tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63299258989491797972024-03-08T04:11:50.305+00:00HemaGoth: Sitting on the FenceA newbie's eye view of Historical European Martial Arts.
<p>
Or at least it was... I'm starting my third year, and I still love it. And now I'm going back to the original texts.</p>
Blimey.. It's my decade and now I'm an instructor.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-32982914600995090372020-04-18T19:50:00.001+01:002020-04-18T19:50:23.339+01:00Because there's nowhere else to put this.We're quarantined, there's shit to do. I think I've found a great, cheap way to make a modular pell and so I go down a HEMA rabbit hole seeing if anyone has my idea and has put in the research. (Kee Klamps and car tyres- there's a good chance it will work, be semi permanent and massively modular)<br />
<br />
I didn't find anything related to that, but I found an amusing... divergence from who I am and what I could have been. It's wrapped up in an interview about a new club opening near the site of my old one and I kind of want to re-write it as if I was the interviewee. It's about a school with a very special idea.<br />
<br />
"You began your practice in HEMA with British sources, later started practicing Italian Swordsmanship and, now running a new school with a curious framework"<br />
<br />
I did- the reason I went with English sources was because I didn't need to rely on translations. It just happened that Olde English was really easy for me thanks to endless visits to the museum as a kid. Handwriting gives me a headache, but printed with the ligatures and everything was easy. Even with the absolute lack of editors or dictionaries. Through sheer, dumb luck, going to that category of text was no harder than reading the Hobbit.<br />
<br />
"but it was the mid 2000's and competition... blah blah blah"<br />
<br />
I'm shocked that competition was much of a question in the mid 2000's. A pedant would say that the mid 2000's is another 30 years away. I was young 13 years ago and new to HEMA. Let's assume good faith and bad transcription- There was no judge training back then, competition rules were being worked out- Hanwei Practicals were the best rapier around and the best backsword simulator was a shinai with a ballcock and Fightcamp was held at a museum.<br />
<br />
I got roped into competitions to make the maths easier. First time I held steel, I used my biker jacket for puncture resistance. I look back at those videos and- oh god no, personal safety and technique. I tell my guys to try judging before competition because that's far more difficult. It's not a halcyon day of super skill- it's a lot of people learning very quickly.<br />
<br />
"that might have been the end of my HEMA career until I saw one particular Italian system in use"<br />
<br />
Firstly- Citation Needed. Which particular Italian system. I had 2-3 weeks on Guy Windsor's rapier before competition. Then I went to reading Cappo in the translated repro by the Thomases. I've seen the same system used by escrima students and more English types and as much as the Escrima looks swish.<br />
<br />
"bad student.... pester instructors"<br />
<br />
I have troubles getting my lot to understand how difficult it is to pester me for new information. I find it hard to have lesson plans because my guys keep asking good questions and I get derailed trying to answer them. This stuff is cool. Every instructor I rate will talk about this for hours given a beer and a good question. There's little money or fame in HEMA- you teach to get better opponents. You talk about it because it's really interesting.<br />
<br />
"blah blah blah...Shakespeare.. blah blah 'Italy was seen to be the sinful centre of the Christian world"<br />
<br />
Will was a hack, he wrote satire and fart jokes for a bunch of people who would rather be whoring and drinking instead of attending "high art", his universality and timelessness is down to that. The target could be master fencer Saviolo, or it could be master singer Whigfield. He was probably taking the piss out of the fencing schools in the same way that he was using iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets to mimic the Dick Van Dyke school of cockney accents.. "Christian world"... Yeah, I'm not going to start talking about Protestants and Catholics at that time.<br />
<br />
If you're reading this- you know the article, you know the person.<br />
<br />
Jeez, what I could have done if I had an ego.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-51758082729137299142019-08-21T01:34:00.001+01:002019-08-21T01:34:47.453+01:00Parsing FightcampMy girlfriend is disabled, She has also been sexually assaulted ("touched up") by my esteemed and honourable embezzler of funds when he was a teacher. If he wasn't a massive cunt, she would have a skill and experience at least equal to mine.<br />
<br />
She was SG-3, she chose Middleton to be her Moriarty- she's one of us with new eyes and old memories.<br />
<br />
She had her first open competiion at Fightcamp this year. Dropped out after her first bout- which she was happy to lose, and will be happier when she sees the video- her first bout was at the hands of a very good fencer and the eventual winner of the pool. The shit between it:<br />
<br />
She needed a moment because she was expecting 5 exchanges, and someone said 6th. There were tears a breather and a lot of frustration with herself... and patronising bullshit from the sidelines and the "judges".<br />
<br />
The judges made many shit calls- I was cornering for a newbie and there were no rules that allowed me to intervene or tear them a new one, I saw flat blows. Abuse of the afterblow rule (foot didn't move- it was still in time). Halt called and ignored enough times that if I had the power, I would have ended the pool and disqualified everyone who didn't.<br />
<br />
I am angry that I told someone who left HEMA 10 years ago and only just has a tenuous grasp on a wonderful hobby, that she was right to pull out of the feder competition. HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-62036475439504698392019-08-12T22:28:00.000+01:002019-08-12T22:28:50.108+01:00The cost of one memberWe had a bit of a crisis of conscious recently. The club has worked hard to distance itself from old associations. We didn't tell about the new group who we saw as papercut toxic. The kinds who use gay or girl as insults. The people that define microagressions.<br />
<br />
We're now big enough to need formal rules and procedures. It's not enough to rely on the goodwill of members and gentlemanly behaviour. And yes, I don't like virtue signaling. You come into my space- you treat everyone in the room as if they could, regretfully, kill you.<br />
<br />
Not going to lie. I balked at a formal code of conduct, I have to be actively promoting it. I looked at the code with apprehension, assuming that nobody would willingly break it. Worrying about if I did.<br />
<br />
I didn't think that people would object to the rules. Let alone people we trusted. We're a club of 60+ active members, we can take walk ins, we can be idiots sometimes, but we have a principle of diversity.<br />
<br />
So we have someone who refused to obey a code that expected people to recognise pronouns- 3 years of goodwill, equipment loans and valuable contribution lost because he couldn't learn a name or respect personhood.<br />
<br />
I am angry it came to this. But proud that this was the decision.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-17063280064418747862019-07-25T20:38:00.000+01:002019-07-25T20:38:36.510+01:004 down, 56 to go. It's the Fightcamp planning spree and inbetween comittee and club stuff, constantly more complicated life stuff and so on... It has always been hard keeping the blog- But nkw harder than ever because things I want to rant about is too sensitive, so it passes without comment until it is no. longer topical. A lot of the stuff I do now has to respect the trust and some weird authority other people have given me.. Been a very long time since I was just a well intentioned idiot with a sword and a copy of Guy Windsor.<br />
