Over the weekend I attended the Havoc in Hastings event. It was a nice demo and a lot of people stopped by to check out the fighting area. I hopefully this will result in some new members for Three Walls.
Sir Angus Gordon was running the Authorizations. I put on my MIT hat and helped out. There were two new authorizations, one re-authorization and one out of kingdom authorization for the day. Sir Brannos did a great job of running commentary explaining what was going on to the spectators and it reminds me that we sometimes fail to do that well during demo’s. I received another signature for acting as MIT for the event and now need one more to be able to take the test to become a Marshal!! Hopefully I can get the last signature this month and try to wrap up this process.
As far as I could determine the only other members from Stormvale attending were Erevon and Eron. They spent the day shopping and at the archery field. I did not see them at the event but they had noticed me on the list and had expected me to come over and say hi. Without my glasses I am good to 75-100 feet but past that I cannot make out individuals. So they yelled at me Sunday for not being sociable but it was more blindness and not so much anti-social. I probably should have stayed for court but as the fighting was wrapping up I ended up running home.
Showing posts with label Marshal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marshal. Show all posts
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Fighting Ramble
As I may have mentioned previously in some of my posts, I have decided to become more serious in how I look at Heavy Weapons Combat in the SCA.
A short history of my SCA fighting: I authorized in 1984 and had fun fighting but did not take it seriously until approx. 1990. Previously I had been happy to put on armor and play the game but did not care how I did. I was not out to win or get better at fighting but more simply hang out with my friends and since they fought, I fought. As my friends and co-belligerents began to improve and advance as fighters I ended up asking myself what I wanted to accomplish as a fighter. In effect was I happy being a nail or did I want to be the hammer. So after 1990 I started putting together a nicer kit, paying more attention and trying to learn how to fight better. Almost immediately I was doing better and pulled myself out of the bottom of the pack of fighters in the Kingdom to somewhere in the middle. By 1996 I was doing well enough to be in the quarter finals of some tourneys but seldom won. In retrospect I had been unhappy at looking stupid on the list field and had worked enough to become average but did not try to progress beyond that point. I didn’t want to put the effort in to win, I simply did not want to embarrass myself.
At this time however my mundane job changed and I found myself both working a lot of overtime and most weekends. I was also in effect on call and found myself unable to schedule my event participation very well. So from 1997 to 2003 I did not regularly pursue fighting practices and attended mostly local (about 60-90 minute drive) events. I kept my authorization current but made no real progress fighting. I would attend the local Stormvale practice held outdoors from May to September with some consistency. I was no longer trying to improve, I was simply attending out of habit and for stress relief. So I went through the motions locally and fought the same people over and over but no longer had any kind of a plan or direction for fighting.
In 2004 my job changed again and I began to have more free time again but had gotten into such a rut SCA wise that none of my habits changed. I continued to attend only close local events and fighting without a real purpose or plan. It was probably a year or longer before I decompressed from my IT job enough that I started looking around and taking stock in my hobbies again.
By 2006 I had increased my event participation and had been upgrading my kit again but was back to my original fighting attitude or lack of one. I was showing up more but really just phoning in the effort. It did not help that by now my family was only peripherally interested in the SCA and many of my long time friends had again retired, moved or had begun phoning in their own effort.
I hit a point in late 2006 and took stock of my SCA participation. Was I going to be serious about the SCA or just a fringe member. I decided that I did like and enjoy the SCA enough to devote the required time and effort to become a good fighter again and to step up my efforts in other SCA avenues as well. At the same time I was going through this decision process my local group started having troubles of their own and it seemed that I would have to go a bit further afield to realize my SCA goals.
After deciding I was in for the long haul SCA wise it was apparent I would need to repair and improve my fighting kit. I had also let my desk job creep up on me and I would need to improve my physical shape as well. Less Pear shaped would be a good start and I needed to work on my stamina, upper body strength and speed if I was going to take up fighting again with any degree of seriousness. So in 2007 I put together a physical workout schedule and a list of fighter goals. The physical workout schedule includes some strength training, Cardio and Yoga/stretching. I have been following the physical workout for a year now with fair results. My stamina is improving and my strength is increasing but not as fast as I had originally planned. I believe I will have to take this up to a higher level and join a gym or other venue to progress any farther on this front.
