Post by travis on May 31, 2007 10:39:03 GMT 1
Everything was still.
Almost eerie with the lack of noise.
It was at the in between stage where the nocturnal animals were coming in to roost, hiding away from the emerging light, and the animals of the day hadn't become active still thinking that darkness would greet them with it's blank, opaque smile. The forest still layer slumbering silently away. It was like this for miles around almost nothing stirred within the entanglement of branches and foliage. It was the way Travis liked it best when, he least likely to be disturbed and he could focus entirely on training. He could easily lose himself here within the trees and the greenery. Even the light mist that had been trapped over night in the forest, which rose and fell swirling in it's own little dance was to his liking. Even though the ghostly white mist chilled him causing his very core to become cold.
Eventually he found what he was searching for. Two ancient looking oaks trees that stretched into the heavens, just longer than his half his full arms span apart. A life time of battling against the elements had caused their outer bark to become hard and sharp. Jagged splinter erupting from ruptures in the protective shell. These qualities im-particular were what he was looking for. He cleared floor of any twigs, leaves or any other things that dwelled on the forest floor so that he could see the bare earth beneath him. He position himself between the two oaks.
As he was taught he took one long breath and held it for no more than a second. Then released it.
In one sweeping motion he shifted his weight from the balls of his feet on to his front foot. At the same time he struck out with his his forearm and fist striking the tree at a 45 angle. He didn't stop at the initial impact and following through immediately by dragging his arm along the bark until he could no longer touch it due to its curve. He returned his hand back to just under his chin guarding as if he was actually fighting a real person that would strike back unlike the tree that remain rooted to the spot. He stared at the mark he had left on the tree just staring at a thin trail of blood showing his path.
He never did seem to manage to prepare himself enough for how painful the exercise was. He could feel ever single cut, ever single splinter.
'Mind over matter,' he thought.
That was all stimulus he needed and he shifted his weight to the other foot and repeat exactly what he had done with his other arm. He forced himself not to stop after each strike constantly shifting his weight backwards small and forwards, each and everytime striking out. The exercise only worked if it was repeated over and over and knew that.
Travis hit the trees over and over exactly the same spot , exactly the same angle. Inaccurate was something that he had never been. After 40 minutes of hitting the trees Travis couldn't take any more of the pain and collasped nestle in side one the roots of the tree cradeling his arms gingerly trying nurse away some of the pain.
Almost eerie with the lack of noise.
It was at the in between stage where the nocturnal animals were coming in to roost, hiding away from the emerging light, and the animals of the day hadn't become active still thinking that darkness would greet them with it's blank, opaque smile. The forest still layer slumbering silently away. It was like this for miles around almost nothing stirred within the entanglement of branches and foliage. It was the way Travis liked it best when, he least likely to be disturbed and he could focus entirely on training. He could easily lose himself here within the trees and the greenery. Even the light mist that had been trapped over night in the forest, which rose and fell swirling in it's own little dance was to his liking. Even though the ghostly white mist chilled him causing his very core to become cold.
Eventually he found what he was searching for. Two ancient looking oaks trees that stretched into the heavens, just longer than his half his full arms span apart. A life time of battling against the elements had caused their outer bark to become hard and sharp. Jagged splinter erupting from ruptures in the protective shell. These qualities im-particular were what he was looking for. He cleared floor of any twigs, leaves or any other things that dwelled on the forest floor so that he could see the bare earth beneath him. He position himself between the two oaks.
As he was taught he took one long breath and held it for no more than a second. Then released it.
In one sweeping motion he shifted his weight from the balls of his feet on to his front foot. At the same time he struck out with his his forearm and fist striking the tree at a 45 angle. He didn't stop at the initial impact and following through immediately by dragging his arm along the bark until he could no longer touch it due to its curve. He returned his hand back to just under his chin guarding as if he was actually fighting a real person that would strike back unlike the tree that remain rooted to the spot. He stared at the mark he had left on the tree just staring at a thin trail of blood showing his path.
He never did seem to manage to prepare himself enough for how painful the exercise was. He could feel ever single cut, ever single splinter.
'Mind over matter,' he thought.
That was all stimulus he needed and he shifted his weight to the other foot and repeat exactly what he had done with his other arm. He forced himself not to stop after each strike constantly shifting his weight backwards small and forwards, each and everytime striking out. The exercise only worked if it was repeated over and over and knew that.
Travis hit the trees over and over exactly the same spot , exactly the same angle. Inaccurate was something that he had never been. After 40 minutes of hitting the trees Travis couldn't take any more of the pain and collasped nestle in side one the roots of the tree cradeling his arms gingerly trying nurse away some of the pain.
