Graham Butcher has returned to Stavbear Studio for the first of two U.S. trainings in 2012! Today, he trained five of us in axe and hand-to-hand/self-defense. We spent the morning and early afternoon on axe drills. Axe is the training weapon for the green tab, the next level of Graham’s Stav training after the foundation level (black tab). I am attempting to complete my green tab syllabus this weekend - wish me luck! We did a variety of axe cuts and some two-person drills. For the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, Graham led us through a variety of desensitization exercises and self-defense moves. We did some punches, kicks, and grappling, which was all new to me! That was the point, really, to experience this stuff in a safe way, in part so that it wouldn’t be overwhelming if experienced in real life. It’s been a great first day; looking forward to tomorrow. Well, except for the waking-up-sore part.