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.

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

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 30

"The Finale!" 

Day 30.

In a few days, we will be saying good bye to 2020; 2021 will not begin any easier but, with luck and a lot of work the winds will finally be at our backs.

Tonight was a combination of two previous drills:

A measure (misura) drill incorporating the thrust (stoccate/punta) and lunge (affondo). It's a timed drill, fitting x-amount of correct thrust and lunges into a set amount of time.

The four measures to cover are:

Strettissima - Point the sword to strike

Stretta - Point the sword and lean the upper body forward to strike

Larga - Point the sword, lean the upper body forward and bend the knee to strike

Largissima - Point the sword, lean the upper body forward and bend the knee and step to strike

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnPK4BeesH0YSrLYARVeakA

A flowing guard drill. Going from one guard to another, it is easy to see where cut and thrusts would fill in those spaces; how an offense becomes a defense that becomes a counter attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aijGSXbA2nw

This has been rewarding, it has kept me connected to fencing and with other my friends who have not seen or worked with each other since March.

All the stresses are still there and, in February, my District is bringing us back to the classrooms (hybrid); this challenge has put me back in my manuals, giving my brain a chance to just step away from all of this craziness and giving me more to deal and get through it.

This was a good choice.

Day 30!

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 29

"Reengaging the Disengaging"

Tonight was a replay of last night's drills with a focus on small wrist circles and half circles.  My left hand definitely needs some fine motor skills work.

This is the home stretch, tomorrow is my final day.

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 28

"Disengagement"

Disengagement (Cavazione): Moving either over or under your opponent's blade to free your weapon from their (attempted) engagement or parry.

"A successful attack by disengagement needs to be made in an oval motion, such that the disengagement finishes as the lunges finishes-otherwise, you would not arrive in tempo.  If you do as I have described above and you have made the disengagement in tempo the enemy will not be able to parry."

                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                          ~Salvator Fabris

Disengagements are used for attacks and counter attacks by changing the line the sword travels past your opponent's blade.

Tonight's drills were disengagements from terza to seconda, then terza to quarta, accompanied with lunges.

As a variable, terza rolls to prima with a passing lunge.

Repeat of the first set of drills with passing lunges.

Perform on both sides.

Gran Simulacro dell'Arte e dell'Uso della Scherma ("Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing"); ~Ridolfo Capo Ferro,1610

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 27

 "The Repeat"

This morning was a repeat of yesterday morning; not too creative, but effective.

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 26

 "Holiday Paces"

Getting in late last night/early this morning from this year's Reindeer Trax Run (See link), I relaxed a while with my wife and our dog.

I was gifted with a new fencing manual "Fundamentals of Italian Rapier" by David Coblentz, Master at Arms and Dori Coblentz, PH.D.

My wife went to sleep, and as I was reading, I decided that My 30 minutes can be done at 2AM.

Silence was required for this, as we are apartment dwellers.

Advance, retreat, lunge, reverse lunge.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

https://www.facebook.com/stories/?card_id=UzpfSVNDOjcyNDAwODU3NTE2MTU1MQ%3D%3D&view_single=true

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 25

"Stand and Move"

After taking Yosei on a half mile walk, I went into my session. The walking was a good way to loosen up and knock the sleep off. His sudden bursts of puppy play energy also leads to a lot of shuffling, stepping and pivoting, regardless of the terrain!

The knee and neck felt better and stance training followed then progressed into footwork.  I do both of these a lot because they are just as, if not more important, than the thrust or cut.

If you have a weak stance, you will not have the proper alignment, balance or power to deliver a proper attack (or defense, for that matter).

If your footwork is clumsy (slow, poor timing, etc.) you will also have bad stances and be more of a threat to yourself than your opponent.

Finally, you will, ultimately, injure yourself with poor body mechanics that can end your ability to train with the sword.

Giovanni dall'Agoccie writes:

                                      "With reason and the art of movement and in finding your adversary in all the guards, and this starting with one or the other foot, for traversing, as with the pushing of one foot or the other forward, according to the time and the need.

Nevertheless, the movement should be with steps that are neither big nor small and the most useful: because going forward and back without disordering the person, accompany always the hand with the foot.  But there is a need to admonish that the leg that is forward is bent a little at the knee and remains strait towards the enemy.  The leg to the rear should be a little curved and the foot always in a traverse; in the manner that every movement is full of grace."
                                                                                     ~Opera Necessaria

                                                                                       Translation: William E. Wilson

While the entire body must be in concert, the foundation for everything is in the stance and footwork.

Artist Unknown

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 24

 "Maintenance"

There have been some frustrations with this challenge, particularly with neck and knee issues.

A large part of this is teaching from home.  Normally, in my classroom, I easily spend 70% of the time on my feet as the lessons are presented and working with my students.

