Consulting Swordsman
Watermelon is worse for me than Skittles.* Who’d have thought? If you haven’t read my post on testing blood sugar response to foods, you’d better do that before proceeding. Just to recap briefly, here are the assumptions/opinions/beliefs I’m working from: 1) it is better to avoid spiking your blood sugar levels 2) your blood sugar … Read more
It’s generally accepted that it’s a healthy idea to avoid spiking your blood sugar. Spiking your blood sugar regularly can cause insulin resistance, obesity, cancer, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and so on. Some years ago I came across a study from Drs. Segal and Erinav of the Weizmann Institute which proved to my … Read more
With the right preparation and diet, people can function just fine without eating for a week. But absolutely nobody functions just fine without sleep for even a couple of days. Rest is part of training. Poor or insufficient sleep will wreck your whole life, not just your sword practice. It’s worth spending some time and effort … Read more
One of the reasons I teach is that I need my students to train for. I literally can’t be bothered to learn anything I’m unlikely to pass on, and I’m not actually particularly interested in my own level of fitness, sword skill, etc. I train to remain able to do my job, which is teaching, … Read more
I’ve taken up indoor climbing as a hobby. Nothing too serious, and no hanging off skyscrapers. Some friends of ours invited me along, and it was fun, physically and mentally demanding, and reasonably safe. I have a general rule not to take up new hobbies that don’t have a social component. I spend more time … Read more
My shoulders ache. My legs ache. Everything aches. It’s awesome. It’s the signal that I’ve been outside my comfort zone doing something different. Last weekend I attended a beginners’ Parkour seminar combined with a Wim Hof method seminar, at the extraordinary Chainstore Gym run by Parkour Generations in London. What a place that is. I … Read more
I spent last weekend on the Isle of Wight taking part in the Action Challenge Ultra event, which raised a chunky £844 (so far) for the excellent charity Room to Read. Six writers set out at 8am on Saturday morning, lead by Joanna Penn who had invited her podcast listeners to join her on the … Read more
I’m just back from a teaching trip to Seattle, and not too jet-lagged… which is good because I’m re-packing my bag for a trip to the Isle of Wight tomorrow. I’ll be spending the weekend walking round in enormous circles: two full circumnavigations of the island, totalling about 106km. Why, you may ask? Well to … Read more
I’ve been thinking a lot about health lately, which will come as no surprise if you’ve read my previous blog about injuring my back. I think of health as a three-legged stool. The legs are sleep, nutrition, and exercise. I cover the principles I use in some detail in my new book The Theory and Practice … Read more
I really don’t like New Year’s resolutions. I’m also not a fan of treating this time of year as the beginning of anything. A commenter on this blog once mentioned that he does his ‘New Year’ adjustments in April- when life is returning. It struck me as very sensible. This is the middle of winter, … Read more