<br />
I am taking a little time to reflect about the stuff I love-<br />
<br />
This year, 2 more of my guys have been invited to teach. We have a lass who will be ready to teach sword and buckler next year. Another of the ladies is capable of teaching a class worthy of Fightcamp - and would have run it at Renaissance Rumble.<br />
<br />
On the newer end, we have competitors who are eager to throw themselves in at the deep end. My girlfriend is ready to fulfil a promise she made to herself last year and has been (almost) equally scared and joyful when she realises that it's real and a possibility. We have competitors and those who are going for the sheer joy of learning stuff they never get a chance to try.<br />
<br />
It is hard to say how proud I am and how far we (I) have come from the uber shinai at the gunpowder mills.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-36116982753416207512018-05-28T21:20:00.001+01:002018-05-28T21:20:21.120+01:00 I wholeheartedly support the Wessex League's actions to support inclusivity.<br />
I wholeheartedly support the Wessex League's actions to
support inclusivity. I believe their concerns are valid and I am happy
with the decision they have made.<br />
<br />
A letter requesting that a certain person of... questionable nature's name was removed from their jackets is doing the round. I've seen the screencaps, and let's just say, they are incredibly damning- lots of white supremicist dogwhistles and some that are less dogwhistly.<br />
<br />
I am being coy, for three reasons. You're reading this- you know exactly who and what. There's a good chance you've already read and made up your mind. No more oxygen is needed for his views, and I won't be surprised if there starts to be frivilous defamation suits thrown around. The latter is more likely given the latest "response". A non-apology that is, in my opinion, more grist to the mill and more weight to the accusation. I'm unwilling to put my club and my team into the firing line by being Officially Outspoken about someone that I have no personal or professional interaction with- Just me and I'd like to think I'd put my neck on the line.. For now, soft pressure. I am censuring and advising people to avoid all services offered by those in question. When pressed, I will explain- I cannot, in anything that remotely resembles, good conscience, allow anything less. . <br />
<br />
The most recent explanation is, to be fair, utter bollocks. "I do not hold supremacist views" followed by a list of supremacist whining- how "voicing criticism of mass immigration" gets you called a Nazi (mass immigration is a canard) "Muslim Grooming scandals in England" (No mention or concern about the systemic and disgusting conspiracy that allowed Jimmy Saville and several politicians to escape justice by dying of old age- That's not a Muslim thing at all).<br />
<br />
Calling his detractors the Thought Police. Lying about people condoning "religious or racially motivated rape" (Rape is bad, ok. Don't give a shit why you do it. I don't care if you think it's culturally sanctioned- roofies, fucking someone incapable of consent, threatening them until they say yes... NOT OK)<br />
<br />
Naturally preferring your own race- I can't be arsed to have a look at that study right now. I could probably spend many posts dissecting the failures. Any nature/nurture study is either inherently flawed or unethical. Quick glance suggests it's been shaped by confirmation bias, partially with the experiment. The abstracts are.. complicated.<br />
<br />
Accusing your detractors of fabricating evidence... Forcibly joining you to groups, photoshopping screenshots. This fails anything but cursory examination. I have been aware of this for about a year, followed the evidence as it was created- saw the removal requests made. I believe the screenshots are 100% kosher- the idea that the chain has been fouled so much is the ranting of a man trapped in a corner and firmly hoisted by his petard.<br />
<br />
Pretty much every single sentence from the statment is utter scapegoating bullshit. Which, in my mind, serves to add to the guilt of the person making the statement. Immigrants, people of colour, people with other religions... Others. Never your actions. This is a key indicator of supremacist thinking, something that allows you to pass blame for setbacks and inflate your own success (Imagine how good I could be without all these people gunning for me) Concern trolling about the Muslim Question. "actual normalcy". "See Swedes getting raped because of their ethnicity" (he doesn't- it's reported to him, by people he seeks out).... etc etc etc. Ends with a full on attack of an individual and a statement that this is all done because of some petty rivalry that extends to harming his partner.<br />
<br />
The full context of that statement needs to be examined, and it's "yes, these accusations are true- you're worried about what I've said because you're the evil oppressors". It does not stand up to scrutiny with any other context.<br />
<br />
I applaud and support all those who are uncomfortable with the individual's actions and the way he has replied.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-25860841768481294302018-03-09T01:28:00.001+00:002018-03-09T01:28:45.964+00:001 down. 39 to go.For the few people who are surprised that I am still active and they get notifications when I post.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of my guys has been invited to teach at Fightcamp.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This has been a goal of mine since I became lead instructor, it's why I put in the time and money needed to keep passions alive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I want every one of my lot to have a fightcamp worthy lesson inside (and maybe able to jump in and teach if there's a cancellation)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So proud, so happy. 1 down. 39 to go.</div>
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-22277778354768880342017-12-14T02:19:00.000+00:002017-12-14T02:19:11.956+00:00Oh... Drama. goodie.I think I'm safe in the assumption that anyone who reads this has a pretty good idea of HEMA and the politics and the drama. Part of me wants to go on a name and shame rant but I don't want to tell the racists where to learn how to hurt people. <br />
<br />
I feel confident in stating racism because after coming back from class today I spent a while searching for things I knew were around a few days ago and all I can find now that a fucktonne of entries have been removed from Google under the Right to Be Forgotten and a well curated Facebook post not quite pleading innocence. To my eye, it appears to be a way to hide all questionable evidence and plead persecution. He's opened up a hole in the narrative that is tanatamount to an admission of guilt. That's what's informing my feelings, but mostly irrelavent to what happens next.<br />
<br />
This puts me in a position I had hoped I never needed to consider. In fact the whole structure and running of our club is so that these questions should never come up- Equality, Fairness, and all of that is enshrined in our constitution. The response to our GAGAS event (driven by the members, I just had to nod authoritively once in a while) was overwhelming. We are inclusive and I will not, knowingly, teach a bully.<br />
<br />
As an instructor I have a duty of care, to my students foremost but it is wider than that. I do not believe that we should teach fighting arts to anyone who wishes to oppress. Our students aren't the end of our world but the beginning. If someone is less fortunate, we help. You raise up, and yes you can raise up the world by helping one person- providing that all agree to lift eachother up.<br />
<br />
If you are strong, pause and take time to explain how the weak can win.<br />
<br />
