All good things…

After almost seven years of blogging, 1,320 posts and 4,381 comments I’ve decided to take a break.  This is partly due to burnout and partly due to the need to free up time for a project that starts in January.

This past fall I had intentionally started to pull back from posting.  I think deep down I knew that I needed a break.  However, I’ve been doing this for so long that I think my mind could not yet fully process the idea.  This week I had time to process things which led me to this decision.  Will I some day return to martial arts blogging?  Perhaps…

For now this blog will remain active on the interwebs–here to forever amuse or annoy.   Also, I plan to continue reading my favorite martial arts blogs and I may occasionally leave comments.  So I’m gone but not completely.

While writing this I had contemplated thanking at least a dozen martial arts bloggers, however, the list is just too long.  So a blanket thanks will have to suffice.  If I regularly leave comments on your blog or exchange e-mails with you, then you’ll most likely continue to hear from me.  I will say that this blog has given me the chance to learn from numerous martial arts bloggers — many of whom are masters or instructors in their own right–and for that I am grateful.

So, without further adieu, one last video.  It’s been one hell of a run!

Score Update: Patterson 2. Lombardy Poplar 1

Lombardy Poplars aka the Spawn of Satan

Back in September I blogged about my misadventures surrounding my attempt to cut down the second of two diseased Lombardy Poplars.  I had planned on an update but never made it that far.

First the update: In October I located a tree removal service and contracted with them.  The four man crew drove up in a huge boom truck that was complete with a wood chipper in tow.  One of the crew members scaled the tree and with a small chainsaw removed most of the branches.  Next they looped a rope over the top of the tree. This was to guide the top part of the tree from falling on my fence, my neighbor’s shed, etc.  Mr. Tree Monkey chainsawed the top off and the remaining three gave a nice tug which landed the top part of the tree in the middle of my yard.  After that they made short work of the tree.  Total time including the wood chipper?  15 minutes!

Man they made my attempts look pathetic.

The bad news is they could not fit their stump grinder through my fence. Ball in Patteron’s court!

Since I took the whole week off I decided to tackle one of the stumps today.  Yesterday I went to the hardware store and purchased a wood splitter.  The good news is the first stump had a whole year to start rotting.  The bad news is we had a lot of rain which caused the wood to swell and toughen.  Anyhow, after about an hour I vanquished the first stump!

I was about 1/4 into the first stump when I decided to take some photos.  Here’s the slideshow:

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My morning:

• 30 min. on the stair master
• 20 pushups
• 50 crunches
• Roughly an hour smacking the stump

I am proud to say that despite being a white collar desk jockey I can still do manual labor.  Thank you martial arts training!  In fact, most eggheads in their 40s would have keeled over.  That having been noted, after about 10 minutes of swinging that heavy splitter I had to take a knee.  After that it was chop for 5 minutes, wheeze like an asthmatic, and rest for another 5.

Now I understand why you MMA types rave about sledgehammer training.  The energy depletion I experienced today was similar to that of a continuous sparring match.

For starters, swinging a sledgehammer offers numerous benefits. A condensed list includes:

• Improve work capacity
• Develop core strength
• Enhance grip and forearm strength

This having been noted, don’t expect me to purchase a sledgehammer and tractor tire any time soon!

Saturday I may tackle the fresh stump.  Given that it’s bigger and fresh I first need to sharpen the splitter.  I may also need to say a prayer to the God of Lumberjacks…

-BCP