katabasis /kətă'bəsis/, IPA(key): /kəˈtæbəsɪs/ n. (plural katabases) From Ancient Greek κατάβασις (katábasis), from verb καταβαίνω (katabaínō), from κατά (katá, “downwards”) + βαίνω (baínō, “go”).
1. A journey downwards: a journey downhill, a decrease of winds, a military retreat, a trip to the underworld; a trip from the interior of a country to the coast.
For most of the world, today is a dark day. For some it is the last dark day before the light returns tomorrow. For others the darkness won't lift until next weekend. Today is a good day to think about katabasis -- the idea of what it means to go dark.
Since our focuses this month are Basic Self-Defense and The Book (the Book of Hermes, a.k.a. the Book of Hermes-Thoth, a.k.a. the Tarot) we will explore the concept of katabasis with our bodies and with our meditations rather than with our intellects.
Katabasis: Cabal Fang Martial Arts Training Involution #153
This week's T.I. is not easy, so buckle up, hold on tight, and don't forget: modify, adapt, overcome.
Warm up thoroughly (at least 8:00).
Sparring. Spar all-in for 30 minutes. Adjust round length to suit your fitness level. If you are going it solo, do Wrestling Conditioner #2 (see below if you don't want to get out the Cabal Fang Study Guide).
Constitutional. Jump Squats (100), Lunges (100), Crunches (100), Bear Walk (100 yds), Get-ups (25), Mountain Climbers (100), Sprints (50 x 12').
Meditation. Lay out the spread of cards below, print out the picture, or set up your tablet/laptop. Set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes. Look at the pictures. What story does this little "chapter" of the Tarot "book" relate? Don't think in words -- look at the pictures as if they are selected photos from a children's book. What are the intervening pictures that complete the story? What comes after?
Record what you learned in your training journal. If it ain't in the journal it didn't happen.
Wrestling Conditioner #2: Set timer for 10 mins. Top Saddle a.k.a Mount your heavy bag and strike it 10 times as hard as you can. Drop, lock, and roll so that bag is on top of you. Knee boost or Reverse the bag as hard as you can back to Top Saddle. Strike 10 times as hard as you can. Drop, lock, and roll so that bag is on top of you. Bridge the bag and roll it off to regain Top Saddle. Repeat until timer beeps.