As many of you are aware we will soon be using some nylon weapons, alongside shinai, for some of our drilling and sparring. They should be a lot closer to real swords in terms of balance, shape and how they behave in contact and should really up the level of our training. In general our attitude towards protective gear has been very relaxed and we've been trusting everyone to take responsibility for their own safety but if people wish to spar full speed with the new weapons a certain minimum level of equipment will be necessary-
Mask (Preferably with back of the head protection)
Throat protection (Preferably a rigid material backed by padding)
Well-padded gloves such as lacrosse gloves
Forearm guards
Some form of protection for the body, specifically collar-bones, ribs, sternum
A certain measure of control will also need to be demonstrated as the weapons will hit A LOT harder than shinai. This doesn't mean you need to own all of this kit- a lot of it will be available to borrow within the club. Shinai will definitely still be in use so no problem if you don't have access to all the equipment or don't feel comfortable sparring with the nylon weapons. We'd also like to take this opportunity to encourage people to use throat protection whenever they spar with shinai as fencing mask bibs alone aren't really enough to stop a solid thrust.
Cheers
Jon + Johann
Other notes
Awards to be given out in the near future: Cat and Jon, a purple ribbon each.
The Battle of Dawlish Warren is on for this Saturday (24/4/10)
Lastly, there has been some interest in adding rapier to our repertoire. To do this we are going to do two things:
1) We will need to decide whether our focus will be the earlier “spada de lato” style of the Bolognese school, or the later rapier style of say Salvator Fabris.
2) I would need one or more folks to take the lead on this.
So, if you have any interest in which form we ought to study and/or you would like to take up this challenge…let me know.
On a related note our insurers have an allergic reaction to metal blades in training apparently, and so we will need to develop a suitable rapier/spada de lato simulator…I have ideas in the works currently, but I’m always open to more ideas.
Showing posts with label Prizing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prizing. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Monday, 1 March 2010
Further thoughts on Prizing and Ranks
If you play for a prize, as we have already discussed, what happens if you win? Well, to be fair not much in the IDC...what will happen is that the group will know that you are capable of challenging the crew and holding the field against all comers. For that you will be awarded a length of ribbon that you can attach to your gear to mark your success.
Number of prizes played:
single prizes = white
multiples of five = black
multiples of ten = green
On this theme, winning an IDC tourney:
single wins = purple
Finally, if you fight a Martial Challenge you can add a red ribbon.
Number of prizes played:
single prizes = white
multiples of five = black
multiples of ten = green
On this theme, winning an IDC tourney:
single wins = purple
Finally, if you fight a Martial Challenge you can add a red ribbon.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Thoughts on Prizing, Ranks, and Tournaments:
After following several threads on various HEMA forums (http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14518
http://www.wmacoalition.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=319), I’ve been thinking that I ought to clarify my position on some of these topics and share them with the rest of you.
First off ranks, well I’ve never liked them. Secondly, there is scant historical documentation for their use in fencing guilds and schools. Third, who am I to be giving out ranks anyway? Finally, we are as our name suggests a collective and as such a rigid ranking system is, I feel, inconsistent with the ethos of our group. However, it is worth noting that an unofficial system already exists and I think ought to continue. In this group your skill and knowledge speak volumes, the more of these you have or develop…the more responsible your position within the group becomes.
Next, prizing. For those who are unaware of the practice, it is essentially a challenge by a student to face the schools other students and/or any others willing to fight them. The “prize” in this is varied, either it is the acclaim of the school, or it is an increase in rank, or something else. Ultimately the reason for prizing within a group such as ours is to demonstrate the skill of the group and the individual. Therefore, I intend to encourage you all to issue a challenge to the group to “play for the Prize”. That however leads us to a dilemma, what to use as the “prize”? After a discussion with others last night I think I have hit upon a solution. First though I must say this: we have no formal ranking system…some of you will want one and others will not. Prizing then will function as a ranking system that anyone may opt into, or out of, as they see fit. It will not be required, merely encouraged. That then said we can move onto the form the “prize” will take. I’m thinking that I will borrow an idea from a historic fencing group that I am acquainted with and an idea of Dr Hart’s. A simple ribbon is the answer, one colour for individual “prizes” and others for different multiples. I’ll leave it to the individual to decide how they will wear and display their prize; it is after all more a symbol for them then for us.
Finally, this brings us to tournaments…it is my intention that the IDC should hold several seasonal tourneys. Christmas, Spring, Summer, and Autumn…My intention is to make each a different format if possible (and if there is a format that you would like to see please let me know). The Spring tourney will be a random weapons tourney (in honor of my favorite tourney ever: http://www.pbase.com/darter02/p34_013) and the date for that will be announced soon. In the Autumn I think a Pas de Arms would be good fun. The format of the Summer tourney is up for debate and I am open to suggestions on that. As with the Christmas tourney the prize will likely remain cash, although the addition of formal prize such as a cup (that would be the winners until the next tourney) is a likely to happen.
After following several threads on various HEMA forums (http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14518
http://www.wmacoalition.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=319), I’ve been thinking that I ought to clarify my position on some of these topics and share them with the rest of you.
First off ranks, well I’ve never liked them. Secondly, there is scant historical documentation for their use in fencing guilds and schools. Third, who am I to be giving out ranks anyway? Finally, we are as our name suggests a collective and as such a rigid ranking system is, I feel, inconsistent with the ethos of our group. However, it is worth noting that an unofficial system already exists and I think ought to continue. In this group your skill and knowledge speak volumes, the more of these you have or develop…the more responsible your position within the group becomes.
Next, prizing. For those who are unaware of the practice, it is essentially a challenge by a student to face the schools other students and/or any others willing to fight them. The “prize” in this is varied, either it is the acclaim of the school, or it is an increase in rank, or something else. Ultimately the reason for prizing within a group such as ours is to demonstrate the skill of the group and the individual. Therefore, I intend to encourage you all to issue a challenge to the group to “play for the Prize”. That however leads us to a dilemma, what to use as the “prize”? After a discussion with others last night I think I have hit upon a solution. First though I must say this: we have no formal ranking system…some of you will want one and others will not. Prizing then will function as a ranking system that anyone may opt into, or out of, as they see fit. It will not be required, merely encouraged. That then said we can move onto the form the “prize” will take. I’m thinking that I will borrow an idea from a historic fencing group that I am acquainted with and an idea of Dr Hart’s. A simple ribbon is the answer, one colour for individual “prizes” and others for different multiples. I’ll leave it to the individual to decide how they will wear and display their prize; it is after all more a symbol for them then for us.
Finally, this brings us to tournaments…it is my intention that the IDC should hold several seasonal tourneys. Christmas, Spring, Summer, and Autumn…My intention is to make each a different format if possible (and if there is a format that you would like to see please let me know). The Spring tourney will be a random weapons tourney (in honor of my favorite tourney ever: http://www.pbase.com/darter02/p34_013) and the date for that will be announced soon. In the Autumn I think a Pas de Arms would be good fun. The format of the Summer tourney is up for debate and I am open to suggestions on that. As with the Christmas tourney the prize will likely remain cash, although the addition of formal prize such as a cup (that would be the winners until the next tourney) is a likely to happen.
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