Wednesday 27 July 2011

...so where do you put your hands?

Phew...been a fair spell ain't it? Sorry 'bout that and my apologies to you all.

So I was chatting with StevieT last night and he asks me just that question. At first I thought he was referring to this thread over on the HEMA Alliance, but no, he had an altogether simpler and perplexing question.

In relation to the crossguard/quillions on the hilt of a hand a half sword...where is your dominant hand (although I'd argue that either hand can fill that role in this case)?

Is it cozied up next to the cross? Or is there any space between the two?

Frankly I'd not thought much about this really...however Stevie had indeed done so, and found that he received far less cuts to the hand if he didn't leave it jammed up next to the cross. "Curious" I thought..."makes some sense" I concurred. He then strengthened his theory with the possibility of documentary evidence...so when I have the free time I fully intend to look into that side of thing.

In the mean time let's put this theory to the test. Let's put our "little grey cells" onto this theory and experiment with modifying our grip next time we have a sword in our hands.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

you find the oddest things...

Reposted from Mike's Indes IDC blog: There is perhaps something odd happening in Jorg-Wilhalm's Fechtbuch.

The obvious answer is that the images are copies of an earlier work...but just where has this content come from? That is the real question.

Thursday 17 March 2011

a few thoughts on my place in all this...

In thinking about things I realized that I don’t truly consider myself a martial artist, or for that matter a fencer…and I definitely don’t consider myself some modern manifestation of a knight (well, perhaps…but in my opinion the historical form of the armoured man on horseback has about as much in common with our view of knights as does my foot). For myself I am an Experimental Archaeologist or a Combat Archaeologist, and I must be honest it affects how I view HEMA.


What is Experimental Archaeology?

Simply put it is the implementation of a number of different methods, techniques, analyses, and approaches in order to generate and test hypotheses based upon archaeological source material.

Although the construction of objects based on historical evidence, and using only historically accurate technologies is a highly visible aspect of Experimental Archaeology. Ultimately, the true product of experimental archaeology is data, not the constructed item itself.

Living history, historical re-enactment, and primitive technology are occasionally associated with Experimental Archaeology. However, these activities are not necessarily concerned with archaeological or historical evidence, or they are undertaken for the purposes of entertainment rather than for research.


What is Combat Archaeology?

Combat archaeology is a sub-discipline within archaeology focused on the study of inter-group and intra-group conflict. Conflict and violence have had a hand in shaping human societies since the earliest recorded history and quite probably earlier still.

Focusing on the individual combatant, the aim of combat archaeology is to investigate conflict from a practical perspective, with a primary focus on design, manufacture and the modes of use of weaponry. This is approached from a broad range of techniques ranging from 'physical interpretation' using accurate replicas to micro-structural analysis of original weaponry.

The primary objectives of combat archaeology is to shed light on ancient and historical martial arts (along with their social functions), the technological evolution of weaponry, and the experience of the individual warrior or soldier from the perspective of the human body and mind in a combat environment.


....and no this doesn't mean I think we should all be wearing turn shoes.

:^)

Tuesday 15 March 2011

what a great way to get hurt...

For the record the evidence on the ground for the use of two equal length blades at the same time prior to the renaissance is scanty...I am aware of this. However, it is bloody good fun:
Cuisinart of Doom!

Everyone thinks differently from everyone else, so he behaves differently in combat” “For as we are not all of a single nature, so we also cannot have a single style in combat, yet all must nonetheless arise and be derived from a single basis.” ( Meyer 1570)

Monday 14 March 2011

Thoughts on the behourd

First we must admit that we know little about the behourd and what distinguished from a proper tournament or real combat. For the moment the mists of history hide the exact definition from view. If we assume that the behourd was diminutive and milder form of tournament, and in this form young squires were given the opportunity to pressure test their training in mock combat. Assuming this to be true is it then truly logical to presume that the techniques that they would employ in the behourd would differ radically from those for use in battle, tournament, and personal combat. Would a squire learn how to use a shield aggressively, cut and thrust with accuracy and correct edge alignment, grapple in armour, only to set all that aside to use a completely different set of techniques when one of the purposes of the behourd was to display martial prowess? It certainly is possible that they learned another distinct method for use in the behourd, however it doesn’t scan as correct to me.

Considering that injuries and deaths are noted in relation to the behourd it would seem likely that it was not some special event unrelated to real fighting. The behourd, whatever the rules may have been, was I believe a somewhat less intense and potentially less dangerous form of tournament that allowed young squires an opportunity to test their skills and display their prowess. Sadly all we have is a handful of widely varying descriptions of behourds, with differing rules, required equipment, and objectives, as such there cannot, at this time, be a conclusive description.



Sunday 13 March 2011

A thought for the future

Anyone interested in a proper late 12th century early 14th century behourd?


