Texas leaves the biggest bruises
Best Business Trip to Dallas EVER.
Last night, I took my 48.5 lb bag of armor to a park in Denton, TX (that's Ansteorra, to you!), ostensibly to meet a few local fighters, and their local Master at Arms, Arraclie Wolf. Instead what I found was the WHOLE CANTON, with home made cookies, deviled eggs, hamburgers and fixin's. About ten fighters, Master Wolf, Sir Louie, and a passal of pretty good sticks. They lined up and I fought them all. They also told me about another practise going on tonight...
...So I drove the 40 minutes to Dallas, and fought Count Gunthar, and Squire Lochinvar, Baron Armande, and a few others. No hamburgers, but pretty good fighting.
In fact, I pretty much had my ass handed to me by every accomplished fighter I faced. It was very humbling, and from an empty glass perspective, very good.
They fight with large shields, and a very quick, boxing-like style. They do not allow moving once legged, and crowd in very close--might even be called grappling in An Tir. They also (for the most part) take and give several notches harder than I'm used to--more like Madrone circa AS 25. My fakes and feints were neutralized, because in fact, I couldn't hit any openings, so they could ignore them. (I did land an occasional beautifully targetted fast shot, and one terrific rising snap, but not much). My open, loopy style was easy for them to predict, and I fell victim to fast slots again and again.
At the end of the night, Count Gunthar worked with me to help my attack. Move in and beyond, throwing more wraps to the leg, and staying tight. More shield presses, followed by leg wraps. It was very good. My ego wasn't in it (although I had hoped to acquit An Tir better - at least they thought I was a good fight).
I want to learn how to fight against this style! I believe that grace and flow will still triumph, but I've got to learn how to flow through and behind my opponent, not just in front. I want to make a HUGE shield, and give it to a sparring partner for practise. Thorin, maybe?
In all, it was REALLY fun to go fighting on a business trip--something I've been hoping to do for a long time. And, if I can learn how to fight this style, it will be a very useful augmentation of my toolbox for fighting ALL styles.
(The bruise on my shoulder is big as an Eisenhower dollar, and deep purple. Less lasting but more dramatic to receive was the direct snap to the cup--luckily, it was a smasher, not a pincher--I never stopped smiling).
Looking forward to returning to my regularly scheduled Kingdom tomorrow evening.
Last night, I took my 48.5 lb bag of armor to a park in Denton, TX (that's Ansteorra, to you!), ostensibly to meet a few local fighters, and their local Master at Arms, Arraclie Wolf. Instead what I found was the WHOLE CANTON, with home made cookies, deviled eggs, hamburgers and fixin's. About ten fighters, Master Wolf, Sir Louie, and a passal of pretty good sticks. They lined up and I fought them all. They also told me about another practise going on tonight...
...So I drove the 40 minutes to Dallas, and fought Count Gunthar, and Squire Lochinvar, Baron Armande, and a few others. No hamburgers, but pretty good fighting.
In fact, I pretty much had my ass handed to me by every accomplished fighter I faced. It was very humbling, and from an empty glass perspective, very good.
They fight with large shields, and a very quick, boxing-like style. They do not allow moving once legged, and crowd in very close--might even be called grappling in An Tir. They also (for the most part) take and give several notches harder than I'm used to--more like Madrone circa AS 25. My fakes and feints were neutralized, because in fact, I couldn't hit any openings, so they could ignore them. (I did land an occasional beautifully targetted fast shot, and one terrific rising snap, but not much). My open, loopy style was easy for them to predict, and I fell victim to fast slots again and again.
At the end of the night, Count Gunthar worked with me to help my attack. Move in and beyond, throwing more wraps to the leg, and staying tight. More shield presses, followed by leg wraps. It was very good. My ego wasn't in it (although I had hoped to acquit An Tir better - at least they thought I was a good fight).
I want to learn how to fight against this style! I believe that grace and flow will still triumph, but I've got to learn how to flow through and behind my opponent, not just in front. I want to make a HUGE shield, and give it to a sparring partner for practise. Thorin, maybe?
In all, it was REALLY fun to go fighting on a business trip--something I've been hoping to do for a long time. And, if I can learn how to fight this style, it will be a very useful augmentation of my toolbox for fighting ALL styles.
(The bruise on my shoulder is big as an Eisenhower dollar, and deep purple. Less lasting but more dramatic to receive was the direct snap to the cup--luckily, it was a smasher, not a pincher--I never stopped smiling).
Looking forward to returning to my regularly scheduled Kingdom tomorrow evening.