Golden Flight

I have been invited to join the Baronial court, to which I accepted, I am proud to be a part the barony and hope I play my part well.

It was a grand event, the wind spoilt peoples aim but not their spirits, It was great to see so many archers shooting, I spend my time marshaling and we only had 2 minor mishaps which were corrected with a kind word.

The heavy Tourneys were fun, a bit silly but having to only aim for a certain body part made defense interesting. The day was won by Sir Callum.

I learnt much about using Rattan great weapons from Sir Sigard and Master Brian, keep low and push into the strikes then pump your shot after the blow.

Food is a big part of the SCA and the cooks acquitted themselves well. Much bacon was had as breakfast lunch and dinners were japanese/chinese style meals, I am always impressed by the way the people attending the event just "get stuck in" and help with chores even if they have done alot already.

To swing or not to swing?

Get 3 heavys together and you will learn 4 fighting styles.

Now I have read many many SCA training text's, And watch thousands of hours of training video's I have come to the point where I now need to pick a style to follow.

Most of the kingdoms have vastly different training methods and even different ways of generating power (whether its from the hips or from the legs) to pivot the shoulders or not. There are pros and cons to each style, different speeds and commitments to each blow.

In lochac we tend to throw "combo's" as our goto attacks, elsewhere the focus is on 1 perfect shot kills. Again elsewhere the focus is on manipulation to open to that 1 shot you have been practicing for 18 months.

The need for footwork seems the one universal constant, but this is done if different ways also.

To me this is very exciting! Nothing would be more boring that people standing arounds in Pose No. 1 from Fiore dei Liberi manual.

Rain.

Ah, Rain.

The nemesis of organised training, weather continues to put a damper on heavy training, I really need to find an indoor location but all the sites I have found cost, not a huge amount but enough that I can't cover it myself each week so its chicken and Egg. I need an indoor site so we get more members turning up for practice but I can't afford an indoor site until we get more members turning up for practice.

Solo work progresses as does my new leather jerkin which is my current sewing project, I wish I could fight more.

Golden Flight in 2 weeks, I am looking forward to the event.