Dagger days with the LLA.

With perfect timing it seems, we spent last night covering dagger and to add to the thumb toward tip vs pick debate. No, they both exist in medieval play, and most systems had manners of dealing with both.

However yesterday we dealt with pseudo Doebringer that, only uses pick. The reason that I chose to take the class through this form is that it dismisses the lack of cutting ability argument with early knife forms (again made somewhat more important by it's dating with the scheme of fencing treatises, 1389 bloody early).

The first play is your standard disarm, the left handed anti clockwise rotation against the pick grip. But then it gets interesting.

To counter this disarm the exact methodology I would expect from modern knifeplay is used, the shearing and stripping rip, or pressing cut to ruin the defending limb. We covered all the other aspects of the play as well from the attempt to get behind to the common sense don't kid your self that if you aren't doing this full tilt his won't turn you by your nose for sentry kill (don't think he isn't going to try and *&%$ you up while you try this).Obviously this meant we had to don masks and try it against a bull rushing, bowling bastard of an assault, to get the timing of the counter, just so. Also we had a brief run through of Mair's second knife play, which is...fantastic. We have one more week of the knife then back to sword and buckler.

So many things.

Already this year has got of to a cracking start. Not only have we been featured on A.F.P. but also have appeared on the Islam Channel and the BBC's Secrets of the Castle.

I really hate this outfit.

The BBC episode had me teaching two presenters how to fight with spear against spear, and although I ended up teaching them long spear form for safety's sake, I was very pleased with how it came across and how well they absorbed what I said.

General training has been wonderful, with the Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes on waiting list only, in order to make sure we don't get too crowded and so everyone gets the attention they need.

If you want to get in at the earliest opportunity contact us at londonlongsword@gmail.com. We still have some space in the Thursday spear and dussack class in Crystal Palace.

A very happy new year to you.

It has been a fantastic 2014 for the school. I get to teach and train with a lovely bunch of people who are quite inspiring in their efforts. Have a great 2015 and of course, be excellent to each other.
I will leave you with what seems to be a pre cut of our recent appearance on Agence France Presse (the link to which I have provided below). At 2.15 you can see Lignitzer's first play.

If you wish to watch the other clip, go here.

A new London Longsword Academy scholar.

Saturday the 6th, saw our Charity Bash, & the long overdue Scholarship prize fight of Luke Rose.
So how did it go?
As usual I spent the days building up to the event fretting that barely anyone would show, that people would drop out at the last moment and that possibly, just possibly, everything would catch fire and burn to the ground. None of these things happened.
24 fighters joined the competition and a large contingent of guests, all of whom put into the pot for the charities we chose, amassing an excellent £600.

All of the effort and toil of sorting pools was taken out of my hands by the great help of Nancy and Helena (and of course Barney who turned up with all the pool forms in the world). All of this help meant that we were in and ready to roll within an hour.

On the whole, folks were ready to fight on time and, in order to allow free choice of weapons, had communicated their choice and level of protection to their opponent before the bout began. This meant we were able to mix dussack, longsword, rapier, sword and buckler, even sickle. all into the same pools, all judged by the same rules (to see the rules have a look at the posts from the last few weeks. I will repost them soon with notes).

For many of the fighters, yesterday was a steep learning curve, but my, they did rise to it well and it was lovely to see how folk adapted, either making a passive form more assertive, or calming a flail upon realising such vigorous blows and parries left them prone to facial battering. Their potential cover vanishing leaving them unable to do anything but watch the oncoming, inevitable blow. Hard learning that was received with much grace and good humour by all.

The judging overall was excellent (the only slight niggle possibly being Sally, whose strikes seem invisible). The rules seemed to work exceptionally well, allowing for simple and effective calls. There will hopefully be some more pics and videos of the event up soon, so I will save overall commentary for those. But well done, some great fights and of course a well earned congratulations to our winner Tim Fuke.

Luke Roses's Scholarship.

Nothing short of fantastic. I know that Luke has spent a long time practicing for this, a lot of time spent in hot rooms, in full jacket, gloves and headgear so that the heat would not be an issue. His stamina was never in doubt, nor was his will to fight.

However, I think Luke would admit that it was much more punishing than expected, the adrenaline, concentration and a somewhat uncooperative (as it should be) opponent, exerting a far greater toll than shadow sparring alone could ever do. But that endurance practice payed off and despite the strain, even the final painful, grating ten minutes - those harsh extended moments where his opponents started to press him more with more determination - he remained resolute. And I am happy to say he passed. I never had any doubt he would, none of us did, and we are all massively proud of him. Luke Rose is now a scholar of the London Longsword Academy.

