Some random thoughts coalesced...

 Greetings,

I haven't been on here in a while, most of my posts go to my Patreon site these days. However, I will share some thoughts with you which came together over the past week or so. I haven't really edited this much. It started out as thoughts for a historical fiction, or something similar, and then coalesced as a collection of thoughts about fencing and training for fencing. As I said it is a collection of thoughts which I really have not edited. So here it is, this post is also available on my Patreon site, which I recommend you go have a look at, because you are missing out on some free stuff as well.

I hope you find this interesting and useful.

Cheers,

Henry.

The blade sliced effortlessly through the air. A sharp noise rang out as the two blades intersected. The offensive action of one countered by the action of the other, placing his weapon in the right position, at the right time. The reason for their contest with weapons had melted away, it was trivial compared to the importance of skilful use of their weapons and the defence of life and limb. How long would the contest last, was the death of one required to satisfy the encounter, or was it simply a test of arms, a test of courage? Only the two combatants knew.

The scene around them seemed to have been blotted out, the only things left were the two people in the contest. It was as if a black cloth surrounded them as they moved about, concerns of the outside world were gone. Any focus on those details would detract from their focus, and any minor loss of focus could result in failure of action, due to the distraction. They were focused on one another and their weapons and nothing more.

Why were these two individuals attempting to strike the other? What is the reason for these martial skills to be employed? What is the prize, the goal, the purpose of their combat? All of these questions are questions for away from the combat, so neither combatant considers them at this moment. There are more important things to be concerned with.

A counter made from the defence of the other’s attack, there is the hissing sound of edge on edge as one weapon slides down the other with pressure. One blade dominates the other to gain the combatant an advantage over the other. To gain such dominance requires placement at the correct time, everything is bound by the concepts of Time and Distance, more about these things in action. The other blade flies off the weapon as pressure is increased to its limit.

The blade moves almost silently toward its target, like a predator in the night, seeking to strike the other’s flesh. With the blade deflected away from the counter, the combatant moves their body, clearing it from the line of the opponent’s attack. Using his body, he brings his weapon back, cutting at the other in their exposed position as they thrust.

A foot is drawn back, bringing the body and the weapon with it, the blade is lifted over the combatant’s head, deflecting the opponent’s blade away from the combatant’s arm, countering the attack again. The opponent moves again, stepping and using their body, throwing another cut. The combatant draws their weapon down impacting on the opponent’s weapon, another attack, another counter made.  

This is how the story of combats between individuals is made, an attack, a defence, a counter, a counter to the counter, maybe even another after that. The combatants withdraw as Time runs short, not pressing any perceived advantage past its limit. The two combatants are controlled in their actions; this is a contest of precision more than strength. The combatants work with their weapons, not against them. They seek the best line, the best angle, the best distance, for their actions.

These actions are a conversation between the combatants; one makes a statement, the other replies in kind a counter to the statement. There is a counter to the counter, another statement is made, another counter. This is a conversation in motion, in action, in steel. Each has his time to speak, each has his time to reply. Unlike the conversation in words, the statements and their responses are quicker, based on trained instinct.

Some actions are learnt, others are trained. This is the way of the student of the blade. Those which are trained, become instinct, informed and educated by the situation, the action of the opponent. Often the difference between victory and defeat is a mistake made by one opponent or the other, rather than a purposeful action made or action perfected. To every action there is a counter, the combatant merely has to find it.

There is no question of social status once the weapons are drawn, there is no question of race, gender, or any other difference between the combatants. They rely on their skills to succeed not some imposed identifier; the sword is the great leveller, anyone can learn enough to succeed, once weapons are in hand, one combatant facing the other, outside considerations pale in comparison to the skills of the fencers. The short can defeat the tall, just as the tall can defeat the short; it is a matter of the application of skill. The skills of the combatants are what really matters.