There is no doubt that I have to take a strong stance for inclusivity. That's how our club works. It's what we were founded on. The sharing of knowledge and spread of ideas is so key to us that the new year will see me pushing to get as many of the guys capable of running a lesson on their pet subject as possible. It would be a massive source of pride for me if they were invited to teach elsewhere or able to step in if a Fight Camp slot would otherwise be cancelled.<br />
<br />
I'm going to have to nail my colours to the mast, and now I am having to rapidly find the best way to do it.<br />
<br />
I've never felt comfortable wearing the rainbow because I don't own it and never should. I only use pronouns when a name escapes me. I am not claiming to fight for others because I don't know their struggles.<br />
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-28163879341081647192017-04-07T19:58:00.002+01:002017-04-07T19:58:26.155+01:00It's that time of year again.Where I both curse and celebrate Matt and Lucy Easton's hard work and dedication. Fightcamp tickets went on sale at around half 9 this morning (after a good half hour of frustrated refreshing and panicked co-ordination) and sold out before lunch.<br />
<br />
The lineup hasn't been finalised- there's still a lot of open slots, but in a way that's not really all that important. The instructors will be good, regardless. The people will be fantastic. Competitions friendly and intense. Beer... drunk. And it marks a passing of time.<br />
<br />
Last year we had to get things in place very quickly due to a bastard. We had classes cancelled, which we'd found out was due to non-payment to the venue, despite everyone paying money in and the club being, theoretically, well in the black. Bluntly, we were chronically fucked over.<br />
<br />
It's been a year since the great embezzelment that almost cost us the club. We had no instructor and although the club was ours in spirit- the name was dragged so far through the mud that we could no longer use it. Hence the complete change of branding. The club image was taken along with.. some thousand pounds which should have been used to invest in the club and other little things like pay the venue. Kit that was stored at the defrauded venue is still unavailable to us.<br />
<br />
I am still furious about the embezzlement, but fortunately, it was only material things. In the long run getting rid of the thief was really good for us. I feel I'm going from strength to strength as a teacher. The past year there's been so much growth and engagement from the guys. The fencing has got tighter, the questions harder to answer. It would be nice to open up some time to free study but there's not enough room and we can't really start earlier due to boring stuff like work and travel. There's talk about holding different kind of event, which I'll cover in a later post- when we have more than just an idea about what we want to do. (I'm pretty excited about it, and think it fits well with my vision of the club).<br />
<br />
It's nerve wracking bringing people to these events as an instructor, I really care about the guys doing well (not necessarily winning, but being brilliant, difficult and fun opponents) and loving the event. Their failures are more mine than their successes. I know they will do well, even the newbies who have managed to get tickets. But... there's always the nerves if you care about something.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-61875207196781442892017-01-19T18:57:00.000+00:002017-01-19T19:17:04.317+00:00Simple question, complex answer,.<p dir="ltr">It's lovely when a simple question fires up the brain and starts making all sorts of connections. This was something that appeared in the charming Mr Kovalic's Twitter. It will be unsurprising that my path to HEMA included gaming and wondering about the realities behind the story.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The question that intrigued me was making called shots in melee. There are a lot of good ideas, but nothing that rang true to my experience of sword fighting. Let's ignore the fact that an offhand dagger should add quite a bonus to defence or that a buckler is also a bludgeoning weapon. Strength isn't the defining trait for a fencer. A fairly weak person has a lot of tricks than can counter brute force.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I haven't done P&P Gaming for ages so my knowledge of combat stats is THAC0 and memory as old as the name. Which means numbers are not my domain.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If dice rolling gets people engaged then willpower (holding when someone is coming at you) Charisma (taunting) or perception (spotting openings) rolls could be an option. This could allow effective fighters that are more than walls of meat. People fight in line with their personality.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The difference between called shots and non called  is not just missing the shield. A volte into the ear or thrust to the eye are called. Leaving an engagement with bits intact and a hole somewhere in your opponent is the no frills version.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The idea works around the patient agent. Creates an opening through distance and timing then explodes into it. Initiative becomes important, if you have the wherewithal to attack first, you can wait and attack into a cut. (Countercut or hand snipe). also framing guards in certain ways makes it more likely your next action succeds. Basically the initiative loss is you setting up for the strike.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Basic idea:</p>
<p dir="ltr">Give up initiative for the called shot. Each combat round inactive to add a bonus to initiative on the next round. Bonuses to hit based on mental skills, if gm pemits (so watching the opponent for tells would be a perception based bonus. Waiting for the last possible moment- <u>will</u>)</p>
<p dir="ltr">You may interrupt a fighter with lower initiative to make your called shot against them.<br>
Effects vary against target, there's probably cripple tables or something to emulate this.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Some targets are easy than others hand sniping (assuming simple hilts) should give a bonus. Leg sniping is much harder.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A pommel to theface could be called, with lower damage (4 teeth worth of hit points) but would allow a free action\critical\backstab if successful enough.<br><br></p>
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-1625332423830390462016-09-22T00:29:00.001+01:002016-09-22T01:08:43.885+01:00Feeling my way<p dir="ltr">Today was my second class since bastardgate. I am immensely proud of how the guys have pulled together, found a venue and generally been the club in a time that could have resulted in complete destruction.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I am slowly feeling my way through being the lead instructor and responsible adult. It's difficult to bring my vision into the lessons and to create a structure that provides solid growth and access for newbies. I don't have a library of drills yet.. I will.. but right now it's memories of stuff that worked for me. The principle based approach is being received well, allowing the guys to find their style without being tied to plays and manuscripts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Don't get me wrong, the manuscripts are important but I am taking the traditional English Approach of stealing everything that isn't nailed down, then a crowbar for the stuff that is. Hopefully I am also allowing people to know what is martially sound even if they don't have the names.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I was not happy with last week's lesson. I have had feedback that matches my feelings about what I did wrong. Which means that how I feel about today's lesson and my aims are good.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Lesson 1: Stuff about binding, general burbling. Drills that were vague and incomplete.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Lesson 2: 'bog standard volte' to start as a warm up more for me than the guys, changing partners and watching how everyone works together.<br>