Due to the set up I have at home, I am in my seat the entire time. It's definitely taken its toll.

At any rate, tonight was another stretch routine and looking forward to a better work out tomorrow.

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 23

 "Mio Segno"

After thrust and lung drills, last night's circle training continued.

I incorporated the thrust and lunge drills with the compass and directional steps, along with advance and retreats.

30 Day Squat Challenge: Terminated.

                                                          By Thomas V. Berger (WiP) 

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 22

 "Pieces of Eight"

"This is the segno, where you'll make your students walk, stepping forward as well as back, with weapons in hand, round about, putting their feet in the edges that cross the segno tondi."
~ Achilles Morozzo

Yesterday, I posted about the Four Virtues; one of them being the Tiger that represents speed (Celerity). Earlier in my challenge I wrote about The value of the Circle, angles and circle stepping. ("The System is Offline Tonight!" 12/08/20 and "Round and Round" 05/31/18)

Tonight, I combined them.

Walking the circle, then the first four intersecting paths.

Reversing and the original four become eight.

Applying Tiger (Celerity) getting faster, adding thrusts and parries.

Changing paths in mid direction, turning, forwards and backwards.

Visualizing the motions and steps of the tiger, a real flow came together.

In Nam Siu Lam Hung Ga (Southern Shaolin), there are five animals.  The Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Leopard and Crane were not just technique classifications, but they also represented the Five Elements and Five Emotions. 

We trained to embody the essence of the animals, as an attacker should feel like they were in a fight with a beast.

We were warned, regularly, not to lose our Humanity in such training.

As the European fight manuals seem to leave as much out as they tell us, I often wonder if any philosophies like this in their training.

                                                                  By Thomas V. Berger

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 21

 "Animal"

"For the animals soul is mine
We will be completed right before your eyes"

                                           ~Animal, Disturbed

Animals have always been connected to martial disciplines in one for or another.

The amount of animal systems in Gung Fu is infamous, though they exist (sometimes just in techniques) outside of that system, too.

In 1410, Italian master Fiore dei Liberi (1350 - sometime after 1409) released his famous manuscript "Fiore di Battaglia" (The Flower of Battle). It is a major work of combat covering everything from empty hand combat to swords, spears, batons, daggers and mounted combat.

They are major works of art, as well.

Just as importantly, they cover Martial Philosophy and Virtues.

On a page, known as the Segno in the Getty version of the manuscript, there is an image of the Master with seven swords (Sette Spade) around him to symbolize the seven cuts and there are four animal.; each symbolizing a specific Virtue or philosophy of training.

 

Directly above his head, representing Prudence (Prudenzia) is the Lynx holding a compass:

"No other creature is able to look so clearly as me, the lynx, and by this I ever I ever reckon by compass and measure"

(Meio de mi'louo ceruino non uede creatura , E aquello meto sempre a sesto e mesura.)

On his left, representing Clerity (Celeritas), is the Tiger holding an arrow:

"I am the Tiger, I am very quick to run and turn, that the arrow in the sky cannot approach me."

(Yo tigro tanto son presto a corer e uoltare / Che la sagita del cello non me po auancare.)

On his right, representing Audacity (Audatia), is the Lion holding a heart represents 

"None bears a more ardent heart than me, a lion, and I challenge anyone to battle."

Piu de mi lione non porta cor ardito , pero de bataia faço a zaschaduno inuito.

Directly below, representing Fortitude, (Fortitudo)  is the  Elephant with a tower on his back:

"I am the elephant and I have a castle for a burden, and never do I kneel down nor do I lose my true place."

Ellefant son e uno castello ho per cargho, e non me inçenochio ni perdo uargho.  

Prudence is caution, but it is not fear. It's Situational Awareness and Threat Assessments. It's having the ability to read your opponents' body language and see how they respond to yours.
Fight intelligently

Celerity is speed, but it is also timing. Being fast isn't good enough, you have to know when to use it. Find that opening and know how to exploit it. Know when to advance but also be able to change directions.

Audacity is boldness. Facing off against someone is nothing to do half heartedly. To meet steel to steel, hand to hand; it is impossible to execute any technique without boldness.

Fortitude is courage in the face of adversity and pain. To gain victory, or even survival, we need to be able to move through pain, obstacles and unfair odds.

Our training requires all of this.  The battlefields might be gone, but to attempt to master the sword, these Virtues are paramount.

by Thomas V. Berger

30 Minute for 30 Days, the Return: Day 19

 "I Got Static!"

Last night was all about the stretching, but when I closed my gradebook and computer for the weekend, getting out of the chair was still stiff and achy.

So tonight was static stance training.

After

stretching the following sequence was:

Unarmed, 3 minutes each side

Piccolo Passo 

Passo Giusto

Gran Passo

Coda Lunga e Distesa

30 Day Squat Challenge, Day 19: 135