Some will claim there are differences due to various factors, but these differences can be countered. A longer weapon, a shorter weapon, both can be countered. The fencer needs to know their ability, their attributes, their situation and then apply it to counter the opponent’s. Some will counter with the question of luck. This is always present regardless of the skill, but it is not as reliable as skill. Luck requires certain things to be present and is random. The combatant dices with the skills of their opponents, presenting a random occurrence against the honed skill of the opponent. This is no sure way to succeed. Better that the fencer learns and trains, becomes proficient, rather than rely on luck.

Train, and train well. The path is long, and it is not easy, but for those willing to travel it, the benefits are certainly present.

Extra-Curricular Activities: Gaming Training

 Greetings,

Yes, it has been a while since I have posted here, it's because I have been busy writing articles for my Patreon page where most of my writing goes. However, this was a thought that popped into my mind as I was doing one of my regular walks. Just a thought about some extra-curricular training I do every now and then, and it does help to keep the brain sharp-er.

Likely you have heard of the concept of "brain training." In essence this is using your brain to focus on aspects you will be doing in a physical sense to enhance your brain's pathways you will use when using those skills. There was a study of basketball players (I believe). One group trained physically, another group was told to read, think, and watch basketball, another group was told not to do anything at all. In the end both the group who were physically training and the group who were training their brains performed the best, and about equal according to the study. 

"So, get on with it. What has all of this got to do with fencing?" I am getting to that part, trust me. It's called "A Fencer's Ramblings" for a reason, you know.

Sometimes training will be called off due to weather, or I can't make it due to health reasons (chronic illness and chronic pain sucks), or several other reasons. So, do I just sit at home and veg out? No, that's just not "a thing" with me. I am always writing about fencing, or something like it. So, I am always training my brain, adding new concepts, examining new ideas, and reinforcing old ones.

I play console games in my "down-time" I have a thing for first-person shooters, and some fighting games. It is the fighting games we are going to talk about, more specifically the Soul Calibur series. Why this series in particular? Well for starters, it is a weapon-based fighting game, and I have been playing it since its first version. What has it got to do with fencing? 

Artist: Frater
Source: https://www.goodfon.com/games/wallpaper-witcher-soulcalibur-vi-soulcalibur-6-bandai-namco-entertainm.html

Time and Distance; every character's moves, and the successful use of their weapons is still based on the notions of Time and Distance. 

Yes, a lot of people get their characters and "button mash" hoping they will hit the right buttons when they are near enough to the opponent. I think this is not unlike the new fencer who simply thrusts out or does what they can when they first come out to fence. Their actions are random and the chances of success are a flip of a coin.

I look at the character and plan, based on the weapon and their moves. I use the move at the appropriate Distance for the character. I strike the button at the appropriate Time depending on how quick the character is in comparison to the opponent. I have been doing this for a while, and enjoy the game more when I can plan my moves, rather than smash the buttons and hope for the best.

What is the conclusion? Brain training is available where you find it. Individual training is available where you find it, or where you create it. The only motivation required to achieve this is yours. Take a look around, I am sure you can find something fencing related to improve your current "fencing fitness."

Cheers,

Henry.

Let's Talk About Space

Greetings,
I am going to apologise to all the astronomers and astrologers, that's not the sort of space that I am talking about. I am talking about the space in which a person fences with another. This can be the training area, or it can be a formalised arena such as a list field.
There are considerations that need to be made concerning this concept of space, especially in regard to the concept of Distance as it relates to space in this context, as will be seen as this discussion progresses. This is because Distance occupies space. The Distance between two combatants occupies a certain amount of space, and this is contained within the overall space in which they are fencing, or training.
For simplification, and for focus, we are going to focus on the space within an arena (or a list field) as this is where this concept becomes most important. The individual who can "occupy" the space the best is the one who will dominate the space. This will give the individual the ability to move the other around the space, and by virtue of this ability, control the Distance between the two individuals. 
Now we need to break this down a little bit, isolate some of the aspects and how they apply to see how we can use this to our advantage...

Read the rest here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/lets-talk-about-91803789

Of Things Long and Pointed...