Look at where the volte didn't work.<br>
Use of footwork to control the hit and prevent the volte from being an option.<br>
Stage one of asymmetric distance drills vs sword (void)<br>
Freeplay/revisit drills.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The asymmetric distance drill is going to be a staple. There's growth in there- 2 extra stages to be switched in when circumstances allow. It allows flow work and form from the attacker and helps with kinaesthetics for the defender.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In all, I am happy with that as a lesson on distance. <br><br></p>
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-49274174518923997292016-08-25T19:59:00.001+01:002016-08-25T20:16:43.598+01:00Class plans...<p dir="ltr">I am sure the reasons why the change happened are becoming well known, again not the circumstances I wanted to become lead instructor, but I feel I've been heading this way for a long time.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So cue mad panic and study for a weapon I enjoy but have no great love for. Don't get me wrong, I like longsword but it doesn't 'sing' to me like single and offhand or quarterstaff does. Maybe because I have made those my study, happily picking up everything I can, and generally hanging new ideas on that framework.. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Which I guess brings me to the greatest change in class structure. I will be stepping  away from play based instruction. It's never sat right with me, the principles need to be drilled in and the plays evolve/illustrate the concepts. I don't want the guys going 'this is the fifth master, 3rd refinement' I want them to feel as if they are doing the right thing, and then have it on video to alongside the play that just happened.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It will be a complete mash up. Sword vs dagger should teach distances, sure parries and rapid closing. I shall have  to play but sword in one hand and sword in 2 should be interchangeable with the Rawlings nylons and the hiltier feders. Which will open up more options. Then be tied back to the dagger work.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As much fun as I have had with how things were... I am already seeing so many, many more  opportunities and a way to turn the rag tag misfits into an unpredictable whirlwind of blades. With strong, sure and steady mechanics behind them.</p>
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-7168425766135670502016-08-16T19:16:00.001+01:002016-08-16T19:16:31.482+01:00Eep<p dir="ltr">Fight camp was a mixed event for me. There was a massive shadow cast by my esteemed and honourable maestro. Being.. less than honourable and my having to turn a desolation into a win in 3 weeks.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It was very unpleasant talking about the circumstances, we were fucked over to the cost of hosting something. Both cash and support, by the looks of it. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Which is why it is hard to describe how I feel right now. I have been offered so much and, casually, been shown so much faith that.. I am humbled. What I have seen is so beyond testosterone poisoning that 'oh fucking fuck... Me?' is my main reaction.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And in that atmosphere. I personally awarded a medal to a stuffed toy. Because that is the right thing to do.</p>
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-18785392651953945482016-08-04T19:35:00.001+01:002016-08-04T20:44:25.276+01:00This isn't the blog for politics<p dir="ltr"><u>This</u> blog was started due to the joy I found in HEMA, the people I respect and how positivity should be looked for well above politics and infighting and so on.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The hobby has sustained me through bad times, I have met great people, become a better person both physically and mentally.  I wouldn't be in the position I am if I didn't see my volunteering as giving something back. And all of that is an aside to the fact that sword fighting is pretty damn cool.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This is an unpleasant time for me and my relationship with the hobby. Part of it is that my personal feelings about stuff, I have taken a massive step into the unknown because of things that I would rather have prevented. It's rushed because the guys come first and the defining weekend of my HEMA experience is almost upon us. I wouldn't be half as enthusiastic if it wasn't for that terrifying weekend at the gunpowder mills. Being prodded into a rapier contest just to make up the numbers.. being the first time I actually used steel. Yes, these were the days of the ubershinai and when hanwei practicals were the best we could get.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If it was 'just me' I would have faded away, given up my spot on Danelli's waiting list and probably just stuck to cutting practice and occasionally scrawling notes in the margins of book while feeling resentful.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Fortunately, it is a lot more than just me. It's those who introduced me to the wider hobby. Those I have met through this hobby. Those who have a learnt a mutual language through the sword. I have to remind myself of those people. Those who look up to me and respect my opinions or at least have a good point (metaphorically or literally).</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, what happens next? Not a fucking clue. I shall, as ever, carry on looking at and for the opinions of people I respect. I will argue, pick up swords and discuss things that way. With nothing to prove, nothing to lose and everything to gain.</p>
<p dir="ltr"> It is important to me that this fightcamp is phoenix-like rather than shoegazing and blame. Still not quite sure what direction this will take, but it will be a better one.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I am not happy with what has been thrown at me. But this is not a full stop.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It is a stop thrust.</p>
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-53708697053880600162016-04-28T01:20:00.000+01:002016-04-28T01:20:02.835+01:00Today was a good class. Fewer people than usual, 2 of our Permanent Guest Instructor's class (He's off doing international stuff- Teaching/judging at some big meeting in the South of France) so they did their own thing.<br />
<br />
And 8 of the thugs. 10 people is a low turnout for us now. I don't do the headcounts or cash taking.. I'm just the guy who balances the numbers. If we're odd, I drill. If we're even I coach. If people have questions or bits of text they want to go through... That's me. We are limited by space and cost, we can go on forever as we are and I need to expand a little.<br />
<br />
I need to because playing the Odd means that I'm hitting a plateau. I'm comfortable, happy and able to take any role in the class... providing I get some time actually paying attention to the Permanent Guest Instructor's style and aims. His guys need to be less linear, which requires more room and the thugs... well some want to get to the books and work on their own intepretations.. others just want to roll around on the floor perfecting choke holds and ear biting.<br />
<br />
In my club, there should be room for all of these. The mental space is there, but the physical isn't. And that's what made today's particularly interesting due to stuff there was space for me to play with my ideas of class- led, as it should be, by the students.<br />
<br />
