Learn swordplay

I’ve actually done a search and found there’s classes about a mile away! Doesn’t really sync up with my school/work sched though…....rats…..someday

anyoen kno a good place to buy 1?

I’ve learned how to use a rapier, bokins, and Chinese broad sword (I’ve also had training in bo staff but that doesn’t really apply here).

I highly recommend taking any stage combat class you can afford to go to. It is fun and you at least learn the basic principles of fighting in a relatively safe environment.

I will most probably never do this. I’m this clumsy kid that always drops things and doesn’t have good reflexes, and if I ever took a sword in my hand, I’ll probably hurt myself instantly. Even if the sword is supposed to be ‘safe’. It hasn’t always been like this, but in the last 10 years I haven’t engaged in any kind of physical activity besides from walking through the city and occasional swimming – but that’s obviously not enough.

And even if I was fitter, my dexterity still leaves much to be desired. The same goes for coordination.

And yet, I’ve always dreamed of swordplay. I want it so much… After all, there’s always Jon’s advice to Arya: stick the enemy with the pointy end. That much even I can do ;)

kights…ROCK!

Defense, defense, defense. Practiced a lot of parries today. Also practiced compass steps and other matrix-y dodges. Finally, hand parries.
I think I’m getting the hang of this :)

I went to rapier practice with the Glaedenfeld group for only the second time ever. Glaedenfeld is an SCA group like the one I play with in Murray. I don’t have my Glaedenfeld link, but if you go to the Meridies site then groups, you’ll find them there. Anyway, I did a good bit of drilling, because my footwork is still terrible, re-learned my 8 parries (based on that guy whose name I can’t remember, but I’d know if I heard it), practiced parrying with my off-hand, and, most importantly, got to face off against two opponents. I did OK in what was basically a haphazard parry-drill against my first opponent. I left her a few bruises where I forgot I had a 40” blade and not my usual 36”. Against Corwin, I was lucky to not be poked as many times as I was. I got some ok parries, surprised him a time or two, and generally survived long enough to realize I don’t have to flail to keep the sword from reaching me.

I’ve always had a fascination with cutlery. I want to learn the real techniques of swordplay, whether it be fencing, using shortswords, longswords, broadswords, or the like. That will also help me in my medieval battlegames. :D