after-action report: Ayreton Jefferson Park practice 2-26-20
Pack light, expect to park in Savings Bank lot on Milwaukee, gym is at top of narrow winding stair and is very warm. Good traffic made the drive just under an hour from work, total drive home just over an hour.
First outing for new sword. Definitely feeling the different point of balance (more in the hand than in front of it) - significant difference in amount/location of soreness today. Grip feels much less bulky and clumsy. Still slightly worried about stiffness, need to play with its flex as compared to Dycon's Castile. Should get used to it fairly quickly.
First set: single vs Colleen. Obvious that I don't fight much single any more. Slow to warm up, but holding my own toward end.
Second set: S&D vs Gwyn. Told her to push me "until it was obvious she was beating me into the floor." Felt a little slow and sloppy; improved, but not sure if I was getting back into groove or she was dialing it down. One or two decent passes, most of my victories came in under her right arm.
Third set: S&D vs Colleen. Much more equal, though probably because she's not that versed in the form yet (and I use a longer dagger). Kept taking her dagger hand/arm, then losing mine, then losing the pass (see above re: not fighting much single any more). She's a very fun fight in any style.
Fourth set: S&D vs Christian Fournier. Praised my defense. Noticed that I was using dagger high/sword low and allowing him (as a righty) to bind and beat my blade down out of position to strike. Worked a couple of passes with specific focus on sword high/dagger low and improved. Also talked about what to do when in a close bind (retreat, disengage by withdrawing blade and immediately following up with attack). Had a couple of passes when I would come in close while using both blades to bind his sword to my left, then disengage and strike with the dagger - unexpected and effective. (Of course, if I miss on the attack I'm dead.) Talked about strengthening the forearm - definitely a thing I need to do. May use weights, may just go back to wall pushups, TBD.
Final set: S&D vs R2 using single. Wish I hadn't already been quite tired by the time I got to him; he outclasses me on a good day, and my arms were basically done before we got started. Had a couple of okay passes, got in once nicely over the sword arm again (looks like my bread-and-butter target against righties), but got sloppy as I got tired. Started doing the looping swing instead of thrust, was trying to incorporate the high-sword from the bouts with Christian but kept letting my point drift well out of silhouette. He's not a fan of holding the sword in 4th position, but I still find it fixes more problems than it creates. A thing to ponder on.
Tracking "evidence" of openings left in defenses: One stiff shot from R2 just off edge of gorget bib - no foul, I ran into it; one poke dead center on the bra line (probably from Gwyn); one minor scrape to inside left elbow.
Did not face: Kai, Kevin, PJ (didn't armor up), new fighters Eric and Dylan
Some enthusiasm for coming up to a Kenosha practice. Felt very welcomed at this one and will come back on occasion.
First outing for new sword. Definitely feeling the different point of balance (more in the hand than in front of it) - significant difference in amount/location of soreness today. Grip feels much less bulky and clumsy. Still slightly worried about stiffness, need to play with its flex as compared to Dycon's Castile. Should get used to it fairly quickly.
First set: single vs Colleen. Obvious that I don't fight much single any more. Slow to warm up, but holding my own toward end.
Second set: S&D vs Gwyn. Told her to push me "until it was obvious she was beating me into the floor." Felt a little slow and sloppy; improved, but not sure if I was getting back into groove or she was dialing it down. One or two decent passes, most of my victories came in under her right arm.
Third set: S&D vs Colleen. Much more equal, though probably because she's not that versed in the form yet (and I use a longer dagger). Kept taking her dagger hand/arm, then losing mine, then losing the pass (see above re: not fighting much single any more). She's a very fun fight in any style.
Fourth set: S&D vs Christian Fournier. Praised my defense. Noticed that I was using dagger high/sword low and allowing him (as a righty) to bind and beat my blade down out of position to strike. Worked a couple of passes with specific focus on sword high/dagger low and improved. Also talked about what to do when in a close bind (retreat, disengage by withdrawing blade and immediately following up with attack). Had a couple of passes when I would come in close while using both blades to bind his sword to my left, then disengage and strike with the dagger - unexpected and effective. (Of course, if I miss on the attack I'm dead.) Talked about strengthening the forearm - definitely a thing I need to do. May use weights, may just go back to wall pushups, TBD.
Final set: S&D vs R2 using single. Wish I hadn't already been quite tired by the time I got to him; he outclasses me on a good day, and my arms were basically done before we got started. Had a couple of okay passes, got in once nicely over the sword arm again (looks like my bread-and-butter target against righties), but got sloppy as I got tired. Started doing the looping swing instead of thrust, was trying to incorporate the high-sword from the bouts with Christian but kept letting my point drift well out of silhouette. He's not a fan of holding the sword in 4th position, but I still find it fixes more problems than it creates. A thing to ponder on.
Tracking "evidence" of openings left in defenses: One stiff shot from R2 just off edge of gorget bib - no foul, I ran into it; one poke dead center on the bra line (probably from Gwyn); one minor scrape to inside left elbow.
Did not face: Kai, Kevin, PJ (didn't armor up), new fighters Eric and Dylan
Some enthusiasm for coming up to a Kenosha practice. Felt very welcomed at this one and will come back on occasion.