As far as progressing on my fighting plan I have generally done better. I have reworked much of my fighter kit and like how it is now working. My legs do need work still. My right leg armor will occasionally shift and get in my way. I have not been able to find the cause so I may have to make one change at a time until the problem goes away. I am now attending one practice a week at a minimum and have the first signature for my Marshal paperwork. By May 1st I will be working in a second practice per week with events taking place of the second practice when I attend an event. I have also tried to spread my practices around so as to not only fight the same people over and over. So far I have been to Northwoods and Fearann na Criche and soon hope to attend Roaring Wastes and Sarnia practices. There is talk of starting up Stormvale practices again for the summer so that may become my second practice.
A short history of my SCA fighting: I authorized in 1984 and had fun fighting but did not take it seriously until approx. 1990. Previously I had been happy to put on armor and play the game but did not care how I did. I was not out to win or get better at fighting but more simply hang out with my friends and since they fought, I fought. As my friends and co-belligerents began to improve and advance as fighters I ended up asking myself what I wanted to accomplish as a fighter. In effect was I happy being a nail or did I want to be the hammer. So after 1990 I started putting together a nicer kit, paying more attention and trying to learn how to fight better. Almost immediately I was doing better and pulled myself out of the bottom of the pack of fighters in the Kingdom to somewhere in the middle. By 1996 I was doing well enough to be in the quarter finals of some tourneys but seldom won. In retrospect I had been unhappy at looking stupid on the list field and had worked enough to become average but did not try to progress beyond that point. I didn’t want to put the effort in to win, I simply did not want to embarrass myself.
At this time however my mundane job changed and I found myself both working a lot of overtime and most weekends. I was also in effect on call and found myself unable to schedule my event participation very well. So from 1997 to 2003 I did not regularly pursue fighting practices and attended mostly local (about 60-90 minute drive) events. I kept my authorization current but made no real progress fighting. I would attend the local Stormvale practice held outdoors from May to September with some consistency. I was no longer trying to improve, I was simply attending out of habit and for stress relief. So I went through the motions locally and fought the same people over and over but no longer had any kind of a plan or direction for fighting.
In 2004 my job changed again and I began to have more free time again but had gotten into such a rut SCA wise that none of my habits changed. I continued to attend only close local events and fighting without a real purpose or plan. It was probably a year or longer before I decompressed from my IT job enough that I started looking around and taking stock in my hobbies again.
By 2006 I had increased my event participation and had been upgrading my kit again but was back to my original fighting attitude or lack of one. I was showing up more but really just phoning in the effort. It did not help that by now my family was only peripherally interested in the SCA and many of my long time friends had again retired, moved or had begun phoning in their own effort.
I hit a point in late 2006 and took stock of my SCA participation. Was I going to be serious about the SCA or just a fringe member. I decided that I did like and enjoy the SCA enough to devote the required time and effort to become a good fighter again and to step up my efforts in other SCA avenues as well. At the same time I was going through this decision process my local group started having troubles of their own and it seemed that I would have to go a bit further afield to realize my SCA goals.
After deciding I was in for the long haul SCA wise it was apparent I would need to repair and improve my fighting kit. I had also let my desk job creep up on me and I would need to improve my physical shape as well. Less Pear shaped would be a good start and I needed to work on my stamina, upper body strength and speed if I was going to take up fighting again with any degree of seriousness. So in 2007 I put together a physical workout schedule and a list of fighter goals. The physical workout schedule includes some strength training, Cardio and Yoga/stretching. I have been following the physical workout for a year now with fair results. My stamina is improving and my strength is increasing but not as fast as I had originally planned. I believe I will have to take this up to a higher level and join a gym or other venue to progress any farther on this front.
As far as progressing on my fighting plan I have generally done better. I have reworked much of my fighter kit and like how it is now working. My legs do need work still. My right leg armor will occasionally shift and get in my way. I have not been able to find the cause so I may have to make one change at a time until the problem goes away. I am now attending one practice a week at a minimum and have the first signature for my Marshal paperwork. By May 1st I will be working in a second practice per week with events taking place of the second practice when I attend an event. I have also tried to spread my practices around so as to not only fight the same people over and over. So far I have been to Northwoods and Fearann na Criche and soon hope to attend Roaring Wastes and Sarnia practices. There is talk of starting up Stormvale practices again for the summer so that may become my second practice.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Clancy Day: Clancy goes to Japan
It was a wonderful event!!! The weather was perfect for an early April day. It must have been 65 degrees and was sunny. My wife Giovanna and daughter Saiyuke attended the event with me. Bjarky decided to stay home and go to a friends house instead of the event.
