A long time ago, some people promised to take me out on the River Thames and give me lessons in the sport of rowing. Sadly, however, it never came to be. Luckily, I happened to be in the Lake District over the weekend, so I decided to rent a rowing boat and row Lake Windermere instead. Granted...
Continue reading ...As part of my Gold Challenge, I had to do some form of swimming. However, figuring that anybody could just walk down to their local pool, jump in and splash around for a bit, I wanted to do something a bit more interesting. So I decided to do some open water swimming - to brace myself against the...
Continue reading ...Back when I started this challenge, I decided to cycle 100 miles for the cycling element. How hard could it be, right? So, I made a plan: Stage 1: Borrow a bike Stage 2: Borrow a helmet Stage 3: Put both in the garage, and leave to mature for 12 months Stage 4: Cycle 100 miles Frankly, the plan was ...
Continue reading ...[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MdAGqQi96I&w=420&h=315] At wrestling this evening, we worked on shooting for a double leg (a classic) and shooting a high crotch. A high crotch essentially involves going for a double leg takedown, with your head on your opponent's hip, but shooting your a...
Continue reading ...Last Monday and tonight make it three weeks back at boxing training for me, and I'm starting to get my eye in a little. There are a few old habits, however, that refuse to die. I blame them on wrestling. In wrestling, I stay low and circle my opponent, looking for a moment to catch him off guard ...
Continue reading ...[caption id="attachment_1189" align="alignleft" width="287"] Jump more than 20 times and a row and you will actually melt off your own skin.[/caption]Yesterday night, at pro wrestling training, I decided to test my vertical leap. Well. I say "decided"...I actually ran at something and leapt onto i...
Continue reading ...After boxing on Monday night, I decided to spend Tuesday freestyle wrestling at Genesis Gym in Marlow. Although they have had their wrestling class running since early in the year, I haven't been able to attend very often because the class has been on a Friday night. Now, however, it has been move...
Continue reading ...The day after boxing, Simon and I returned to the same club for Jiu Jitsu. Not having Gis, our training was slightly different from the rest of the class. Luckily, however, it involved learning a basic escape from a full mount, which will prove very useful in lots of types of combat. We call ...
Continue reading ...This month, the other half of the Murderbeers Fight Team, Simon 'Bunn Slayer' Lowe, is back in the local area. As such, it makes perfect sense for us to brush up on our combat skills at some of the local classes. Having decided to document some of these classes, I have also decided not to go int...
Continue reading ...Getting back into shape is not going well, friends. Having quit my job and turned freelance, I technically have more time available to get to the gym, go fighting and perform great deeds. However, it just doesn't seem to be working out that way. In fact, I seem to be in worse shape all around! Y...
Continue reading ...
Tonight, for the first time in his decade-long "career" (or "existence" as it should be known), Murorga Sim Bowa has won a GENUINE title! He is now the Entertainment Wrestling Association (EWA) British Champion, having defeated both former champion Dave Maddox and last minute challenger, Xander Coop...
Continue reading ...
Being Guildmaster of the Guild of Adventurers isn't easy. I mean, if I'm not adventuring, who the hell is?! I am obliged, by the Gods of chaos, exploration and revelry, to pursue adventure as regularly as possible. This is a vow I have taken, by the light of the moon. So it must be - not matter wh...
Continue reading ...Getting Back into Shape, Day Three. Having put myself through some torturous gym sessions for the first two days of the week, I decided Wednesday was time for some intense cardio. What better way to achieve this than by a couple of hours at my logo dojo, Genesis, for the killer brazilian jiu jits...
Continue reading ...After Monday night's painful chest and back experience, I decided Tuesday morning needed a shock to get my body going... ...so I did the same again! That's right, just to totally mess with my mind and body, I went back to the gym and did another session targeting the exact same muscles. This time...
Continue reading ...I've decided I need to get back into shape. The next wrestling show is on the 28th of July and I've lost around 5kg of good weight and seem to have collected some bad along the way. I'm not happy with the trade off...I must have been drunk when I agreed to it. So I shot down to Apollo Gym in Hig...
Continue reading ......and by "enough", I actually mean "not enough". I have come to the realisation that, through a combination of eating atrociously, drinking far too much, doing a very stressful self-employed job AND suffering grave vehicular-related misfortunes on a daily basis, I have fallen from shape. Now, i...
Continue reading ...I'm singin' the blues today. Goes a lil' summin' like this: Woke up this mornin', My motorbike had been stole, That's right the motorbike, That I parked outside ma home. I called the Police, Told them what went down, They said they'd see if they, Could spot it drivin' round town. "What's ...
Continue reading ...OK, I know it wasn't specifically the Olympic version but, on my jousting day, I also spent a morning learning all about the history of archery and practising my hand at it. Given that not a single archery club has responded to my requests to try their sport, I'm going to go ahead and say that my...
Continue reading ...As part of my Gold Challenge, I am required to do a horse-based event. Given that I don't know how to ride a horse, however, that pretty much limits me to dressage...or something equally...well...y'know. Now, don't get me wrong here. Horse riding can damn cool. CAN BE damn cool. The stuff I see...
Continue reading ...During this evening's circuit training, I managed to fall over mid squat-thrust. As I peeled myself off the mats to resume the hell, I noticed that my face had left an interesting sweat-mark on the ground. There were visible cheeks, a chin - even areas where eyes should go! It was a distinctly re...
Continue reading ...