And so I learnt some things... I don't think Vadi is a 'good' mastet to follow when trying to do HEMA. This is not because he's impenetrable or that the 2 line, couplet stuff is limiting or that the pictures are as clear as any other HEMA manual... but because he uses broken bones like Fiore uses locks. Almost every play we looked at, there was a point where we had to shake our heads and say that it was too dangerous to use against friends.<br />
<br />
There's this really neat counter against something akin to Fiore's metzane/halfsword feint which ends with you kind of winding until your hilt is locking their wrist, forearm and elbow and your body mechanics are set to throw them on the floor while breaking their arm in several places. It's a clear moment of how fragile the human body can be when you have the mechanics right. I'm hesitant to drill it because it is so efficient that I don't want it to be a natural reaction. <br />
<br />
<br />HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-69311985561200624322016-04-14T19:08:00.001+01:002016-08-04T19:19:29.087+01:00Aims for the future<p dir="ltr">This was in my drafts. I thought it was published....</p>
<p dir="ltr">Where to start.</p>
<p dir="ltr">My personal fencing is less important to me than seeing the guys do well. Sure, I am getting a shiny new custom made sword but it is to be used as an instructional tool. The sparring, although important is secondary. Fitness could improve, and more training in general is preferable. Again, though, raising the guys up is the aim.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Personal study wise. I think going through my era and looking at late longsword would be good. Quarterstaff is always an aim, but safety and space are still problematic.  I have a lot of fun with sword and buckler against... almost everything, so maybe working on my own style. Possibly my own system, if that doesn't sound too arrogant..... maybe it is better to call it a bastardised mish-mash of stuff that works for me.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For the guys?  I have mentioned that the newbie pattern is difficult. I think splitting the newbies off at the first drill is a way to go. Introduce more flow, split things more into principles instead of plays. Once the newbies have a basic vocabulary and can spar, bump them over to the principles. </p>
<p dir="ltr">If we find a suitable larger venue, I become more floating. Judge, sparring coach, bookworm, drilling partner and maybe even actually have a few lessons from our permanent guest instructor (so I can help his students when he goes off gallivanting across the globe.. instead of purely relying on dirty English habits). </p>
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-25648031009473546512016-04-14T12:41:00.001+01:002016-04-14T12:41:35.690+01:00Quiet, but not gone.<p dir="ltr">I guess it is time to fill people in on everything.  Basically the club has been going from strength to strength. We have a good group, newbie turnover is a little too high for my liking but once we get someone for a month or so, they stay. We are suffering from a lack of space... Which is a nicer problem than an empty hall.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I'm happy in my role of assistant coach/TA and will be pushing some of the guys to start their own interpretations and look into texts that interest them.  This will make my role as the 'odd' one a lot more rewarding.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The guys themselves are good. I won't say the best, but they fence with passion, enthusiasm and good grace. Which is far more important than perfect play.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also lots more good news, I'm starting discussions to get a sword made, I am one of the lucky ones to get into Fightcamp, despite its phenomenal popularity.  We should have a fairly decent turnout. 4 confirmed, 3 or 4 in reserves. Club logos and hoodies are almost ready to order. Ideas for a trophy, to add to last year's medals. (Awarded for making Fightcamp the kind of event we love)</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, hopefully I'll keep this up for a while, try to spread the joy a little more rather than keeping it all to myself.</p>
HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-60928546868056798372015-01-17T22:44:00.000+00:002015-01-17T22:44:09.117+00:00I hate paywalls- read this in your local WHSmiths.From- http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22530040.600-eureka-relived-alchemy-thats-more-than-magic.html<br />
<br />
<i>"and put into the one side thereof a burning Coal, and the Fire
will glide through the Feces within half an Hour, and Calcyne them into a
Citrine Colour, very glorious to behold."</i> <br />
It doesn't exactly sound like science, and this extract from <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/alc/cc/cc22.htm"><i>The Bosome Book of George Ripley</i></a>, a mid-15th-century text, illustrates alchemy's image problem, says" (someone) "<br />
<br />
<br />
Not that I want to say "I told you so" but going back to the original texts is always a good thing,HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-1407316769656057742014-12-27T14:10:00.004+00:002014-12-27T14:10:28.840+00:00Interpretation and academia.No translation or interpretation exists in isolation- translating a piece of work is not easy and can be prone to subjective errors. Errors creep in through slang, unfamiliar/obsolete/changed words, or simple translators bias.<br />
<br />
The same thing happens with interpretation. Errors creep in because it's what you feel is right, or you skip over something because it doesn't make sense. You may have even misunderstood an important paragraph or term. This is obvious in English manuals of the time where it is common to misuse/abuse Italian fencing terms- so you struggle a little trying to figure out if he means the Italian term or his bastardised explanation, or somewhere in between.<br />
<br />
The Wikteneur has done a lot to improve this, and it is a step in the direction I want to investigate. But the thing that's missing is an immediate relationship to the original texts. Wouldn't it be nice to highlight bits of the text and then leave comments- describing what you think it means, possibly linking to video explanations. Creating threads on contentious or difficult passages so you can debate with others and try to find out the real meaning?<br />
<br />
I've found something that may be useful for this. It's designed to share lesson notes and create discussions about them- which is pretty much what I want to do, but focused on the original texts as much as possible. I'm going to test this out with a few people to see how easy it is to understand and if it works for us.<br />
<br />
If it really helps cultivate discussion around the manuals and help those who want to get into this aspect of HEMA get started- as well as improving my understanding. I'd be very happy indeed.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-28071103888023518052014-11-10T00:45:00.000+00:002014-11-10T00:45:12.263+00:00Cage rattled... I've been wrestling with this for a while. There's a concrete point where 'misunderstanding', 'different goals'... and all sorts of stuff becomes "taking the piss". Often these people hide behind the rules- don't hate the player, hate the game type people. For me, the dispute about a venue isn't about the venue- It's about extracting urine, we can all get along if we're honest.<br /><br />The latest starts with me recognising my abilities and doing that with the appropriate amount of ego. When I say that somebody is a better teacher than me, I'm not putting myself down, it is because they are a better teacher than me. I respect them because they have earned that respect and some of them are the best in the world at what they do. Last week, we had someone being very apologetic while we insisted they went to Dave. That's what we like- 'sorry you're not for me, can you recommend a better teacher?'.<br /><br />This is the very core of sportsmanship and gentlemanly behaviour, especially in HEMA. You get hit, you acknowledge it. A fair and well placed hit... is fair and well placed.<br /><br />I've been half-teaching over the past 8 months or so. I stepped back because someone could do it better. I was ok with giving up my part of teaching because of this, I have a few grumbles thanks to lack of warning when things go tits up- but in general I am happy with the situation because of the skills in place.<br /><br />So, the friction- we've worked hard to be inclusive and have a little place of our own. We have been happy to invite people in, share our knowledge.. shit like that. And a group has started to abuse out hospitality. What was a sparring group started to become a class and took some of our lot... became.<br /><br />Backstabbing. That's about the best way to describe it. There was one 'person' who learnt under my better and when it was time for international competition, he coached opponents. Abused the trust and the kindness of tuition (we actually do this at cost to ourselves) and used that to score cheap points.<br />
