Checking In

I went to practice Thursday night, and it was good time!
I got to fence with my Maestro, Orlando. Due to our schedules, we have not been able to do this in some time.
We broke even in passes, and he remarked that I seemed more relaxed and better calibration better. I've been working on these (among others things), so I was pretty happy and encouraged.
I fenced three more people with a total of 25 passes before I hit my limit.
They were all good matches. One particular, I could not lay my blade on two weeks ago, but things were not such a shut out that night. She is a wonderful fencer and crossing blades always means good lessons.

Friday night, a prepped my equipment. Retipped my swords, making sure there were no burs or rust on them or my buckler.
Once everything was done, I packed my fencing bag and armor box (repair equipment) and set them to go the next morning.

Saturday was Mudthaw. For those reading this who don't know, it's very popular SCA event. Folks come from all over to compete in multiple competitions and to visit.
Our fencing tournament is a double elimination. The competition holds a spectrum of styles and skill levels and is a hell of a lot of fun.
I was out in the third round, but my matches were clean and focused. I did some pick ups after and got a really good lesson, afterwards.

I'm planning on checking out a second practice on Tuesday, we'll see how it goes.

Tuesday Musings

"Say hello to the night
Lost in the shadows
Say hello to the night
Lost in the loneliness
Say hello to the night
Lost in the shadows

No one knows"  - Lost in the Shadows (The Lost Boys)

I decided to change some things up tonight.

I chose to work out to The Lost Boys Soundtrack and I added dagger to my routine.
I worked out of  Nicoletto Giganti's "Venetian Rapier, 1606 Rapier Fencing Curriculum".  It's a beautifully illustrated manual with detailed descriptions of the techniques.
Tonight's drills were Plate 21 - Parry and counterattack against a thrust to the face and Plate 22 - Parry and counterattack against a thrust to the left flank.

Both of these build off the previous drills and bring the dagger into play.
Working with music brings a certain intensity that can rise and fall with different song's tempos.

Catching Up!

 So, it's been about a week since I posted but, rest assured, I've been working! 😇

Tuesday, 03/11, was stretching and footwork.
Footwork comprised of linear advances and retreats, including crossing steps and offline/diagonal advances and retreats.
Both sides worked.

Thursday, 03/13 was practice.
Lungs are feeling better and getting stronger. I was able to fence four different opponents at high intensity, ten or so passes each.
All four are good fencers, varied skill levels with different types of intensities.
I fought with both dagger and buckler.
There were some good successes and my mistakes were make known to me quite clearly..lol 

I know things will continue to improve.

Today, was stretching from top to bottom, a repeat of last week.
One thing I noticed in my fencing on Thursday was that a few of my missed attacks were because I did not extend my lunge enough, so today I worked on that. Moving slowly into position and holding for 10 seconds before recovering and repeating ten times each side.

Late Night Run

I always enjoyed footwork drills, they get the heart rate up, blood flowing and is great conditioning.
It also links together strategies, understanding distance and how to control it from various directions.

Tonight's footwork drills (All work done on both sides)- Advance/retreat, crossing steps adding diagonal/offline advance/retreat.

My version of the Bolognese Compass or Star, symbolizing eight directional stepping. 

Sunday Stretches

Thursday's practice was not nearly as disastrous as I was concerned about.
Yes, I definitely need more sparring and to clean my techniques up, that will come with more floor time.

I devoted today for full body stretching, literally from the top down.

All stretching is done ten times each side.

Neck

Shoulders

Elbows

Wrists

Fingers

Hips/Lower back

Knee kicks

Crescent knee kicks

Strait leg lifts

Side leg lifts

Butterfly stretch

Planking

It feels like maintenance, before adding back fencing, weighs, etc.
Next Sunday, I think I will expand my time to 45 minutes. Lung stamina continues to get stronger

A day late, but in honor of International Women's Day, I leave an image of  the enigmatic Walpurgis.
From MS I:33, this is the first and possibly only time, a woman is illustrated as an equal combatant/Fencer.

Fencing Night!

 I finally made it to practice, fencing single sword and sword/dagger.
I was able to get through three people, about 15 or 17 rounds, before my legs got a little wobbly.
Breathing wise, my lungs are doing well.
As I continue to work with other people, my techniques will come back.

...And Measure Some More!

 I expanded the measure drills from the previous day.

Beginning with Narrowest/Strettisima, Narrow/Stretta and Wide/Larga Measure/Misura, each attack performed ten times in seconda and ten times in quarta.
Right and left sides done.

Adding Widest Measure/Misura Largissima. This is when you are far enough away from your opponent that you use a Passing Step/Passado, (crossing step) to land the strike.

Right and left sides/twenty times in seconda.

Variation: Execute a lunge, use a gathering step (rear foot to lead foot) and lunge again.

Right and left sides/ten times in seconda and ten times in quarta.

Cardio is improving and lungs are feeling stronger, most of this was done at speed.
I look forward to practice and sparring tomorrow!

Measure Up!

 "Were our weapon despoiled of its proper steps, it would fall into the darkness of a serene night being orphaned of the stars."
- Antonio Manciolino

In fencing, "measure" or "misura" is the distance between opponents, from the tip of the sword to the opponent.
The type of measure you are in, or want to go into can be defined by that distance.

Rolling out an old yoga mat to help define distance, I worked on the following:

Narrowest Measure/Misura Strettisima - The distance at which I can strike my opponent’s lead arm with a simple extension of my own.

Narrow Measure/Misura Stretta – The distance at which I can strike my opponent with an extension or a lean of my body.

Wide Measure/Misura Larga  – The distance at which I can strike my opponent with a lunge.

The wall target got a pretty good work out tonight. Soon, I'll be starting out of measure and moving into these.

Saturday, Saturday!

 So, the back end of a good week got a little derailed when I took a spill on Thursday. Banged up both palms, wrists elbow and knee but did manage to roll so I didn't hit my face or head. (Small victory)
Some swelling in in said areas kept me from practice on Thursday, but this morning was better.

Isometrics to begin, loosening up my wrists ad forearms.
Stretching to open up my abdominals, hips, spine, shoulders and neck. Knee and leg lifts have also been included.

Foot work!

Thrusts and lunges, right side only. Left elbow and knee are not supporting the actions at the moment.

Weights and planks are no go right now, but that should clear up in another day or two. 

2025 has not been very kind to my fencing, it has been getting frustrating, but I am determined to get things back in order for March.

Happy Wednesday!

The morning drive started with Bohemian Rhapsody on the radio, the second time in three days! Yesterday, I left work to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now".
It's been a decent week, so far.

Minimal stiffness from the other night, all good.
Tonight was about limbering exercises:
Knee kicks
Leg lifts, front and side.

Basic yoga:

Cat/cow

Butterfly pose/lower back stretch

Light weight work

Planking

Let's Try This Again!

 The last time I posted was during Lockdown, 2020.
A lot has happened since then, ups and downs; fortunately more ups.

I'm bringing the blog back to keep myself accountable for my off practice training. I'm getting my stamina back after a bout of Flu A, so in the rebuilding, I'm dedicating 30 minutes practice time. 

For now, I'm going for every other day, but I hope to increase the time over the next month.

Tonight:

Footwork (All work done on both sides)- Advance/retreat, crossing steps.

Thrust- Break down- 

1. Extend
2. Fold
3. Lean forward
4. Recover
5. Unfold
6. Back to guard

Combine into four moves, then two moves.

Light weights

Planking