#17 Polar Bear Dive at Night

This adventure started at the Knittle brothers annual ugly sweater party. These guys have a sweet corner apartment right on Alki directly across the street from the water. The party was great, as always and reunited me with a bunch of old friends I haven't seen in ages. During the last 5 years I've really noticed myself grow personally and socially. A party like this 8 yeas ago I would have made it 30 maybe 40 minutes..

I can remember leaving the house for the weekend when my old roommates would throw a party. Now it's the complete opposite. I'm watching people come and go in that 40 minute timespan and I'm closing the place out with the hosts. One, two, three deep you start to get to that point where you've settled in. We're past the point of no return. I'm not driving anywhere but I'm also not leaving my car. It's always good to have the blessing from your host that its cool to crash at their place. 

I meet tons of new friends, we debate the new Star Wars and compare horror dating stories while getting a few new ideas for my 30 during 30. New friends come and go. Old friends make the rounds and reconnect. The night grows longer...four, five, six. The house is getting warm. Why'd I wear this damn scarf? One of my new buddies stuffs it in the freezer; genius. Pull it out and it's good for about 10 minutes of relief. Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas plays again for the third time. People laughing and having a good time. They all start to fade away a stuffed apartment becomes empty and then there were six. 

Someone passed out on the sectional. The brothers with a couple of gals. My new friend and I creating commentary for them hitting on these girls. Suddenly! Dave gets a crazy idea! He shouts Polar Bear! Come on we're jumping in the water. Being fueled with alcohol it doesn't sound like the worst idea in the world. It's only the middle of December and 3 in the morning. Dave tosses me a pair of swim trunks and I meet him outside. 

I've never done this so let's chalk it up to a new experience. We run across the street barefoot and Dave plunges into the black water just past the concrete steps. The show's on for our audience of one and I splash right in after him. It's cold, but not nearly as bad as I thought it'd be. The booze helps, I'm not freezing nor did I feel myself scrape my knuckles on the concrete or my toes on barnacles. These are injuries I find over the next couple of days. My body's in the water, I get a taste of salt across my lips. We swim out a bit but it's short lived. The excitement wore off and the challenge has been completed. We get back inside towel off and that caps off our night. 

Things I learned today:

Never would I ever go into Alki at anytime of the year sober. 

Drunken night swimming is probably a bad idea.

Living an interesting life leads to good stories which make social interactions very easy.

#16 Learn How to Fight with a Sword

Most of the things I've done so far were semi random experiences that presented themselves. This one however was something that was on my list. Something that I craved to search out. I've said it before but it ceases to amaze me at all the things my hometown has to offer. Seriously pick your poison. You want to go to a witchcraft book store? Seattle has it. You want to record music in the basement studio of some weirdos house? Seattle has it. Last weekend I ended up at some sketchy karaoke bar in Chinatown at 3am...because Seattle has it. So it wasn't a big surprise when I found a club that trains in broadsword fighting techniques. 

After my experience in the sensory deprivation tank I had a moment of clarity that I need to make a better effort to maintain friendships and repair those that have dwindled. I figured this would be a good one to invite one of my oldest and best friends Beau out to. Beau and I have had tons of adventures and have a plethora of stories about getting into shenanigans in high school. Of course he was down for some sword fighting.

Like most of my 30 for 30 it starts with an awkward moment of where the Hell am I? 

I find Beau waiting for me so I know I've got the right address or at least we're both in the wrong place. Nowhere around is there anything resembling a sword fighting class. 

If I was going to a children's tumbling and circus class maybe I'd be in the right place. Kids bouncing on trampolines. People juggling and practicing jumping and catching routines. Balancing acts and acrobats but no swords..we eventually found someone to direct us to the right area. 

This club basically doubles as a gym or workout class that you happen to be swinging blunt edges at each other. 

We met Eric the owner/operator of the club and he gave us the run down of what we'd be getting into. But before we could have any fun we had to take a moment to read the fine details. I sign my life away from being bludgeoned or decapitated. Standard, please don't be a dick and sue us forms that have to be a part of the society we live in. 

Eric starts to give us the run down and safety requirements to not get hurt or hurt anyone else. As he's explaining he grabs my sword which I already had pointed probably too close to his face and sticks it towards the ground.

Not long after more members start showing up. It's your basic group of white male nerds who've actually pushed themselves away from their computer screens to get a little exercise. We run around in circles getting warmed up and then separate far enough to practice some long swipes. Ground up, ground up - up down, up down. Lunges, squats and then reverse. 

After everyone is all warmed up we separate into partners and are taught a basic defense move without our swords. In this lesson you're being attacked with a "pretend" knife. 

You deflect the arm with the knife and counter with your own knife attack in the neck. Back and forth 10 to 12 times then reverse. Now your attacking and getting stabbed. Lots of moving and switching. Until it's time to switch partners then we practice a reversal and shove. 

In this exercise the attacker dodges your block and you have to switch your footing to shove them away. I totally ended up with the teacher on this one. I could tell he was getting frustrated with my uncoordinated ass. Because when it was his turn to shove he progressively shoved me harder and harder. Back and forth a couple dozen times.

Finally, we get our swords back and switch partners again. Standard strike and block technique taking turns. At no point do the swords strike. If you're hitting; you're too close for comfort. Then they bring a little movement into the mix. You strike as your partner backs up. Wash, rinse, repeat. 

The most advanced thing we got to do was a swipe down, strike forward, reverse up. Over and over.

If you read my post about the salsa dancing lessons you'll notice a trend about me. Anything that requires my full body moving in any sequence of motion is usually an uncoordinated mess. Except this time I didn't have music or alcohol to help out.

During one of my partner switches I'd made a joke about it being a lot like dancing. That guy did not find my quip amusing. Sorry dude, but it totally is. Four steps then repeat four steps then reverse. Same thing but instead of dancing with hot girls I'm reversing with sweaty nerds. I can't be too hard on myself after all no one is perfect their first time out. 

They wouldn't let Beau and I try the second half of the class. I guess it was too advanced? They all pulled out plastic one handed sabers. That was our cue to leave.

Things I learned today:

Keep in touch with your good buddies. It's easier than you think.

Watch your mouth when talking about someone's passion. People tend to be touchy when it comes to their hobbies

Fighting is a lot like dancing. A repetition of moves until it's fluid and muscle memory. 

Exercise doesn't have to be a boring treadmill. 

I found a good place to go if you ever want to run away and join the circus.