Oops. Bit of a gap since the last post.
Well, in fairness, I haven't tied much.
I audited and bottomed for the Wykd Dave intensives in August, and found it one of the most useful workshops I have attended in terms of stuff I'm actually going to use on a regular basis.
(Assuming I start tying regularly. Which. Well.)
The handling and tension drills have already affected my tying, though some of it is awkward. I must accept and remind myself that I tie how I tie, not how Dave ties, however admirably he does so. Cutting my rope into shorter lengths might help the handling, but do I really want to work with 20ft ropes? Tying five-rope TKs on most of my partners for the sake of never letting my ends drop? If I can work on controlling my tension via my own methods, I think it will serve me better.
From a bottoming standpoint, labbing through armbinders and wrap placement proved very useful. I survived the high-hand position better than I expected to. My shoulders are still stiff; I am adding nights of stretching into my weekly workout plan, as injuries and weightlifting have thrown my flexibility all to hell.
Permeating all of this is a miasma of uncertainty. Every time my fingers fumble, or I resort to self-tying for lack of space or partner, the fog grows denser, coating my mind in why do I do this
has it been worth it
how much money
how much time
do i even like this anymore
am i any good after all of this
Over and over, I reach for the same positions, same poses and shapes, same strategies for bringing sensation and pain. am i boring do they like this
I've amassed a series of transitions, suspension, partials that I want to try, but they never come to fruition. stagnant dull cowardly look they're all better than you
Narix is coming up. impostor make a fool of yourself
And then stop making excuses. For not tying, writing, reading, lifting, stretching.
So I'll solicit every bottom I can find until November. Just practice.