<br />
I can deal with a lot of differences of opinion. There's even room for libel born from testosterone poisoning and proving your worth by stating that you can wrestle a sad old clown that's twice your age. (he can, and he'd do a lot of damage to the clown- but that proves nothing) The misunderstanding about the difference between a charity and a bunch of weirdos with swords- that can be explained away. Not cleanly, but close enough.<br />
<br />
You turn up, you pay less than cost, borrow swords, and then you coach people to embarrass the person who took time out to teach you? The explanation for that behaviour is one I 'd love to hear. HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-32900270311648085242014-05-17T01:49:00.003+01:002014-05-17T01:49:47.350+01:00Another perspective on the Judging debate.Yes, I know it's been a long time. Shit happens, and it's been a lot less shit recently so I am able to concentrate on the fun things.<br />
<br />
Thanks to the upturn in my circumstances, I am now in possession of a Canon Powershot SX270 HS. The HS stands for "high speed" capable of 240 FPS at QCIF size. Or 120 FPS at SD/VGA resolutions. There are limitations, it can only take 30 seconds at any one time, the shutter lag is... inconvenient. And the film speed is so fast that I capture the fluctuations in fluorescent lighting ... I've handed this camera to people and said "it only records 30
seconds at a time. Reset at each exchange" It's not a complicated
instruction to follow, but they still get it wrong. <br />
<br />
TL;DR I've been watching a lot of videos of slow motion sparring. Those 30 seconds take 2 minutes to play back.<br />
<br />
What can I tell you from all those videos I've gone through? <br />
<ol>
<li>My hanwei is really floppy, but the Danellis have their moments as well.</li>
<li>Any good fight has an awful lot of waiting and faffing about before a hit is attempted. Then it's just a flurry of....stuff.</li>
<li>The only time anyone can expect to know the difference between a flat and edge hit is if you're using sharps.</li>
<li>The really cool exchanges will be missed because people are human. </li>
<li>If you think you can do this reliably without technological help, you're an idiot.</li>
</ol>
Swing analysis is considered high end for golf tuition. But that's nothing more than slow mo video and identifying the breaks in body mechanics. 90% of the time you don't need to say a word. Bringing that kind of camera into what we do demonstrates so much more. You can even show the difference in form under several pressure levels.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Under £200 for this functionality? It's a no-brainer.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-28642033660470638022013-06-11T12:38:00.002+01:002013-06-11T12:38:16.539+01:00On art and fencing. This came up in my feeds of things from interesting people and I thought it would make a good starting point. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">It
often happens that a fencer is graceful and clean with sword in hand,
but is nevertheless ineffectual. Facing another who is very unaesthetic
with sword in hand, as soon as they exchange blows, the unaesthetic
fencer takes the upper hand.<br /> <br /> This occurs because the ugly
fencer cares only about effectiveness. He does not care much for beauty,
only utility, leaving pomposity aside. The fencer who is clean with
sword in hand delights in crispness without taking care of utility.<br /> <br />
However when any fencer faces another, he should assess how he behaves.
Whether his play is effective, or whether he is ostentatious with sword
in hand, and does not attend to the utility of his play.<br /><span class="text_exposed_show"> <br />
You must have good judgement in this, because on infinite occasions
people say of a clean and graceful fencer: “oh doesn't he fence well”,
but nevertheless his play is ineffectual. Likewise a fencer might seem
very unaesthetic, so people say he does not know how to hold a sword,
and his fencing is poor. But when put to the test he beats the beautiful
fencer.<br /> <br /> Anonimo Bolognese – Early 16th Century<br /> <br /> </span></span></span></span></h5>
</blockquote>
The English schools tend to put more emphasis on the martial part of the art and has substantially fewer triangles, engravings and peculiarly specific targets in the texts. Poncy boasts like being able to stab any button are to be treated with mild scorn. So, with a brawler's charter, I'm prone to agree with this as a matter of principle. Good fencing is when the pointy bit goes in the other person and you leave untouched.<br />
<br />
One of the problems with really good fencing is that, although you can fight with grace, you should be doing it without really letting people know what's going on. You'll take the shortest possible line into your opponent and if you can see what's going on you can see the elegance in it's simplicity. Note that simplicity can be unaesthetic, there's no frills and you don't get to gasp in admiration as some kind of stage-play happens. It can be simply going from guard to stab to recovery before anyone realises what's going on.<br />
<br />
There's a trick to telling the difference between ugly-bad fencing and ugly-good and it's all about the lines. Somehow ugly-good shows this ability to always be in just the right place to miss getting hit. You don't quite know how because the wild cuts are still wild, the parries are much wider than needs be and it's more like an explosion in a sword factory than the noble art of fencing.<br />
<br />
Sure, if you can be graceful and stay intact, this should be encouraged.. but stay intact first, otherwise you're not going to develop the chance to become graceful.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-67318659681544260352013-06-03T21:36:00.002+01:002013-06-03T21:36:57.959+01:00Back to the myth of edge-on-edge<span style="color: windowtext;">Inspired by the constantly raised question about edge-parries, I thought I'd go and have a look at ARMA to see what they had to say about the matter.<br /></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: windowtext;">"</span>In
his 1617 backsword and rapier fencing text swordsman Joseph
Swetnam also makes no mention of the word “block”
or “parry”, but only talks of defending and receiving
blows.<span> </span>In Chapter
XII of his, <i>Schoole
of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence</i> he<span>
</span>“Showeth of seven principal rules whereon true
defence is grounded” which states succinctly the principal
of counter-striking over blocking: “thou must defend
and seeke to offend all at once, for thou must not suffer
thy enemy to recover his guard, for if thou doe thou looseth
thy advantage.” (p. 74).<span> </span><span style="color: windowtext;">In referring to the “<em>true guard for
the defence, either of blowe, or thrust, with Rapier and
