Practice!

Practice, practice, practice! the mantra of the successful. (Note: Training being what you do with an instructor or coach and practice is what you do all by yourself)

During a fight you have a lot to concentrate on, your position, your opponent's sword/feet/shoulders, your sword/feet/shoulders, measure and time the last thing you want to think about is your attack or defense movement.

Practice and build muscle memory to allow you to throw a perfect blow without thinking about the individual movements, it takes 6+ months of weekly practice to build solid memory (studies show about 10,000 hours to become an expert)

Be cautious when you start building the memory of throwing the blow correctly, nothing is worse than having to unlearn a shot. Start slow, who cares how fast or strong your shot is these things can be altered easily, (speed can be added with basic boxer training, blow strength can be changed by adding mass to weapon or armour/body or by weight training) Technique is important not only for success but to prevent injury.

I cheat, I admit it! I use modern sports knowledge to improve my training Muscle memory , I use techniques studied though boxing and MMA  for footwork, fast twitch muscle training Muscle Fiber Type and modern injury prevention techniques including warming up and cooldown.

I have a rudimentary diet (I like my food too much to follow a strict diet) and take supplements to improve muscle growth and provide nutrients my diet misses/lacks in quantity.

But most of all, have fun! Training shouldn't be a chore and you can be as intensive as you want, but if your goal is to be competitive then train hard, We have giants to chase!

Husk of wheat exploding!

Finding something that inspires you will help alot with all you do in life and more so when it comes to combat. Getting out there and doing it, is by far the most important part; It doesn't matter if you come first or last getting "stuck in" is most of the battle.

Fail, make a fool of yourself (I have done this many times) and will continue to, but it won't ever stop me from trying, I hope you will too.

Inspiration can be many many things, your consort, a movie, a historical figure or even an idea (like a husk of wheat exploding(old joke sorry)), for me it's a poem, if I may by Robert Frost;

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The path less traveled, is my inspiration for all I do in life. It may not be as bloody as 300 spartans or William Marshal (the perfect knight) but to me no less inspiring.

Do not follow

The lowest point

How far can we fall? without saying a word, how we love to believe the worst of others and never seek the truth.

I remember just this last event "Chivalry" was accused of leaving bows in the rain, the story ran like wildfire, I heard it thirdhand; The truth was much simpler, It started raining heavily and the wind picked up, 3 of the knights immediately noticed that the archery pavilion was still up and was in danger is being blown away so they took it down and moved the gear inside a few of the loaner bows were slightly wet as were a few arrows, So a rumor took off that the knights left the bows in the rain.. and on and on it went.

Seek the truth, do not follow.

Blind faith is as dangerous as blind obedience, asking why is not a sin you should always question, even if you know the answer because its the best way to learn the mindset of your teacher and find the truth of the matter.

Recently I berated my local group about not thinking about others, I failed this simple test of seeking the truth. it was forgetfulness not deliberate malice (but it didn't hurt to remind them) I erred and will remember for next time my own lesson.

We love to think the worst of people, we even do it without realising, It is conditioned within our society that we don't even question  our worst fears. (Or greatest hopes in the dark of the night)

We all mess up, not one of us is perfect but believing the worst of someone even as they try to make amends is a greater failure.

Reflection

Why do you fight?

Heavy combat within the SCA is a personal journey of re-discovery, Finding within ourselves that which has been lost by the march of civilization. ("preface for later comments", I believe all fighters are equal when it comes to gender once you make a commitment to fighting you are a fighter, not male or female. Apart from some minor difference in power generation and frame weight transfer men and women are equals, gender doesn't define activities, there is no advantage or disadvantage you cannot overcome.)

Fighting has been shown to reduce stress, keep you in shape, increase your hand-eye coordination, endurance and reflexes. (most studies have been about martial arts but I see no reason why this wouldn't extend to SCA combat in any form)

SCA fighting requires discipline, honor, humility, control, freedom, aggression & peace. You must learn your limitations and work to break or bend them to excel. You can be any shape or size, whole or disabled because one important lesson I have learned is experienced beats age the majority of the time.

Do you fight to win? To learn or to teach? For Love, for loss? To grandstand or humility? To become a part of  a group? To stand out? for all or nothing?

Do you fight for yourself or others? for glory and renown?

Is fighting for you something more than just being a "stick jock" something you cannot put into words, it makes you try harder and work to become a better person, More than just standing with friends and your SCA family? More than your upbringing or personal circumstances, beyond faith and personal ideals.

Why do you fight?

Because you can?