 Greetings,

I have not been writing here for a little while. I have been focusing on some larger projects which are found on my Patreon page. I will no doubt be back again at some point, both to promote projects found here and also to present some shorter ideas that I have had, however, on to the meat of the conversation...

Speaking of which I have just presented part of one of these for public viewing. It concerns a project concerning the subject of "spears." I say "spears" in that they come in different forms and this is demonstrated in parts of the investigation throughout. Have a read of what I have put in the post indicated in the link above, and you will have an idea of where this project is heading.

The project itself will be presented in a little while, this is just a "taster" for what is to come. While you are on the page why not have a look at some of the other things on the page, see if they interest you. There will be quite a few more coming as the months progress. If you've enjoyed my posts here, and there will be more coming, just not as regularly as they used to be, then it is likely that you will enjoy what you find on my Patreon page. Come have a look, come join the adventure.

Cheers, 

Henry.

Practice Targets

 Greetings,

A short note about practice targets that I noticed...

1. People's brains are obsessed with hitting the middle of a target, or target areas where delineated. Point a dot on a target and people will try and hit the dot.
2. The target needs to be identified to serve a particular purpose, or sections for particular purpose if multipurpose in design. The trainer and trainee both need to understand this purpose before they begin.
3. "Body Targets" need to account for the position of the weapon, thus Lines, or recognise that they are absent.
4. The target size needs to be proportional; a) to the skill of the combatant, b) to the target being sought, c) to the height of a "normal" thrust of the combatant.

These are just some quick points to consider when designing and using targets. They need to be considered when training students, especially when training them for a particular technique. Are you training them to strike a particular target, or use a particular technique? The target you use will affect the training that you use, and the result. Is the target you are using the most effective for the result you want? 

Cheers,

Henry.

Like this post? You will find more posts like this, and more in-depth studies of fencing, along with some of my other writings on my Patreon. 

Response to Changes...

Greetings,

I have noticed a distinct drop in readership of my articles, and I seriously am thinking whether it is time whether I have said all that I need to say on this blog. This is not a decision that I take lightly considering how long I have been writing the articles on this blog and the number of times that I have heard from people about how they have found this or that article useful. 

My first article was posted on 9 April 2009, which means at the publication of this post, I have been writing A Fencer's Ramblings for 14 years. Overall, I am quite surprised about the number of people who have visited its pages, and the number of people who have found the articles useful. I have always written from my perspective as a fencer. I have always tried to be as honest as I can about my feelings on matters which I think are important in regard to fencing, and fencing of all kinds for that matter. 

I believe there is a bond which holds fencers together. When I say "fencer" to doesn't matter if you use a longsword, foil, rapier, shinai, epee or lightsabre, if you wield a sword there is a connection between you and others who use a sword. Indeed, that community is larger if you include those who use other martial arts weapons. In all cases there are two things in common Time and Distance, we are all affected by it in our Arts. There is even a comparison and connection to be made with all combat arts due to these two principles.

A person who holds a sword, that is a fencer. Matters of politics and religion should be left outside the training space. That is, all matters of politics, that includes social politics thus gender, sexuality and disability, they should all stop at the door of the door of the school or practice hall. They have no place in the practice of the sword or any other combat art. If the person can safely hold the weapon and safely control the weapon in a practical setting, they should be trained. This is my policy in regard to training, this is how I feel on the matter. I hope that I have made myself clear on this matter throughout my articles. Any other interpretation is an interpretation of the reader, not the author.

I have spoken on disability issues because I am a disabled fencer, from this perspective I have spoken from experience and the research that I have performed. I have found fencing to be the thing that keeps me going regardless of whatever else is happening in my life. I hope that I have inspired some other fencers in similar condition to be the same.