Dagger<span style="font-style: normal;">”, Swetnam just
as with other masters, advised to use its edge to parry
–since, </span></em>the true rapier being a narrow
rigid blade with little edge, can do this.<span>
</span>Swetnam wrote: “Carrie the edge of thy rapier
upward, and downward, for then thou shalt defend a blow
upon the edge of thy rapier, by bearing thy rapier after
the rule of the Backe-sword, for this is the strongest and
surest carriage of him.” (Swetnam, p. 86).<span> </span>This “rule of the backsword”
that Swetnam refers to bares explanation.<span>
</span>Just what it is he never explains or addresses.<span>
</span>But common sense tells us there must be some reason
why he specifically refers to a parrying rule for the “back”
sword and not simply a rule for “a sword” or “all
swords”.<span> </span>What
is it that is special about a backsword?<span>
</span>It has a <i>back</i>.<span> </span>Unlike double-edged swords it
has one side that is thicker and dull and not used for striking
cuts (…similar to a rapier).<span> </span>Thus, it <i>can</i> be used for
parrying and likely was employed in this manner similarly
to later cutlasses and sabers.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: windowtext;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"> First of all, stating "counterstriking over blocking" is a bit odd when it comes to rapier in general- single time defences manifest in several ways, and the "defend and offend at once" is not really counter-striking. Basically you try to put your sword in a place which stops their attack and lets their momentum carry themselves onto your point. Or a single time defence. With rapier and dagger you can use your dagger to block/entangle their sword and attack in the same motion.. Defence and offence in one movement. Athough, cutting someone's hand off as they're attacking is arguably "defending and offending" it's still 90% attack and I'd count that as pre-emptive striking or countercutting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;">The rule of the backsword has taken me a while to figure out and it's mentioned in his single-sword section... I think, I really can't be bothered to dig it out, but it's something along the lines of not turning your sword as you parry. The usual parry you move the hilt and keep the point in their face- going from _\ to /_. Maintaining threat Rule of the backsword you move hilt and blade together- going from _\ to \_ (hopefully that makes sense.. choreography has shorthand notation and maybe we should develop our own for the purpose of online discussion) Also- false edge parries are ridiculously uncomfortable and aren't particularly supported by body mechanics, so the "back" of a back sword isn't really supported as an edge parry.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: windowtext;">I believe this is something briefly mentioned in a French book, and more for cutty weaponry as a way to buy more time against a volte and extend the tempo of a cut and allow you to block then attack. Or a double-time defence. When looking at backsword/rapier the thing that is special about a backsword is that it is much more efficient on the cut. Swetnam, more or less, uses interchangeable techniques with a focus on point or cut depending on the weapon and cross references within the work anyway (which is a pain in the arse, considering there are things he's forgotten, but can probably be recovered through the other schools that were in London at the time)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: windowtext;">So to quillions. When you get to a lot of flat blade parries, you can see that the only thing keeping you safe is your perfect skill. A semi-equal fighter would be easily able to slide down your blade and take a shot at something squishy in your arms. The tsubas, on oriental swords, have protection on flat parries because of their circular nature. We have quillions- two metal bars that run in line with the blade edge and are surprisingly protective when used well. That extra 6-8 inches of hand protection turns "perfect skill" to flinch acceptable.</span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext;">The evolution of the hilt resulted in knucklebows, side rings, pretty swept ring hilts with massive holes along the flat side of the hilt and eventually the obviously sensible solid gated + hilts that completely protect your hand. If you were thinking about the hilt as a defensive structure, surely side rings would have been the starting point for hand protection. After all, the blade is coming down on your flat, it's lined up nicely and will carry itself down the blade to your thumb. (and hand hits, although not glamorous, are fatal... in their way)</span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext;">That said, certain guards lend themselves to flat on flat parries. I'm not big on longsword, terrible with the correct terminology and I suspect they're better for rebats than actual parries. So I'm not saying completely wrong to do flat parries once in a while.</span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext;">What I'm really wondering is how on earth this still manages to be a question after all this time?</span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext;">Play with the idea, see where and how your body feels mechanically strong. Remember that really strong cuts should be able to be deflected or intercepted as you play weak against strong so you need to look at that aspect of motion Then look for the shortest line between their blade and your squishy bits.</span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext;">It that line is very short and doesn't require them going around your sword, then it's a bad parry.</span>HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-16612217781779058392013-05-20T09:07:00.001+01:002013-05-20T09:07:37.392+01:00My introduction to Buckler...In a way.<br />
<br />
One of the things that makes HEMA distinct from fencing is the fact that people use the other hand. It's an easy thing to point at as a difference. Personally, I find the option of an off-hand weapon to be remarkably sensible and pragmatic. Even if you don't really know what you're doing, it improves your chances of coming out alive and if you're up against brutes who really enjoy closing, it makes them think twice.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the cost of a safe dagger is prohibitively expensive as club kit. It's a shame and I work around that issue in a variety of ways (including a very drill which means that I can just use one rapier and one dagger for each pair), but it is difficult to build up any kind of solid base.<br />
<br />
However, during my reading around I've started to look at offhand weapons in general- to see how the theory matches up and what kinds of threads can be tied in and used to create a solid understanding of a concept that is largely overlooked in modern stuff. Looking at the "new" bits is one of the ways I gain understanding. When I finally get to play with quarterstaff, I'll be concentrating on what to do with the butt and how to protect hands since the long end is not that dissimilar from basic sword work.<br />
<br />
I digress... This is supposed to be why rapier/sword and buckler is a good base for offhand weapon use. The big deal is that bucklers can be sourced fairly cheaply. You can get 3-4 of them for the price of a Hanwei dagger. There's some crossover between use with simple and complex hilts, so the majority of theory and body mechanics is compatible. The distinction is basically made through personal preference and what kind of fight you enjoy. There are problems with steel vs nylon, but this may be reduced due to the rounded edges of the buckler, it's not something I've investigated yet. So on the kit and integration side, it's starting to look like a no-brainer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The later material is a bit sketchy and there's