Saturday 12 March 2011

Hmmm....should I post the followup entry referring to the SCA? Or should I accept that my point was made?

hmmm.....

No better not.

Friday 11 March 2011



Apparently this sort of thing is deeply offensive to some folks...personally I couldn't care less.

I do wonder why though: perhaps it is do to your own uncertainty? Perhaps it is envy?

Who knows for sure...but I do think that those that protest the loudest often have the most to lose.

anywho, my footing is secure...how's yours?

just because...

Just because it's awesome, I'm sharing this.

Tuesday 8 March 2011

videos

A few random sparring videos from last nights session, some experienced folks and some new folks...there's a fair amount of promise here as well as plenty to work on*:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyITo2sozBs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE7S5lCMkE4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3iqaRinfXs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1vi6rNZf3w

*like my filming...next week some films me perhaps?

Wednesday 26 January 2011

I thought we might need more of this

All we need is a suitable version and we could be training with this.
Dusack 1
Dusack 2
Messer 1
Messer 2 (a bit of lighthearted fun)

A simple tutorial...part 1



Creating your own padded "Masters jacket"

You will need:
A suitable fencing jacket (I used a front opening version available from Absolute Fencing.)
A few yards of closed cell foam (I used 5mm thick foam purchased from Langans)
A few yards of suitable cloth (I used cotton broadcloth)
A few yards of Velcro
Needles and thread, scissors, etc.
Card stock

First get yourself a suitable jacket (ensuring that it is at least a size larger than you normally wear for minimal padding). I used an Absolute brand jacket solely as a cost cutting exercise...use what ever works and is affordable for you.

Once you have your obtained your component parts, you are ready to start. Begin by creating a pattern for your padding out of card stock. As every jacket (and individual) is different I will not provide a pattern here...start by laying out your jacket over the card stock and trace the outline. Then simply remove the portions of card that are not required to form your pattern. Don't forget to try on your jacket with the card stock pattern inside...this will help you decide what areas still need to be trimmed. You will want to avoid bunching/wrinkles wherever possible to ensure a decent fit. Make sure that your padding covers those areas that you would like to protect. I would humbly suggest that the clavicle, sternum, cervical vertebra, and kidneys are the minimum locations on the torso that I would protect.

Next, sew covers for your foam inserts using the patterns you made earlier...don't forget to make them slightly larger to allow for the thickness of the foam and the stitching.




Now you are nearly finished...just fit the foam inside the covers and sew up the openings...this is the last chance to ensure that everything fits, so have a fitting.









Last step...no you aren't finished quite yet. These pads aren't going to stay in place on their own are they?

No, no they aren't slacker.

Get the Velcro you purchased earlier and sew it along the "high stress" areas of the pad and it's matching location on the jacket (remember to sew the "soft" side in the jacket)...this way the pads will stay in place and can be removed to allow for laundering of the jacket.



Now you're done...now go fight.

Maybe next time we will cover the arms.

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Well...not too bad last night, although I did (or allowed to happen) a few things I regret.

You see I had a plan...and I got side tracked. Bother.

Still, Odin did a great job on the fly...although I shouldn't have asked him to do that without more warning.

All of this being predicated on the arrival of "new folks"...I like them. Their just so damn eager...but I shouldn't allow them to distract my focus.

Next time the new folks are all yours, if you are ok with that Odin.

A few other points to come later...

Wednesday 19 January 2011

Hello again...

been a spell, hasn't it?

To be clear Mike's blogs got me thinking...and that can only be trouble. Two things that are going to appear here (when I finish them that is) are tutorials on creating your own padded master's jacket, and crafting a pollaxe simulator.

How have classes been? To be honest...a bit rubbish really. I'm fine teaching the very new, but now that so many of us are moving beyond that stage I find that I'm a little out of my element. I've been focused on bringing new techniques to the group, yet feeling that that wasn't truly what was needed.

I think the format of the classes needs to change in a series of radical ways.

1. We have many of the skills we need at this point, and while there needs to be a "drip-feed" of new ideas/techniques I can see that what we truly need is a set of drills and activities that will focus on improving certain areas: fitness, reactions, offense, defense, etc. Ultimately, what I think needs to happen is that our classes need to spend more time improving our core skills.

2. Another area that ought to change is how we structure the costs/tuition issue. I don't know about you, but I hate standing up at the end of class and collecting the rent. If I could I would do this for free. There is one among you that has on occasion paid in advance for the month...I like this guy and I like his style. Now, I have a couple of choices here...I can:
A. "keep things as they are."
B. "encourage the membership to opt into this new policy out of kindness"
C. "encourage the membership to opt into this new policy by raising the cost of individual lesson, and offering a discount for prepayment."

As always, your thoughts are valued and appreciated on any of these points.

Wednesday 5 January 2011

doldrums

sorry that there hasn't been much content here of late...hopefully there will be more soonish