NonHead-Blow Weapons Training

[Ancient one]

Friends, Romans, Countrymen
Legio II Avgvsta Sword Training for Romans and others commences this Sunday February 6th @ a Central Auckland Location (equally inconveniant for all Romans and friends). For further details contact Rob.

[Artemis]

An Ideal Solution for those Reenactment Punters who are sick and tired of the grumbling neck pain and head aches, want to keep a couple of nerve cells of Grey Matter to Rub together in their Twilight Years, and can't afford to keep paying the exorbitant Osteopathic Bills to Sleezy Manipulation Doctors like Rob.

[conal]

Alternatively...

Know the ways of many weapons.

...and the gladius is a functional weapon.

[Robbo]

Robbo's thought for the day (in compliment to Conal's):

Those who don't train head blow, train leaving gaping wholes in their defense of the shoulders and upper torso. However, their lower torso and leg defense is enhanced.

Those who train exclusively for head blow have fantastic upper torso and head defense....but leave gaps in the defense of their lower torso's and legs, thus creating a weak point.

Those who train w fencing masks tend to focus on the face, again leaving holes in the lower defenses.

These are just my observations over the years both as an observer, a combatant and a marshal (amazing how much you pick up as marshalling - you see the best, worst and oddest in everyone lol). Anyway, therefore, isn't it wiser to train in all styles open to us here in NZ? By doing so you gain the benefits of all systems, the defense of your own body (and allies) can only enhance, not to mention your attack skills (increased angles, stances and strikes for example).

Again, just my thoughts, but each style we have available to us has strengths and weakness's. Conal says to know the ways of many weapons. I agree but would go one further. Know the way of many styles and become the best warrior you can be.

(Absolutely NO offence intended to those who have no desire to take part in other styles, tis just my opinion. Take it or leave it, throw it away if you don't like it, run with it if it works for you )

[Freebooter]

Choose one style. A real style ... and practise it. Lots.
Learn to control yourself, defend yourself and guard yourself.
Encourage your friends to do the same.

Don't play with the idiots who think that a harder hit is a better hit, and always aim to hit without being hit.

It's hardly rocket-science.

[pmel018]

That about covers it
Phil

[Victorius]

A visored helmet with no provision for fluke shots, a suspension harness and padded arming cap - even throat protection. That's my preference (of course, that's for horizontal strikes and face thrusts - probably no visor or throat protection needed for NAAMA Headblow? It can be done quite safely without it).

I used to think that NAAMA Headblow was dangerous, but with the right protection it is perfectly alright. Yet some find it scary, others have had concussion, so don't want to risk it.

And that's what I love about our various codes. We all find a way to perform the combat we love, and cater to all tastes. Those who wish to do non-headblow can find plenty of clubs who will cater for that, those who wish to do NAAMA Headblow can do the same, and those who wish to include more target and strike zones can too.

BONVM EST. AVE BELLONA. CARPE GLADIVM. PAX RE-ENACTICA

[Freebooter]

[Victorius]

[Freebooter]

Capito

[Robbo]

Got to agree. More armor seems like an excuse for people to hit you harder. I don't see this as part of what we're about. Hence my earlier statement. Realistically, it should go hand in hand with what both Conal and Nic say. Learn a weapon to the best of your ability. Move onto the style that best compliments that weapon and study it to it's fullest potential. If you've mastered both those, no mean feat in and of itself, move onto another.

The greatest, and most fun, martial arts class I ever attended was held by a 6th dan. He spent over 2 hours teaching how to perform a single punch. A basic reverse punch actually. To this day I still feel I haven't mastered that punch due to that one class lol.

[Freebooter]

[BigMac]

[Steaphen Fick]

the attacks that you didn't catch.

If you are studying a martial art, then you must understand that you will get hit. That's part of the game. That means that if you are studying a 'fencing' art (whether it is with a rapier, a longsword, a side sword, or anything else), then you should first learn to provide your deFENCE first and your skill at hitting the other guy secondly.

If you are looking to put on a show, the best rule I ever heard from a professional fight choreographer was this. Make your attacks FAKE, but make your defense REAL.

Over here on this side of the pond I work at teaching my students that the only reason that you get hit in a fight is because you have lost control of yourself and your defence. I do Renaissance faires here in California and I run into this kind of problem quite often. armour is only there to catch the attacks that you missed with your sword or movement.

[Freebooter]