Since it is my goal to become of Marshal of the Field I thought I would spent the day marshalling and get my first signature for helping at an event. The Marshal in Charge of the event, Brutus had me look over some of the armor inspections, watch and comment on 3 new fighter authorizations and help out during the Bear Pit Tourney. I started out teamed up with Sir Ragnar from Starleaf Gate but about half way through the Bear Pit he stepped back and had me run that portion of the list. There must have been better than 25 fighters for the Bear Pit and it was very informative to spend the day watching the fighting. I had not realize how many fighters had taken up small bucklers instead of using regular or center boss shields.
After the Bear Pit ended a single sword tourney was called for 30 minutes later. It was single sword only but it could be one or two handed. I had decided to get a little fighting in and so joined the 9 other fighters who signed up for the tourney. I also had wanted to use my new Great Sword which I had only practiced with once or twice. I thought I did OK in the tourney (I believe I won 5 and lost 4).
We did not stay for the evening feast as my wife was feeling a bit under the weather by this point so we said our goodbyes and left a bit after 5pm.
Since it is my goal to become of Marshal of the Field I thought I would spent the day marshalling and get my first signature for helping at an event. The Marshal in Charge of the event, Brutus had me look over some of the armor inspections, watch and comment on 3 new fighter authorizations and help out during the Bear Pit Tourney. I started out teamed up with Sir Ragnar from Starleaf Gate but about half way through the Bear Pit he stepped back and had me run that portion of the list. There must have been better than 25 fighters for the Bear Pit and it was very informative to spend the day watching the fighting. I had not realize how many fighters had taken up small bucklers instead of using regular or center boss shields.
After the Bear Pit ended a single sword tourney was called for 30 minutes later. It was single sword only but it could be one or two handed. I had decided to get a little fighting in and so joined the 9 other fighters who signed up for the tourney. I also had wanted to use my new Great Sword which I had only practiced with once or twice. I thought I did OK in the tourney (I believe I won 5 and lost 4).
We did not stay for the evening feast as my wife was feeling a bit under the weather by this point so we said our goodbyes and left a bit after 5pm.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Skalla's Fighting Goals
Since it will be a couple weeks before I can fight again, while my helmet being repaired, I thought this was a good time to go over the rest of my equipment and make a to do list. So Friday night I took stock and created a “Fighting” goals & projects list. I had more ideas than just fighting and I think I will create similar lists for A&S and other activities. I will review it every couple weeks to check my progress and add new items.
So as presently conceived the list looks like this for fighting and is not prioritized yet:
Skalla’s Fighting Goals and Projects 11-2-2007
1. Fix hinge on Helmet (IN PROGRESS approx. 2-3 weeks to complete)
2. Become Heavy Marshal
3. Become Youth Marshal (IN PROGRESS started at War need 2 more signatures and take the test)
4. Youth Equipment for Alex (my 13 year old son) (IN PROGRESS, have most equipment, need to make tabard to hide modern equipment and get him authorized)
