It has been almost a year since I posted here. In that time, a lot has happened, some sword related and a lot not really. Last July I took second place in our sword class's competition, (Actually tied for First but lost the tiebreaker match.) In addition to that, I was selected as the "Prime" or kind of assistant to the instructor from that competition until our next competition, which happened in the last week. In that time we moved to being more full contact, adding the head as a target, as well as began adding some German to our otherwise pretty basically Italian sword style. It has been an awesome learning experience, and something that has taught me a lot. Now that it is over, I am looking at getting really serious with my training again. In addition to all of that, I have had a hard time with my studying for my College class this term and as such am planning on taking the summer off to regroup, rebuild and study the things I want to study and learn. After looking at the German techniques that I have, I feel that I could do very well integrating it into my sword style, and it is time to really put some hard work into my sword study making myself ready to do very well at our next competition in October.

In the time since my last blog, my wife and I have also bought a house, and have been having a lot of fun with that. It is amazing to me to think of where I was a year ago, and then realize just how far I have come in terms of life itself since a year ago. Now it is time to put in the work to do more, and be more. There is a lot coming up that I am excited about, but little more than the ability to train and work my heart out to become the best I can be. It is going to take work, but I know I have it in me to do better and more then I have been so far, and now that I am not helping instruct, that time is mine.