The week was more devoid of fencing than previous weeks. Something about being back working a full time job means there’s just no time for fencing. But somebody has to pay for the swords. I’ve kept up the running, but not the lunging. Time to change that, too…
Tuesday
Tuesday I went and fought armored. It’s not fencing, but in other places on this blog I’ve mentioned how I advocate crossing over in both directions, and now that we have a Tuesday practice I can actually work up my armored fight. It’s atrophied since two Pennsics ago, and on Tuesday was weak as hell. Some of that was also the humidity, and having gone for a run right before practice.
As is always the case, I’ve identified armor changes that are needed: I think the front and back barrel plate will be replaced with a kidney belt and an apology to my ribs, at least when doing melees with mass weapons and spears. I may reshape the barrel plate to fit better. I need to restrap the gauntlets, maybe using shoelace though that will look ugly as sin. And I need to replace my right elbow so I can actually follow through on my sword shots (anybody have thoughts?)
Thursday
Was just as hot and humid as Tuesday. After Letia and I fought each other for a while, we agreed “Fuck it, let’s do melee”.
We started with two-on-twos, first with prior planning and then with no communication prior to lay-on. We shifted to two-on-one, and then the 10 second drill. What we learned from all of this: The Kappellenfechters do not move in unison as well as they used to. We were getting over-extended or spread out, so that the solo fighter was able to take advantage of it. Every other lesson we learned (communicate more, don’t lunge [we had a textbook run of the zipper drill, inadvertently]) everybody already knew, even if they’d forgotten.
We finished it up with a Sapphire-style tourney, which was fun. I fought it with my 40 and buckler (fought as Lord Bye with just the 40) and did reasonably well, though there was a point or two I should have picked up that I didn’t.
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