Amonsokwat: Mettle Maker #259

“Amonsokwat” — A black bear

The other day I posted about learning the extinct Virginia Algonquian language (a.k.a. “Powhatan”).  As part of this project I’m forcing myself to write in my diary using only Powhatan words, which forces me to learn the language.  I’m a lifelong journaler and a big believer in the transformational power of instrospective writing, especially  with the hand — which is why journaling is the the backbone of the Cabal Fang Hermit Path Distance Learning Program and a part of the Bobcat program also.

Here is an inspirational video about writing with the hand.  If you don’t like it I’ll eat my pretty little flowered bonnet.

Anyway, since I’m journaling and thinking in Powhatan, the word that came to mind when putting together this week’s mettle maker was amonsokwat — a bear.  In short bursts, bears are both strong and fast.  And that’s what this week’s mettle maker is all about.

Amonsokwat: Mettle Maker #259

• Before you train, warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes.  Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope or footwork (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF.
• 

  This month’s constitutional

  
  
  Complete this month’s constitutional.  Burpees (25), Jackknifes (25), Knuckle Push-ups (25), Zombie Squats (50), Neck Crunches (100 – 25 @ F,B,L,R), Bear Walks (100 yards), Bicycles (50).
• Ruck 2 miles — Ranger time.  Put on a backpack of weight appropriate to your fitness level (I used a #25) and cover 2 miles in 30 minutes or less.  In military cadence that’s 140 ‘beats’ per minute (140 steps of 30″ each per minute).  This is standard marching speed for Army Rangers.  Get there.
• Counterpunching heavy bag practice.  Set timer for rounds of 3:00/1:00 and practice your L. Jab counters — just make sure you really imagine that hand coming at you.  Round 1: Slide inside to avoid opponent’s jab as you fire your own jab back at his nose.  Next iteration, Jab twice.  Next iteration after that, Jab thrice.  Then reset to 1 Jab and continue.  Assuming you’re a righty, you should be circling the bag in a clockwise direction.  Round 2: Slip outside and Jab to “the mark” (solar plexus), and come back with an Right Hook to the body and a Left Hook to the jaw.  Round 3:  Slip outside and Jab to “the mark” (solar plexus), then weave inside and fire a 1-2 to his nose.  If you’re still feeling chipper, switch stance and do all three rounds again.  If none of this makes sense, sounds like you could stand to take one of my classes or sign up for one of my distance learning programs.
• Learn to tie a sheet bend.  Very useful for joining two different sizes/qualities of line.  See photo set below.

form a bend with the tail on the left

feed the other line in from the back

encircle both parts of the first line with the second and insert beneath itself — note that the short ends are both on the left

pull tight to cinch

• Stand up straight and speak the truth.  This month’s spiritual symbol is The Staff.  Think about all the figures from history, myth and fiction who carry a staff — Moses, Aaron from the Bible, Gandalf, Rafiki, Hermes with this caduceus, the Hermit card from your Tarot deck, and so forth.  The staff is their proof of office.  Symbolically it is a straight line connecting two points — the divine and the material — just like your spine which connects your brain (the ideal intellectual) to your groin (the real-world instinctual).  The wisdom figure is in communication with both worlds.  He or she understands the grand plan, and speaks its truth in a way that is sacred, but also in a way that inspires and directs without being unnecessarily hurtful.  He or she speaks the sacred words, provides direction, and reveals the truth in a way that makes the world better.  For the month of May, pay special attention to embodying that ideal.  Straighten your spine.  Treat the things you say as sacred.  Find a way to speak the truth in a way that inspires.  Be a communicator between the ideal and the mundane.  That is wisdom.    

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