I have spoken about some gender issues. Some of these were from the perspective of a teacher teaching people of different genders, and some of these were from the perspective of a fencer playing against a person of a different gender. Of the second, let me make it clear, I do not treat my opponents differently based on their gender; a fencer is a fencer, an opponent is an opponent. Regarding the student, that is an entirely different matter, a person's body is different to another person's body, and a teacher needs to take this into account, more so when it comes to different genders. I have written these articles on the basis of study and experience, I hope that they have encouraged people. 

Mostly, I have enjoyed writing these articles. Some have been written out of frustration for the state of affairs of swordplay in our current era, but most have been on the basis of a spark of interest, something that people might find useful. I hope that people have found the articles interesting regardless of their origins. My intent has always been to write things which are of use to my readers.

I would like to thank all of my readers, you are the ones who have kept me going. I would also like to thank those who have encouraged me along my way, writing special comments, and encouragements. Even criticisms of my work have sparked me to do better, to ensure that I get the right information to people. I thank you all. I will continue to write, don't worry about that. It's just that the posts and articles that I write will arrive in a different format. 

I have found that there are people who derive benefit from my posts, and that fills me with some joy, unfortunately this feeling does not put books on my shelf, nor money in my account, so I can keep my readers up to date. The commercial element which I mentioned some time ago is going to have its sway.

So, some statements need to be made about this blog, some of which have already happened: 

1. "A Fencer's Ramblings" will remain without on-site advertising; 
2. Articles which have been previously published in my book Un-Blogged: A Fencer's Ramblings will be cut, and people directed to the published form. This is to encourage people to buy the published form and thus support my writing. Of note, the disability, and articles about females and fencing will remain;
3. Posts presented here from now on will be less regular and smaller, and will indicate toward a new source of information (see below); 
4. I am going to move to a more fiscally-opportune method of delivery for my information, and an opportunity for those who really enjoy my work to demonstrate just how much they enjoy it, in a fiscal sense, as unfortunately good feelings doesn't publish books or pay for what needs to be paid;
5. I know that there are some people will not appreciate these changes and will make statements of their own about the content, and myself, that is their prerogative, and no care of mine. 

I have set-up a Patreon site for those who are interested in continuing following my writing and fencing exploits. If you want some one to blame, you can blame these changes on the state of economics, the increasing price of food and basic necessities, governments' obsession with money rather than people, and the capitalist system in general, among others. I was happy writing as I was, prepared to write as I have been, but pressures have forced me away from this. To maintain my lifestyle I must find additional means of income, hence, I must change format. If this causes issues with some of my readers, I bid you a fond farewell. I look forward to seeing everyone else in my new venture.

Thank you all again.

Cheers,

Henry.

A Response to: "Can you wear medieval armour to a longsword tournament?"

 Greetings,

The following article is a response to an article posted by Keith Farrell, Can you wear medieval armour to a longsword tournament? The reason being that I have found quite a few assumptions regarding the wearing of armour, and the SCA...

I have previously written about the difference between armour and PPE. So, I am not going to go over that old ground. I will summarise, the gear that people wear during HEMA is PPE it is not armour.  There is a distinct difference between the two sets of gear, and that is the point that Keith Farrell is making in his article, unfortunately he has also made some assumptions, and inadvertently pointed out some issues. My statements for this article...

1. It isn't about what a person wears, it is about how the person acts.

2. Take a better look at the SCA, at least it has standards; standards which do not exist in HEMA,  standards which HEMA groups are only just realising they need.

Beginning "Reasons"

"However, the vast majority of events would not. It could be for safety reasons (such as making sure there are no gaps through which a thrust could slip), for aesthetic reasons (at this tournament, we want everyone to look like modern sportspeople), for liability reasons (our insurers require that we mandate that every piece of equipment is CEN rated), or for whatever reason the organisers deem relevant."

The majority of HEMA events will not let a person wear armour to them, he states and then he gives reasons...

Safety, making sure there are no gaps; if the armour is fitted to the individual, and they are wearing the appropriate material underneath, there are no gaps. Considering there are no universal safety standards for HEMA, no established conventions, only rules established for each tournament, I disagree. Unlike the SCA which has such universal standards and conventions.