certainly the possibility of some Victorian revisionism sneaking in
under the radar. But it's there, with a strong base from simple hilt
work and digging through sources and criticisms, it's possible to reconstruct the complex hilt usage. Especially if you include the criticisms and see how those altered later styles and off-hand choices. <br /><br />
As for the fight?<br />
<br />
Well, I'm almost ideologically opposed to anything with simple hilts, it just seems a bit silly to have spent so damn long without even a knuckle bow to protect your fingers from being sniped at. The buckler provides the protection of a detachable complex hilt and so removes that reservation. This makes the fight a lot more fun, especially in the modern world where damaged fingers are very inconvenient. Your flinch reactions to an outside cut bring the buckler in line to parry without much in the way of change. In all it makes it quite clear why bucklers were popular.<br />
<br />
They're less fun in complex hilt fights because they're basically a heavier version of a dagger without the stabby bit. So coming from that direction is a little disappointing, but as a newbie's introduction to the off-hand, it should be rather good- you don't have to worry about orientation in the way you do with a dagger, and it feels more protective (even if it's not really).<br />
<br />
<br />
In conclusion- I think buckler will be a valuable tool for teaching off-hand stuff, and it's fun.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-53405720595054306662013-05-20T08:13:00.000+01:002013-05-20T08:13:44.414+01:00Explaining lines.One of the challenges with teaching is learning the language of your students. Imposing your "language" upon them is actually an obstacle to producing an instinctive response.<br />
<br />
When I'm talking about language, it's more learning modes and that filter between thinking and doing. I tend to slip into a kinaesthetic mode when explaining stuff with a sword- turning my language into a directly positional one where I know by feeling what is right.<br />
<br />
I feel this works as a multi-modal way of explanation. It can provide a visual model for the student to reconstruct. If you place them into the stance, then they have a physical/feeling model to work from. It's got a weakness with auditory learners which can be overcome by repeating the positions, adding emphasis on the descriptions while you correct positioning. I'll probably be looking at this a bit more in the future.<br />
<br />
But, in short, the idea is that you take the knowledge to them- as the "expert" any information exchange should be weighted in their favour rather than yours. Obfuscation and implied authority by long words is questionable in an academic debate and probably harmful in physical learning.<br />
<br />
Open and closed lines are one of those things that are really obvious once you get the concept- the problem is that the concept is translated in so many ways. I've heard it described as doors (which works really nicely with the analogy of closing lines). Some think of barriers. I do something like a venn diagram, possibly due to both hands in use and manuals describing a "compass" of defence... This seems to be a very personal understanding that people uncover themselves. But there's a moment when it just clicks.<br />
<br />
Speeding up the internalisation of this concept- something with so many different ways of making sense- is tricky and a great way to highlight one of the complexities of teaching. There is no wrong answer to the question of how to describe lines as long as the result matches the reality. Insisting on your description is a good way to delay this internalisation as it means the students have to constantly translate into something they understand.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329925898949179797.post-19941208995455653932013-05-07T09:11:00.001+01:002013-05-07T09:11:10.023+01:00Bruises as Error Messages.So, yesterday, I had a pretty good day getting stabbity in the park Mostly sparring, a little teaching (and I'm still really chuffed with how the guys look- they won't embarrass themselves in competition and may even get past the first round)<br /><br />This morning I'm totting up the aches and pains. There's the usual slight stiffness and there's the core stuff- this core workout is one of the reasons why women have more of an advantage than they think. All the yoga, pilates and suchlike focuses on muscles they need to use when sparring... there's lots of reasons why duelling is for girls, including the historical precedents but I digress.<br /><br />Bruises can be seen in several ways. Badges of honour, killing blows (even in non-vital areas- as the cut can be enough to open defences to a fatal attack), and... how I'm starting to see them... error messages.<br /><br />I've got 3 bruises. Unfortunately (or fortunately) they're not spectacular, but they feel distinct and will help me explain the concept. <br /><br />The thing with a good fight is that you "turn off" your brain. There's nothing more important than the fact that inattention will hurt. Your world is, basically, reduced to your immediate surroundings. All your processing power is focused on making sure that you don't get hit and exchanges are pretty rapid. This means that video and external eyes are very, very useful training aids allowing you to see how you went wrong.<br /><br />Seeing where you went wrong is pretty easy.<br /><br />I have an isolated bruise just above my left kidney. It's a long line but fairly "soft" as bruises go. With sharps it would probably have been a fatal blow. Eventually. I possibly would have been able to carry on and "win" the duel by dying last. I know where I got this and I vaguely remember what I was doing. But it's a bit hazy- one of my weak spots is grappling and that level of close range, it's one of the reasons I prefer a dagger in my off hand. I think I went in to choke up the cut.. but no idea.<br /><br />I have a bruise on the outside of my left thigh. Nice, clear line (which means a well controlled hit, fairly decent blade alignment), would have made fighting difficult.. I may have got one or two more hits in but I'd be fighting lame.<br /><br />I have a bruise on the inside of my right thigh. This is probably the most dangerous one. It's close to a major artery and could have nicked it. Resulting in a high pressure fountain of blood that could have me dead within moments. It's a wider bruise- so blade alignment was off and that clumsiness on my opponent's part is the difference between corpse and combatant.<br /><br />You can't really tell what happened with the kidney bruise. It could have been a lucky shot, it could be a regular failing of mine, it could have been an inspired adaptation by my opponent... it could be anything in between. It's only one hit.<br /><br />The thigh shots make more sense when looked at together. In a standard guard position, the bruises align, more or less, and come from the same angle of cut. What really distinguishes the two targets is a matter of range. Outside thigh is from the opponent being quite close- voiding wasn't an option and I'd have to charge forward. Inside would have been from me not voiding properly. <br />
<br />
<br />
However, both are due to crap defence on that line. I know I need to do a lot more dagger drilling, and now everyone is up to a level where they can work on their own, I can start building in the body mechanics that I've been teaching to others. Stronger dagger work probably won't help too much, considering that I need to be defending below the waist... but it's worth it for the deterrent and extra chances.<br /><br />Anyhow. Bruises are just like computer error messages. In isolation they just tell you that you've done "something" wrong. But if you find clusters of errors and obvious patterns that shows a distinct bug in your technique that needs to be analysed and addressed.HemaGothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967643602733577303noreply@blogger.com0