5. Make Great Sword
6. Create exercise plan & Schedule of Pell work
7. Replace Knee/Elbow Pads & Cup
8. Help my Household members Daryl and Robert to construct armor and authorize (this may end up being its own list)
9. Create schedule of fighting practices to attend like Roaring Waste, Cynnabar etc.
10. Polish leg armor
11. Clean up loaner armor
12. Make loaner arm armor
13. Make loaner swords/shields
14. Attach gloves to new Gauntlets, Clean up and use old for loaner
15. Shorten my Brigantine armor by approx. 6 inches
16. Tabard or Surcoat with Coat of Arms and Mantle for Basinet
17. Put together Marshalling kit, Helm, Staff, Tabard etc.
18. Get Combat Archery bow and authorize
19. Look into Siege Engine what it would take to build and authorize
So as presently conceived the list looks like this for fighting and is not prioritized yet:
Skalla’s Fighting Goals and Projects 11-2-2007
1. Fix hinge on Helmet (IN PROGRESS approx. 2-3 weeks to complete)
2. Become Heavy Marshal
3. Become Youth Marshal (IN PROGRESS started at War need 2 more signatures and take the test)
4. Youth Equipment for Alex (my 13 year old son) (IN PROGRESS, have most equipment, need to make tabard to hide modern equipment and get him authorized)
5. Make Great Sword
6. Create exercise plan & Schedule of Pell work
7. Replace Knee/Elbow Pads & Cup
8. Help my Household members Daryl and Robert to construct armor and authorize (this may end up being its own list)
9. Create schedule of fighting practices to attend like Roaring Waste, Cynnabar etc.
10. Polish leg armor
11. Clean up loaner armor
12. Make loaner arm armor
13. Make loaner swords/shields
14. Attach gloves to new Gauntlets, Clean up and use old for loaner
15. Shorten my Brigantine armor by approx. 6 inches
16. Tabard or Surcoat with Coat of Arms and Mantle for Basinet
17. Put together Marshalling kit, Helm, Staff, Tabard etc.
18. Get Combat Archery bow and authorize
19. Look into Siege Engine what it would take to build and authorize
Monday, August 27, 2007
Fighting Practice 8-26-2007
The Sunday Fighting Practice kick off consisted of 10 people.
Torashi, Balian, Thoromir, Raven, Connor, Robert (Hicharu?), Rodney, Alyssa, Jordan (?) and myself.
The practice started out with a 30 minute discussion on Fighting stance, Shield types and the 10 main sword blows. Thoromir, Hicharu, Alyssa and Jordan were very polite in setting through my class. I would like to continue something like this for our practices. Please let me know if you would like to attend a specific class or if you would like to give a class.
We did not break up into groups to practice the topics covered in the class but instead decided it was a better opportunity to work on armor so we could put more people into the field. The next 90 minutes consisted of working on various armor projects. Thoromir padded the helmet he is constructing. Hicharu with Balian’s help strapped and edged his shield. I fixed my helmets hinge and removed Pennsic rust off of my legs.
It was decided to not let the practice end without some actual fighting so Torashi and I donned armor and had several rounds of sparing. Many thanks to Torashi for once again pointing out, through force of arms, that I need to get in better shape and practice more. My stamina gave out before I thought it should have and as a penance I let Thoromir and Hicharu use me as a pell for the rest of the practice.
Thoromir put on a helmet and tried out his new sword and center grip shield while I attempted to block his shots. He has an interesting technique of hiding his sword behind the shield that he is working on. We also worked on blow calibration, both hitting and being hit. By the end of this it was getting difficult to hold my shield in the ready position and I had to do some “cheating” by resting the shield on my leg for last few minutes of working with Thoromir.
Then Hicharu wanted to try out his 2/3rds completed armor kit so he dressed and I took a boffer weapon (he had no arm armor) and he worked on blow calibration (only giving). He then began sparing with me and I mostly blocked (or tried to block) his attacks. I would occasionally take a swipe with the boffer but more wanted him to become comfortable in his armor and in throwing a blow. At the end of this I could no longer hold up my shield and had to let it hang by my side and I blocked single sword style. Of course I did not admit that to him, instead I told him I wanted the shield out of the way so I could watch his stance and technique better.
It was nice seeing Rodney again and I believe he and Connor discussed the possibility of running a fencing practice at the same time as the heavy weapons.
Also during the practice Raven expressed an interest in trying heavy weapons so we discussed the required armor standards and weapons needed. I hope to see her in armor at some point in the future.
The next practice should be September 2nd!!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Sunday Fighting Practice
Well War was a blast but I was sorely out of shape for the event. I don’t propose to be in the same condition next year!! I have started to exercise again and will be hosting a fighting practice Sundays from 2pm till 5pm. Once a month this will conflict with the local shires Revel and I hope to take the fighting practice to the Revel site if at all possible. I would like to start the practice right away but need to finish a couple extra shields and weapons so I will be kicking this off on August 26th. I will also start looking around for an indoor site for the winter. If a site cannot be found then I think I will switch between Roaring Waste and Cinnabar this winter. They both currently have Sunday fighting practices.
I would like to have a little more organization to this than we have used in the past. Instead of just strapping on armor and going at it, I would like to have a training schedule covering a different weapon each week. Also include melee tactics, shield walls and work together as a small unit. Stormvale has an Artisan Guild which meets weekly and has a guest lecturer covering some craft. I wouldn’t mind having a similar situation for the training sessions. People can volunteer to cover some aspect of fighting and as we grow we may even get guests from outside the group. I envision us all taking turns at some point in the training.