For aesthetic reasons "we want everyone to look like modern sportspeople"; where I say has the "Historical" gone from HEMA, let alone the "Martial Arts"? How HEMA has lots its way is another long subject which has certainly been highlighted by this statement, which I discussed in a previous article. This is a discussion which is controversial and ironically contrary. If people wanted to look so "modern" why is there such a popular line in medieval and Renaissance period looking equipment?

For liability reasons, equipment must be CEN rated; certainly a piece of steel has more resistance than any piece of cloth. Further, I refer forward and back to the SCA's standards, and it has insurance for each of its groups and its activities, which have a history going back to the 1960s. Again, this will be discussed in more detail below as it is a subject which requires further discussion.

The final one is the classic, "or for whatever reason the organisers deem relevant" autocratic rule at its best, a way for a person in charge simply to ignore the stated or printed rules and exclude by saying, "I don't like it." for whatever prejudices they might have. So much for being Inclusive (one of the reasons I went back to the SCA,), again discussed below.

Gear Inspection

"Without knowing the provenance of any given piece of equipment, it is probably easier just to mandate that people wear HEMA gear from recognised HEMA manufacturers, so that there is the best chance that everyone’s equipment is going to be fit for purpose with no nasty surprises."

What you need is experienced Safety Marshals, and to look at the equipment. If we want to play the like with like, let's look at Red Dragon gloves, or their old "gorgets", both by recognised HEMA manufacturers, both neither allowed in tournaments anymore. "Recognised HEMA manufacturers" do not guarantee against a) old gear, or b) gear in disrepair. A person still needs to inspect the gear to ensure there are "no nasty surprises." HEMA needs to train people to be Safety Marshals (Hey, like the SCA does, an idea which I tried to transfer locally, it lasted survived briefly until people realised a) they couldn't fight as much, b) it required them to do some extra work, and c) HEMA might have to look at standardising their rules. I keep saying that for some reason).

Armour and Assumption

"For example, the people who tend to wear steel helmets for sword sports tend to be reenactors, SCA people, and HMB people. The SCA and HMB people are certainly in the habit of hitting hard when they fight – the whole purpose of wearing the steel armour is so that they can do so."

Big assumptions made here, an assumption that SCA is like HMB, clearly Keith has not had a good look at the SCA. We don't all fight armoured combat. Yes, armoured combat, big difference. There is also period fencing, combat archery, and equestrian to play with. If you hit too hard in fencing, you get censured, and potentially removed from play, the same applies in armoured combat too. So you need to be specific. Apples and oranges, both fruit, but different. In period fencing, in cut-and-thrust we use longswords in much the same manner as HEMA (with many fewer injuries), so maybe armour works after all.

Wearing armour is not a sign of hard hitting, it is a sign of wishing to protect yourself. Nothing more to make assumptions about wearing armour and the calibration of the individual based on their kit, is the same as making an assumption about the skill of the opponent based on the value of their sword, or its condition. Such things are prejudices against the individual who is wearing or using the item, simply based on what they are wearing or using.

The SCA is a nice, easy, big target, that many people in HEMA will agree with. However the SCA at least has internationally-recognised and nationally-recognised safety standards. They don't change from group to group, or from tournament to tournament. I know that I can use the same kit anywhere around Australia, and with little modification, anywhere around the world. Further we have authorised safety officers, the system has checks and balances, that HEMA does not have. Issues that I have seen. Issues that I have witnessed  as a safety officer at more than one HEMA tournament. No, it may be a bigger target but it is also a safer target for those who play within its rules.

Pre-Judgement

How would it feel if a person decided that:

"You shouldn't fence with those people because they do German longsword and that's all about wrestling and multiple strikes to the head?" OR "You shouldn't fence with that person because they are wearing pants from Leon Paul, so they will just whip their sabre about and flick your forearms?" OR "You shouldn't fence with that person because they are using a feder, because they are so light it will whip around and hit you too fast?" OR "You shouldn't fence against that one because his weapon is too heavy and so it will hit too hard?"

