So this is the only video I've seen from this years Mudthaw. I'm not fighting but I do kind of wander into the background and watch. it's kind of funny.
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Mud has not yet thawed...
And yet we still had a tourney. There was a blanket of snow on the fighting field, so they opted for the covered picnic area, which the Van Winkles would probably call a "hay barn". I don't know how many people were in the lists. I was number 68, but registration was open for at least an hour after I signed up.
Because of my elbow I have gone to a heater shield. I'm using the standard East Kingdom size of 24" by 36". That is two inches shorter than my kite but with corners. I miss the kite, because I thought it was a great looking shield and a fun way to fight, but I can't hold it up anymore. Too much torque on my elbow.
First round I drew Duke Gregor. I'm not sure how that happened, as I am the only knight who had to fight another knight first round, but I need to thank whoever set it up, because fighting Gregor is always a lot of fun. Yes he won, yes, I made him work, yes, I landed a thrust and an edge on him, neither of which were good because he's so good at slipping blows. But it was an awesome fight.
Second round I fought a guy from Rusted Woodlands whom I don't know but who had by far the nicest kit I've seen in years. It was an Italian harness,m early fifteenth century, including the mail shirt, with a gorgeous surcoat and center-grip heater. I knocked the plume off his helmet. He fought really well, took my leg, and almost killed me with a thrust before I got him with a nice edge shot, a sitting down slot like William of Houghton would have thrown. Old School.
Third fight I had a really long tough fight against Cedric of Amorica. I had seen his earlier fight when he beat Sir Balin, so I had some warning of how tough it was going to be and where to guard. He uses a short pole arm and has a tough defense. I never managed to get his leg and I chased him out of the list at least three times. Eventually i launched a body thrust on the outside and he took my arm but i killed him before he did.
My third fight was against a heater fighter whose first name was Eric, and I don't recall a thing about it save that I won.
My fifth fight was against Ivan from Seprentius. We had a nice long bout and I killed him. I took his arm and then killed him with a thrust.
My sixth fight was against Woolfhir of Stonemarch, whom I always seem to fight in all of these tourneys. He was not as aggressive as I am used to his being. He was ranging me and playing mind games, and the fight did not last long before I killed him with a body thrust.
My seventh fight was against Master Wulfgar of the Wood, who was having an awesome day. It was a long fun fight in which he took my leg and then killed me. I landed edge on him once or twice without any power, and a downward thrust that hit him on the forehead, which I had to tell him not to take. It was a fun fight.
Afterward I fought some pickups. Damon von Drakenklau killed me twice to my once on him. I fought Christian of Serpentius and killed him several times. Then my helmet broke and I had to quit. Cet fixed it yesterday.
That was my Mudthaw. it was fun, I went deep into the list fighting with a shield I'd had no practice with and which was trapped weirdly for me. I'm happy with where i ma right now considering the injuries I've had and the little practice I got over the winter.
Because of my elbow I have gone to a heater shield. I'm using the standard East Kingdom size of 24" by 36". That is two inches shorter than my kite but with corners. I miss the kite, because I thought it was a great looking shield and a fun way to fight, but I can't hold it up anymore. Too much torque on my elbow.
First round I drew Duke Gregor. I'm not sure how that happened, as I am the only knight who had to fight another knight first round, but I need to thank whoever set it up, because fighting Gregor is always a lot of fun. Yes he won, yes, I made him work, yes, I landed a thrust and an edge on him, neither of which were good because he's so good at slipping blows. But it was an awesome fight.
Second round I fought a guy from Rusted Woodlands whom I don't know but who had by far the nicest kit I've seen in years. It was an Italian harness,m early fifteenth century, including the mail shirt, with a gorgeous surcoat and center-grip heater. I knocked the plume off his helmet. He fought really well, took my leg, and almost killed me with a thrust before I got him with a nice edge shot, a sitting down slot like William of Houghton would have thrown. Old School.
Third fight I had a really long tough fight against Cedric of Amorica. I had seen his earlier fight when he beat Sir Balin, so I had some warning of how tough it was going to be and where to guard. He uses a short pole arm and has a tough defense. I never managed to get his leg and I chased him out of the list at least three times. Eventually i launched a body thrust on the outside and he took my arm but i killed him before he did.
My third fight was against a heater fighter whose first name was Eric, and I don't recall a thing about it save that I won.
My fifth fight was against Ivan from Seprentius. We had a nice long bout and I killed him. I took his arm and then killed him with a thrust.
My sixth fight was against Woolfhir of Stonemarch, whom I always seem to fight in all of these tourneys. He was not as aggressive as I am used to his being. He was ranging me and playing mind games, and the fight did not last long before I killed him with a body thrust.
