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Had an absolutely lovely birthday. I am honored and embarrassed by all the well wishes I received. It is quite a compliment.
Recently, my life has been both been trying, as well as rewarding. In the past two weeks I have spent more time in armor than most will spend all summer. This has been a good thing, but I am quite tired. My Sword elbow is ( Read more... ) -
A deed of arms of Ambrose St. John
Unto the Princes, Dukes, Counts, Knights, and good men of coat armour, who be not enemies of the Culture of Chivalry, do I, Baron Robert Downey, Squire to Duke Bardolph Odger Windlaupher, Student to Master Gunther von Stein, Sergeant of the Red Company, Leftenant of the Company of St. Jude, Sentenal of Sirene, and Most blessed holder of the favor ( Read more... ) -
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Practice last night was very good. There were seven of us, with two new people. We are drawing near the end of the new “bolognese introductory course” dry run, and I am very pleased with what we have accomplished. I have had some great feedback, and will be able to make the next run even better.
For me the day was physically challenging. I pushed ( Read more... ) -
Crown tourney
Back home after another Crown tournament! It was a pretty grueling drive, but we got home. Friday night, we got to the hotel late, due to some setbacks in getting out of town.
Saturday, we got up at a leisurely pace, and enjoyed the morning. I wound up going to do some rapier and cut & thrust fencing Saturday. Normally, I wouldn’t participate the ( Read more... ) -
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I was recently ruminating over a conversation I had with another Rattan Fencing enthusiast a couple weeks ago.
His approach has always been “experience” based, whereas I try to drive my improvement through a greater understanding of the art.
I would venture to say that 98% of all rattan fencers really fall into the “experience” category. I also know ( Read more... ) -
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It's been a good week. Eventful, sometimes frustrating, but good.
This last weekend, I got to do some really challenging and fullfilling art. It was a total blast, and like always, made me feel high as a kite, and wrung out in a very good way.
I also got to make my grilled marinated tuna steak for My Mother in law on mother's day. That was fun.
My ( Read more... ) -
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I was recently conversing with a friend via email about the fact that one day, before I die, I WILL joust with solid lances. It may be my LAST day, but one day I will do it. How can you think yourself knightly if you have never faced that? Well, I would fudge a little, and use coronels, but... (I guess I am a bit of a wimp that way)
I have also ( Read more... ) -
Standing on the bridge to midnight
Tired. Trying to finish up some work. We have been doing a lot of after hours stuff at work. Not nearly as much as the "old days" for me, so I am in no way complaining. I'm just tired ( Read more... ) -
Perfection
I have been thinking about perfection lately. This was spurred by the observations of one of my regular training partners. This last tuesday, we were working together, drilling the parry into Guardia di Faccia with Rattan. At one point, I got a bit annoyed with my form. Brian stopped me and informed me that I needed to get past seeking perfection ( Read more... ) -
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"In Asia, there is still a chance of getting to close quarters and of using the right arm." wrote a veteran British swordsman; "But in modern fighting on the Continent, not a man on either side has the pleasure of identifying the particular opponent who slaughters him. There is scarcely any of that individuality of carnage which is so contending in ( Read more... )