All of these arguments are false. All of these arguments are prejudices. They all pre-judge an individual based on what they study, what they are wearing or what piece of equipment they are using, and not by how they actually fence, not by how the individual acts. The same as judging person by the fact they are wearing armour.

If a person wearing armour was to scare people off, then why would the SCA be the largest organisation which participates in three different form of combats in the world? Hard hitting does not come from a person wearing a particular type of gear or using a particular type of weapon, it comes from the way the individual is trained, the individual's mind-set, and the individual's actions. Anything else is blatant prejudice, which a person needs to examine within themselves.

Signs and Symbols

I will state quite clearly that I have no idea about any other recreational group in the world, however I will state that the SCA has policies regarding anti-discrimination and Inclusivity which are stated in their organisational documents. The swastika is banned from display in the SCA, it has quite strict rules about Heraldry, which would be the symbols that are being spoken about here. So, there would be none of the stated issues from members of the SCA, at least.

"It is all a bit of a sliding scale. Does all of that apply if someone turns up with steel gauntlets because they want to keep their hands safe? What about steel knee or elbow cops, or a gorget with steel plates? There is clearly a reasonable end of the scale, and with some items the most reasonable explanation is that people want to wear them because they believe these items to be more protective than the more modern alternative."

Properly made and fitted gauntlet of steel protect properly and work better, why else would they have persisted with them for hundreds of years? Examine most of the gorgets available today and you will find that they are made of steel, as they were hundreds of years ago when they were used for real, little surprise. There are new ones made of hardened plastic, but their designs are the same as the steel ones. Previously there were no elbow or knee protectors for HEMA so people used skateboard pads. Later ones covered the front of the knees and a little of the side. Compare the modern ones and you will find they are copies of armour. So why wouldn't a person wear the steel ones instead? It would seem that the only unreasonable part is that people have assumptions or have double standards about aesthetics. I know the history, I watched it change.

Conclusion

"And of course, it is always worth revisiting some of our base assumptions every so often, to consider if the way that we are doing things or if the decisions we have made are still sensible and working well for us. It is always good to let people ask “why” or “why not”, and it is also important that if we feel strongly about the issue, we have a good explanation to offer in our answer!"

Yes, assumptions, there have been quite a few made in this article. I would have expected a little more research done about the SCA before making such grand statements about it. I would have expected there to be more interest taken in investigating the subject of what the SCA actually does rather than assuming that the SCA's armoured combat is all that they do. This is a big assumption. 

Go have a look at some actual armour. Go have a look at what is actually being offered. Go have a look at what people are actually wearing for armour in the SCA and outside. Make your statements based on some actual research done by some investigation of the topic at hand.

The aesthetic question is a double-standard. Make a choice. Either wear modern sporting gear or wear period gear. Admit that you are doing a modern sport version or perform it as a martial art. Pick which one you are doing. Plunder-hose for all those German enthusiasts belong to the sixteenth-century, many of the wonderful jacket designs which are coming out, likewise belong to the same period. The aesthetic question is an excuse, it is a lie. It might as well come under the autocratic organiser's "I don't like it."

I wear steel armour because I know it is not affected by heat. I know that it is not going to crack or degrade unless I allow it to rust. I know the state of the material. I know where my armour comes from, I know what it is based upon, the reason it was used. I know its history. More to the point it was made for me, so it fits me. This is my "why." More to the point I am doing an Historical martial art, so it is appropriate that I wear historical equipment or a reasonable approximation thereof, at least within my means.

If you're wondering about whether our art was practiced in full armour historically, examine Maximilian I tournament book, Freydal of 1515. These two combat with different weapons in armour, for sport, in much the same way we do, the armour is for protection, nothing more. Well not quite "nothing" there was a certain element of fashion involved, but that's another question.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Freydal#/media/File:Freydal_Repro1882_Tafel_031.jpg 

Cheers,

Henry