My seventh fight was against Master Wulfgar of the Wood, who was having an awesome day. It was a long fun fight in which he took my leg and then killed me. I landed edge on him once or twice without any power, and a downward thrust that hit him on the forehead, which I had to tell him not to take. It was a fun fight.
Afterward I fought some pickups. Damon von Drakenklau killed me twice to my once on him. I fought Christian of Serpentius and killed him several times. Then my helmet broke and I had to quit. Cet fixed it yesterday.
That was my Mudthaw. it was fun, I went deep into the list fighting with a shield I'd had no practice with and which was trapped weirdly for me. I'm happy with where i ma right now considering the injuries I've had and the little practice I got over the winter.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Workout
I have dumbells, yoga bands, and indian clubs at home, and last night I used them all.
Hammer Curls, two sets, to fatigue
Shoulder presses, two sets of twenty
Triceps extensions, two sets of twenty
Flies, two sets of twenty
Combo 1 (curl, press, extend, each arm) one set twenty
Combo 2 (fly to curl to triceps x and down) one set of twenty
Rubber band
Shoulder rotations, one set twenty
"Saber draw" one set twenty
Triceps extensions, one set ten
Indian clubs
swing combo
flat snaps (twenty)
Sabre cuts (twenty with each lead)
florentine set
block/strike/block drill
Hammer Curls, two sets, to fatigue
Shoulder presses, two sets of twenty
Triceps extensions, two sets of twenty
Flies, two sets of twenty
Combo 1 (curl, press, extend, each arm) one set twenty
Combo 2 (fly to curl to triceps x and down) one set of twenty
Rubber band
Shoulder rotations, one set twenty
"Saber draw" one set twenty
Triceps extensions, one set ten
Indian clubs
swing combo
flat snaps (twenty)
Sabre cuts (twenty with each lead)
florentine set
block/strike/block drill
Monday, March 21, 2011
2011 March Crown Finals Roric vs Marc
Video of Marc's final with Rorik has been uploaded! Check it out!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
western Crown
News flash!! Bastardswordsman wins Western Crown!!
Marc d'Arundel won crown over Viscount Rorik. Marc, as usual, was fighting with a two handed sword. Most call his a bastardsword. It is longer than a hand and a half, shorter than a zweihander. It's about the size of a claymore. The significance of this cannot be overstated. The only other fighters I know of who made any kind of run at Western Crown with a two handed sword are Elrin of Hrasfaelg, Branden d'Arundel (no relation), Elrik Skapvarger and Duke Paul. Of these, only Paul made it into the finals, using his nodachi. It was a common belief that if Paul couldn't do it nobody could.
So Marc's victory is especially noteworthy.
Also of note, two foreign knights, Duke Sean from Artimesia and Count Conrad from CAID went to semi finals.
Wish I had been there.
Congrats to their Royal Highnesses!
Marc d'Arundel won crown over Viscount Rorik. Marc, as usual, was fighting with a two handed sword. Most call his a bastardsword. It is longer than a hand and a half, shorter than a zweihander. It's about the size of a claymore. The significance of this cannot be overstated. The only other fighters I know of who made any kind of run at Western Crown with a two handed sword are Elrin of Hrasfaelg, Branden d'Arundel (no relation), Elrik Skapvarger and Duke Paul. Of these, only Paul made it into the finals, using his nodachi. It was a common belief that if Paul couldn't do it nobody could.
So Marc's victory is especially noteworthy.
Also of note, two foreign knights, Duke Sean from Artimesia and Count Conrad from CAID went to semi finals.
Wish I had been there.
Congrats to their Royal Highnesses!
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Inuries
So this year was supposed to be a good year for me, building on the improvements I made to my fighting last year. I made it to quarter-finals (the final six) in last Eastern Crown, and felt (feel still) that I could improve on that this year. But injuries are getting me down. Yes, time to practice is getting in my way too, but last weekend I did not practice specifically because of injury.
Right now I am dealing with the trevails of age: intermittent shoulder, back, and knee pain. It's not bad. Usually Yoga drives away the back pain and returning to the gym for some physical therapy exercises (leg extensions, shoulder rotations) gets rid of the knee and shoulder pain. I can do some of that at home with rubber bands, dumbbells, and squats.
However, my wrist and elbow injuries are different. I broke my right wrist about twenty five years ago and have sprained it a number of times. I usually wrap it when I fight, but not if it's feeling good. Well I didn't wrap it when I fought at Iron Bog last week and it was swolen by the end of the day. I don't remember missing any body or being hit, but it hurt bad. It now only hurts if I squeeze it or torque it (don't do that).
My elbow hurts, but for the first time ever it is my left elbow. It has hurt since December, and I am sure it is from being either hit, torqued, or both while using the center-grip kite. It is essentially tennis elbow. This is bad because the center-grip kite has been doing really well for me, and besides I like the style.