A little bit about the charities we are supporting at this weekend's bash.

The charities: Shelter; a housing and Homelessness charity. LAUNCH which is a year-long project for 16 to 25 year olds from disadvantaged areas of Haringey who show promise in the arts and have expressed a wish to consider theatre as a career.

The Bash: The bash is an interclass competition held to celebrate an upcoming scholar's prize fight. Each attendee be they student or guest, fighter, judge or spectator pays to attend. Every penny, without exception is given to the charities we have chosen. That commitment is made possible by the added generosity of our host venues, who are often willing to provide the space for the event free of charge (in this case Jacksons Lane). This is our way of saying thank you to the community we are part of and in the case of shelter, aid something increasingly vital. If you wish to attend, we will have a few spaces for spectators. PM me for details.

Don't forget that all this week there is no need to bring anything other than protective gear to training. I will be along with flags and sashes to prepare you for the competition. :)

Interclass Competition rules for Saturday 6th of December.

Interclass open rules. For those of you judging and fighting on the 6th of December, here are is the simple version of the rules based around 4 ring judges and 1 centre judge. Fighters and judges do not need to worry about the number values that is for the score keeper. Judges simply worry about the "minor major and doubles". Hits of quality: Competitors are expected to illustrate good technique, so cuts and thrusts must have a clear path of intent. In the case of cuts, a cut through or into a target, not a tap shot. In the case of thrusts the thrust may be put in, or arrested out of courtesy but must reach the opponent with potential to extend into a full thrust. Judges are able to dismiss touches they do not feel meets the above criteria. Bout duration: Each fight will be to ten points or two minutes. Whichever comes first. Scoring: We have returned a little to the original open rules concept. This will be a little more complex but I hope the judges will make them work. Starting allocation: Each competitor will start the fight with 10 points, hits will be subtracted from this, the fight will be ended when one competitor reaches goes to zero or below or the time runs out. Values: Major hits. A hit of good quality to any target that goes unanswered. Instant doubles and following afters of good quality (-2 points). Minor hits. A follow on blow to a lesser target or of poor quality (-1 point). Double strikes and afterblows: Double strikes count against both parties and are simply scored major blows (-2/-2) However, we have added the "following after" distinction. Instant: When the blows land at the same time and at identical distance the score is double (-2/-2). After: If the after blow is given, with an action of following after and involves a movement of the foot or feet it must hit even or greater value. So if party A strikes a limb party B can strike back at limb, torso or head to score a double (-2/-2) . If party A strikes head or torso, party B must likewise hit head or torso to score. in the event of a strike to the limb the score is given major/minor(-2/-1). Limb interrupts: Shots will be judged by distance and path, so a cut which would reach head or torso but has a limb in the way will be counted as a major strike so if you put your hand in front of your face to stop that cut... Hit calls. Hits must be confirmed by 2 or more ring judges. So to score at least two judges must flag in your favour. On witnessing a successful hit a ring judge will call hit and hold the flags thus: Major hits: Arm vertical 2 points. Double: crossed flags above head (X) Minor following major hits (as in a poor following after) arm held at 90 degrees to the side (the major as stated being held vertical). The center judge will call "halt" after hearing 2 or more calls of "hit" This marks the limit of the afterblow. Fighters will remain where they maintaining readiness, the centre judge will either call a hit value (for example major against blue, minor against red) at which point fighters will move to their corners. Or if no confirmed hits are made the judge will call "fight on" the fight will then continue from where it left off. Grips and grapples. If the limb or weapon is held immobile no after blow is allowed upon it's release. A hit must still be delivered to score with the grip, The floor at this venue is unsuitable for grappling so no going to the floor. Dussak: When fighting dussak hits to the weapon hand will not score, this being considered protected. General. In all fights control is expected. Avoid hitting too hard, avoid hitting the joints and to the neck.

I'm not on a boat.

It was asked today why I haven't traveled overseas to teach very much this year when there have been several very kind offers to do so.

Well tonight sums it up.
Every time my students turn up and put so much effort into understanding, when on lacking understanding they ask the right questions, when they show such diligence that it makes me want to applaud....That's where we have a problem.

I love when each student makes a jump in comprehension, how that drives me to research more.
I love when that perfect shot from a student, played for and got sneaks through and you know that that application is comprehension embodied...But of course that may be an issue.

 

 The problem is I cannot leave a class when they show such desire to learn and improve.
The issue is they do, and that drives me and makes me reluctant to leave...even for a week.
Maybe next year I will try and travel out of the UK again, the offers mean a lot, but these buggers have me hooked.