Since we have people here who like playing with swords, I thought we ought to have a thread to talk about such things. Tell us what training and experience you've had, post pics/vids of your favorite weapons, and yourself playing with them. And if you've never done anything like that and just think it's cool, ask questions! My first training was in sport fencing, 1984-1988ish, mostly foil, a little epee, very little saber. In '99 I joined the SCA (medieval reenactment group) and learned heavy armored medieval combat, mostly broadsword and shield, also bastard sword, and a little bit of spear, mace and shield, and sword and mace. I also learned that I'm really awful with pole arms. Around 2003 I started SCA light combat (renaissance period fencing) and learned rapier, dagger, rapier and dagger, rapier and rigid parry (bucklers or batons in the off hand), rapier and soft parry (cloak), and case (two rapiers, or two daggers). I also adapted an idea from Northern India; the madu is a small buckler with two dagger blades sticking out of it, so I put to parrying dagger blades on a buckler and taught myself to use it in my off hand. Then I joined Schola Saint George around 2005. That's a martial art group studying the writings of 14th century Italian warrior Fiore di Liberi, concentrating on longsword, dagger, and unarmed grappling techniques, but adaptable to almost any weapon. I was awarded the first 3 belts in the Schola before I moved away. These are some of my favorite blades: Some of my fencing weapons: Tools o' th' pirate trade be these, me bucko! Yarrr...
Yeah, ARMA has some good stuff. Y'all say you want more action pics? Well, if you're going to twist my arm... That's me on the right, with my madu in my left hand. It's a really good defensive weapon, not all that great offensively. Fencing on a 16x8 foot see-saw makes you very aware of your footwork. That's me on the right with cutlass and belaying pin. My opponent has a rapier and a buckler. Daggers. I'm kinda fast, but that kid is freaky fast. This, gentlemen, is what is known as a target rich environment. Why, yes, I do keep my blades polished, how could you tell? See my red shirt in the middle? Everyone facing right is on my side. EVERYONE facing left is an enemy. We were losing the battle and there was a huge hole in the middle of our lines. I was dancing around the trees, rattling my opponents' blades, quipping and taunting them, trying to keep back all the enemies in front of me until reinforcements showed up. I managed to stay alive and hold them back for a minute or so; of course it felt like ten times that long. Storming the quarterdeck of the good ship Briar Rose. My sword is in my left hand because I had just gotten shot in the right arm with a rubber band gun. (Surgical tubing rubber bands. Those suckers sting!)
No to the jousting; I don't know how to ride a horse, and I've never been in a club that did actual jousting. It's very difficult to get insurance for a group that jousts, because you just can't get a horse to sign the medical waiver. Yes to the SCA. All of those action shots were taken at SCA events. Would you like to see some pics with SCA heavy armor? I can probably be persuaded to post some of those. That's me at the bottom, back to the camera, red and black surcoat with a white prancing ram (kingdom colors of Gleann Abheann). I was using my crossbow in that battle. Indian knife fight. Those are quick and brutal, but at least they're ugly. Rushing a pole arm. Never fight at his range; always get in close, and watch out for his butt spike. Four against one. I've seen people win against those odds, but I never have. I've beaten two to one odds a few times. Gotta be quick on your feet. Warming up with two axes. Sparring with one of my buddies from SCA and SSG. My guard position at the moment is poste di dona, the woman's guard, he is in poste tutta porto ferro, the guard of the complete iron gate. I just parried a thrust to my face and am charging in with a cut at his head. Good times...
Pretty armoury, Sarge! What're you using for blades - spring steel for the twohanders, I assume? How long did you have to grind those down to make those fullers right, you poor sod?
I am indeed a man of many talents, but swordsmithing is not among them. Most of my swords are from Windlass, which makes decent mid-range blades. Better than wall hangers, but not top of the line.
I used to sword-fight when I had a sword-fighting boyfriend. I didn't like fencing but I rocked at my broadsword*. I stopped when the sword-fighting boyfriend left me though. *considering I am pretty weak and could handle it pretty well, I am 100% sure it wasn't full-sized.
I don't believe in "liking" posts. How have you been here this long and missed that? I meant people who are allowed to.