The solution for both has been rest. I need to get one of those elbow bands people wear for tennis elbow and don't fight without wrapping my wrist ever again. However, more needs to be done:
* I am switching from a 38" center-grip kite to a 24" x 36" heater shield, which I've ordered from Ice. The strapped heater will change my style slightly, but it will put a LOT less strain on my elbow.
* Alfred has suggested cortisone shots for my elbow and, while getting them, I should probably have them in my wrist as well.
* Gripping exercises effect both injuries, so are probably good for me.
* As I said, Yoga and rubber bands. I also use Indian Clubs, which strengthens the shoulders and stretches the elbows.
Any other ideas??
Speaking of weight, it's hard to stick to the low carb diet during Lent, so I've gained a couple pounds. But spring has sprung and the bicycle has already been puled out and tuned up (rode it to BAT on Sunday). Plus as long as I'm working retail I'm getting an awesome cardio workout.
Yes, getting old sucks physically, but I love everything else about it--making mroe money, having more status at work, dare I say a bit of wisdom (just a bit). I'm not the fighter physically that I was at 30. But I am actually better mentally than I was then. I crossed an interesting bridge mentally about two years ago, and my fighting has improved considerably (going to the kite and losing weight helped too). But our game is one wherein with a bit of added armor many injuries can be alleviated. I'm adding shoulder armor back onto my kit for that very reason. Yoga and pilates cure most of our other injuries. It's only the breaks and the blown tendons that really stop us.
I did 50 push ups today and my elbow and wrist didn't hurt at the time. I'm feeling them now but that could be the typing as much as anything.
Right now I am dealing with the trevails of age: intermittent shoulder, back, and knee pain. It's not bad. Usually Yoga drives away the back pain and returning to the gym for some physical therapy exercises (leg extensions, shoulder rotations) gets rid of the knee and shoulder pain. I can do some of that at home with rubber bands, dumbbells, and squats.
However, my wrist and elbow injuries are different. I broke my right wrist about twenty five years ago and have sprained it a number of times. I usually wrap it when I fight, but not if it's feeling good. Well I didn't wrap it when I fought at Iron Bog last week and it was swolen by the end of the day. I don't remember missing any body or being hit, but it hurt bad. It now only hurts if I squeeze it or torque it (don't do that).
My elbow hurts, but for the first time ever it is my left elbow. It has hurt since December, and I am sure it is from being either hit, torqued, or both while using the center-grip kite. It is essentially tennis elbow. This is bad because the center-grip kite has been doing really well for me, and besides I like the style.
The solution for both has been rest. I need to get one of those elbow bands people wear for tennis elbow and don't fight without wrapping my wrist ever again. However, more needs to be done:
* I am switching from a 38" center-grip kite to a 24" x 36" heater shield, which I've ordered from Ice. The strapped heater will change my style slightly, but it will put a LOT less strain on my elbow.
* Alfred has suggested cortisone shots for my elbow and, while getting them, I should probably have them in my wrist as well.
* Gripping exercises effect both injuries, so are probably good for me.
* As I said, Yoga and rubber bands. I also use Indian Clubs, which strengthens the shoulders and stretches the elbows.
Any other ideas??
Speaking of weight, it's hard to stick to the low carb diet during Lent, so I've gained a couple pounds. But spring has sprung and the bicycle has already been puled out and tuned up (rode it to BAT on Sunday). Plus as long as I'm working retail I'm getting an awesome cardio workout.
Yes, getting old sucks physically, but I love everything else about it--making mroe money, having more status at work, dare I say a bit of wisdom (just a bit). I'm not the fighter physically that I was at 30. But I am actually better mentally than I was then. I crossed an interesting bridge mentally about two years ago, and my fighting has improved considerably (going to the kite and losing weight helped too). But our game is one wherein with a bit of added armor many injuries can be alleviated. I'm adding shoulder armor back onto my kit for that very reason. Yoga and pilates cure most of our other injuries. It's only the breaks and the blown tendons that really stop us.
I did 50 push ups today and my elbow and wrist didn't hurt at the time. I'm feeling them now but that could be the typing as much as anything.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
ow
Injury has been getting in the way of ky training this seWon so far. My back and hip have been giving me problems, my elbow has been inflamed since December, and Sunday I hurt my wrist pretty bad. I think it was when I missed a shot. Other than that practice was pretty good. I fought Bill and Heinrich, trained with Ron, and worked with a couple other folks. The best thing I did was against Heinrich, when I figured out that he was cocking and moving to his right before throwing. I slowed down by going old school, (behind the head returns change up timing) and killed him with wavy rising snap.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)