So, what have we done, to be honest not much. Josh and I have been significantly more conscience about our weight. We eat better. We have started running again. I ran on day 1 (20 minutes) and day 2 (30 minutes). I doubt I have lost any weight, but I do feel pretty good. Josh ran yesterday, but could only pull off about 10 minutes. He knows he has a long ways to go, but at least it was a start. I have drawn some spiritual material for him to study, but I haven't handed that to him yet. This week in school he has a major exam that he's trying to better on. He bombed a similar exam a few weeks ago, so I am trying to get him enough time to study. He also is working on studying for another competition he is involved with called Bible quizzing (through the Canadian Missionary Alliance churches), and I want him to do well there. Josh is also home schooled, which means he needs time to do his school work at home, before he starts his class at the local high school. We have started to build better habits, as well. Josh suffers from the classic teen ailment which won't allow him to wake early. I have helped him to fight such an ailment.
The plan that I have laid out for him is like such. He and I would be considered (and act as) monks (brothers) in the Monastic order of the CCY. During this time we will train physically, spiritually, and develop the correct character for this role. As we arrive at our target weight, and are physically fit enough we will adapt to "the Squire" stage. I have planned a ceremony and the (receiving of the sword) honour. This stage will also be physical, spiritual and character training, but now the emphasis is not about getting fit for that role, but becoming developed for the role of the knight. There are benchmarks for this as well. When all these benchmarks are reached.
The CCY had set in their information material that a knight should be an expert in swordsmanship, hand to hand combat and other weaponry. Josh and I have used foils before and have become somewhat skilled. The new sword will be a saber. The rules for saber fighting are different then foil or epee', but I think they would be more in line with true swordsmanship.
As far as other weapon expertise. I possess a crossbow, and Joshua has a compound bow. We will refine our skills with those tools until we can effective be considered an expert with those tools. I also went to the hardware store and had some dowel cut for a quarter staff/walking stick. I haven't decided whether we have to master fighting with that as well. This leaves that hand to hand combat situation. Josh and I did take a term of teaching in Karate, and I took a term with Judo, but neither of us would be experts. Unfortunately, we don't have any trainer in the town we live in (or at least we don't know of anyone). I could advertise and see if there might be a teacher. We may choose to attend classes in a another town. I do wonder with our present technology if there is someway to gain instruction without having the commute. Someone must have the DVDs out there that would effectively get us started. I have thought about getting the Kata patterns for the different belts. This would be like studying the exams, but we would have the knowledge of each Kata. That would be a start. I also haven't decided whether we need to be a Black belt, or whether we should be more of a self defense student. As you can see this is still a work in progress.
Somewhere. there must be a question. Why? Sword fighting is a pretty ancient, outdated concept. It is, but it was a requirement for CCY for their knights. As such, we will become experts with the sword. To be honest, in just a few days we would become better (likely) then anyone in town with a sword. I do like fencing as a sport, so the chance to re-learn (and excel) in sword play excites me. Regarding other weapons, the bow and crossbow are the more practical weapons. I sincerely think we need to be ready for these tools. My hope is that when trained we will seek out quests (tasks) that are fit for a knight to undertake. This may require the need for a real weapon, and we will be prepared when that happens. My hope is that we'd never have to use these tools on a human, wild and dangerous animals, perhaps, but not a human. The hand to hand combat, or course, would be the sort of thing one might have to do to another human aggressor. This is not a happy concept, but if called upon to act, it would be nice to not be totally reliant on the weapons which could seriously mame or kill someone.
At the core, we must realize that knights were active and as needed 'aggressive'. This is not a normal consideration for most spiritual communities, but that doesn't diminish the reality of the situation.
A knight without the spiritual and character depth is little more then a bully with skill. remember the difference between super hero and super villain was more about their heart.
During this whole time, we will be establishing spiritual teachings about the role of responsibility, seeking the face of God for direction and acting as a child of God in all circumstances. There are creeds and catechisms to learn, as well as the core teachings of the Bible. There are more basic items of developing character depth. For a 16 year old, this is a lot to take in, but when it is done, I hope people will see that we have fully become the embodiment of this vision.
I will conclude with just another photo of my son and I with a couple of his little brothers, my own brother and my dad. Just a good men shot.
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