weeks, but who knows.

We pretty much stuck to the posted plan, minus the 5x5s, since we had so many new people, I didn't want to start mixing the handedness of lunges just yet. Our kids farmer carry wasn't ideal, some kids it was too hard, some too easy. One girl carried only one of the 35lb weights, but she only weighed 57lbs herself! that's 61% of her bodyweight! I'd have to farmer carry a little under 140lbs to do that, which is 70's in each hand...which is pretty close to what I would do it with myself, so good job girl!

Miles, who probably isn't reading this, you MUST get an electric weapon! Do it now!

I'll post the plan for next week in a few days, I'm still not 100% set on which plyos we'll be doing, I wish I knew if our new medicine ball will be in by then!

Two people asked me, 'Why is it called a "medicine ball"?' Well, looking around, I found this:

Legend has it, that the term “medicine ball” goes back to their use on transatlantic ships during World War I. They were promoted by navy medics who stuffed kapok and rags into a leather basketball for the seasick or bored crew to toss around as exercise. This was a much easier form of medicine to prescribe than pills.

True or not, I don't know.

5/26/2007 11:15:24 AM

Will

627 posts

General things

I just wanted to post about a couple of quick things...
for one, I added info on this tournament:
IFC Youth Open
to the front page return of the "This Week @ NFC" feature. The link above takes you to the online registration page.

Secondly, I would very much like to hear via EMAIL from anybody interested in fencing IN NAPERVILLE on wednesdays. Yes, seriously, in naperville itself. It looks like this can happen, but I'd like to know how many people would be interested. So....if you're interested, email info@napervillefencingclub.com AND if you know somebody else who is, who might not read this space yet, PLEASE tell them to email as well. It does make a difference. Oh, and tell them to do it soon, like ASAP.

Medicine ball is STILL in TX...it's moved to Mesquite, TX now.
Class activities will be posted most likely on tuesdays...

5/29/2007 12:31:27 PM

Will

627 posts

Re: THE NFC BLOG
Modified By Will on 5/30/2007 6:21:17 PM)

THURSDAY, MAY 31ST
@ Ben Franklin (I hope) School, Bryant Ave, Glen Ellyn
5:30-kids
7:00-lesson time available
7:30-adults

Our new medicine ball is due to arrive tomorrow, according to UPS. We'll see what happens. I'm looking forward to Thursday's classes a lot, and the entry for "Will's Game" would just take too long to describe in writing. More or less, you're going to catch or block the thrown ball to the floor, jump OVER the ball, pick it up and throw or pass it in some other direction. The complexity comes from that there's 10 people. Questions? Please post it! I love to answer.

Warm up:

Two laps around the gym, little bit of walking
Light Stretching

Footwork Review (advance/retreat/lunge)
Intro to "Two-Step"
Plyo:

Guard Jumps 5x5 (5 sets of 5 jumps without pause)
Star Jumps
Playing Catch (new ball SHOULD be here tomorrow) in a circle. Increasing in speed.
Will's Game (involving throwing/catching/jumping)
[*optional if new ball isn't here yet*] Scoop Toss

Drilling:

Parry 4-riposte
Parry 6-riposte

Fencing:

5-Touch Bouts

[*Wed's note: The ball did in fact arrive a little while ago, so no scoop toss...although you are welcome to when the ball is free, just do it in the corner please*]

6/5/2007 2:54:42 PM

Will

627 posts

Re: THE NFC BLOG
Modified By Will on 6/6/2007 1:26:14 PM)

THURSDAY, June 7th
@ Forest Glen School (Just changed to here!) , Glen Ellyn
5:30-kids
7:00-lesson time available
7:30-adults

Warmup:

4 laps around the gym, followed with a little walking
Stretching

Plyo, etc:

You're in luck! No weird jumps and such. But lots of lunges, and...
Two-Step

Drilling:

Counter-attacking
Disengage

Fencing:

5-touch bouts

PLEASE note that the Glen Ellyn Park District has just informed me that the class has been changed to Forest Glen due to a conflict in schedule at Ben Franklin.
So because I'm planning so much lunging, not to mention two-step, no special plyo jumping throwing, etc. this week. Of course, the ball is always available for use during the open fencing time, although I would personally prefer you fenced!

6/7/2007 11:05:50 AM

Will

627 posts

Re: THE NFC BLOG

If you google "forest glen school glen ellyn" you'll get a google map which should help finding the school, but for those who want the address, it's
561 Elm St. Glen Ellyn. Just a note for those looking for the school!

6/8/2007 3:07:48 PM

Will

627 posts

Re: THE NFC BLOG

Well, That was interesting. The youth class was marred by downed power lines knocking out power to chunks of Glen Ellyn, so almost the entire class time was in darkness. Hopefully we can arrange a makeup class for the kids. The Adult class went just fine, however. Anyone coming to the Forest Glen location should know that the fencing is in the gym, which is located through a STAFF parking lot on the east side of the building, which you access from Main St. The door is door 12.

6/9/2007 8:01:54 PM

Will

627 posts

Re: THE NFC BLOG

As you can see, I changed the topic name of this thread, and am starting a new thread for the monday classes, since both are somewhat large classes.

6/12/2007 6:55:58 PM

Will

627 posts

Re: THE NFC BLOG

No word from GE about a make up class yet....you'll know when I do...

This week, the 14th...
Kids:

3+ laps, stretching
Footwork Drill
Will's Partner Madness (c) - a collection of partner based crazy drills using equipment and no equipment. This will roast your legs, your heart, your arms/chest, your hand/arm, and eventually....your sanity. Ok, kidding on that last one, but expect it to be really hard!
Fencing, of course.

Adults:
Same as the kids today, but we're going to sub some practicing of NEW (ok, new to YOU) techniques for the footwork drill....not that I don't love the footwork drill, but hey, there's a finite amount of time to the day, right?

6/14/2007 10:58:37 PM

Will

627 posts

Re: THE NFC BLOG
Modified By Will on 6/22/2007 3:06:53 PM)

I think everybody was pretty burned at pracice today. I know the kids lost plenty of sweat this afternoon. One kid saw spots. The adult class worked just about as hard, although I must point out, the two fencers who were claiming to workout AFTER the class never showed up at the gym the 70-80 minutes I was there, so I worked my chest and went home.

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