After the lesson portion was over it would be nice to practice the topic and try to refine some of the moves. We could break out groups or run some small melee’s as further practice. This would also allow someone who did not have their armor yet to work through and learn some of the basics. Then we will have our open practice as we have always run them. I would like to see the practices turn into 60 minutes of training and 120 minutes of fighting. This would fluctuate as the mix of attendees changed. If we have a lot of newer people we may train more and if everyone is pretty experienced then we may train less.
I would love to have Fencers show up as well but would need someone else to take charge of that portion of the operation. It will take enough time setting up the heavy weapons that I would rather not be responsible for Fencing. The best solution would be to have a fencing marshal who would like to take over that aspect of the training.
If not enough other people have complete sets of armor it may be necessary to use the first couple sessions to help people work on armor so we can field people to train and fight with. I have enough gear to equip myself and 1 and ¾ fighters. I need to make a set of arms and a couple swords and shields to be able to equip 2 other people at the same time. That will be my next priority and I hope to have it finished before the practice starts on August 26th. I have already committed this armor so it will only be available for loaner armor if they should fail to attend the practice. I need to make or scrounge at least one more set so I can guarantee to have loaner equipment.
Skalla
I would like to have a little more organization to this than we have used in the past. Instead of just strapping on armor and going at it, I would like to have a training schedule covering a different weapon each week. Also include melee tactics, shield walls and work together as a small unit. Stormvale has an Artisan Guild which meets weekly and has a guest lecturer covering some craft. I wouldn’t mind having a similar situation for the training sessions. People can volunteer to cover some aspect of fighting and as we grow we may even get guests from outside the group. I envision us all taking turns at some point in the training.
After the lesson portion was over it would be nice to practice the topic and try to refine some of the moves. We could break out groups or run some small melee’s as further practice. This would also allow someone who did not have their armor yet to work through and learn some of the basics. Then we will have our open practice as we have always run them. I would like to see the practices turn into 60 minutes of training and 120 minutes of fighting. This would fluctuate as the mix of attendees changed. If we have a lot of newer people we may train more and if everyone is pretty experienced then we may train less.
I would love to have Fencers show up as well but would need someone else to take charge of that portion of the operation. It will take enough time setting up the heavy weapons that I would rather not be responsible for Fencing. The best solution would be to have a fencing marshal who would like to take over that aspect of the training.
If not enough other people have complete sets of armor it may be necessary to use the first couple sessions to help people work on armor so we can field people to train and fight with. I have enough gear to equip myself and 1 and ¾ fighters. I need to make a set of arms and a couple swords and shields to be able to equip 2 other people at the same time. That will be my next priority and I hope to have it finished before the practice starts on August 26th. I have already committed this armor so it will only be available for loaner armor if they should fail to attend the practice. I need to make or scrounge at least one more set so I can guarantee to have loaner equipment.
Skalla
Monday, February 19, 2007
Marshal Update
Great News!!! Well sort of…. On my earlier request to become a Marshal of the Field, I have received a response from Duke Sir Brannos the Kingdom Earl Marshal indicating that the current Regional Earl Marshal office was changing but to contact Sir Calador Quinacain (the marshal stepping down) and either he would handle it or turn it over to his successor. So I have e-mailed my second request to Sir Calador on Sunday and already received a reply that it would be forwarded to Robert ap Llywelyn who took over the office in January. I do not have his e-mail yet but will try to look him up at an event to press my case. It looks like the next event I am positive to be at will be Ides of March at Iron Oak. If I can get permission in time I will ask them if they need another Marshal and either act as a Marshal of the Field or start the MIT (Marshal in Training) process anew.
History:
This is eerily similar to the last time I undertook this task with officers changing and no one really sure who was going to handle what yet. Hopefully this time I am in at the beginning of this cycle instead of the end and will be able to finish this up with a minimum of fuss and bother.
History:
This is eerily similar to the last time I undertook this task with officers changing and no one really sure who was going to handle what yet. Hopefully this time I am in at the beginning of this cycle instead of the end and will be able to finish this up with a minimum of fuss and bother.
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