Never Yield
2 years ago
Friday, August 26, 2011
Some times finesse goes right out the window. A flailing mess of poorly thrown blows, a bull rush, an utter lack of exploiting your opponents openings...etc. It's not a lack of practice, but a lack of patience and mental focus. Experience can go along way when performing controlled actions within a fight. Knowing when and how, as well as feeling the movement and flow of the match determines the options available. For example throwing a few head shots can force your opponents shield upward opening up a leg blow. While not the most complex of combinations it can be successful frequently if timing and position are good.
Knowing how to engage an opponent is one of the most difficult things for me. I never know how to begin. If there is a plan in mind will it be telegraphed, will my defense fail, will my focus falter the longer I stand there.....which is the heart of the matter. To much thinking, not enough commitment or confidence in my skills.
Knowing how to engage an opponent is one of the most difficult things for me. I never know how to begin. If there is a plan in mind will it be telegraphed, will my defense fail, will my focus falter the longer I stand there.....which is the heart of the matter. To much thinking, not enough commitment or confidence in my skills.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Along the path to achieve a better kit, a more period representation of actual armor and clothes, a few friends had a plan to build a viking pit house. Fortune was in their favor with the availability of land, cedar, and a dozen shovels ready to dig. On the first of the week they dug, and dug and dug. Chopping through roots and handing buckets of soil up out of the pit at a breakneck pace.
"A house!" they cried. "we will dig until it is done."
Preparing the wood, mid week, turned out to be quite the job as well. The chain saw was only usable part of the time and several logs were split by maul and axe. That in its self is no small task my friend. The wood must be watched to make sure it splits evenly along its axis, while the mauls are moved slowly up the length to keep tension on the split. I'm no logger so I took video to show you what I mean.
Setting to posts was simple. Those not splitting the longs had dug the post holes in preparation, and long steel nails were driven deep into the wood for stability and longevity as the frame began to take shape. Once the frame was set in place our minds bent toward roofing. And up the roof went, that is all I can say. It was paneled, tared, framed, and covered with the extra dirt from digging the pit. Having never roofed I just dug and poured extra dirt for the eventual sodding.
Here the construction stopped. Time had run out and more materials were needed to finish up the walls. Planks will be nailed to the exterior part of the frame and the remaining dirt from digging the pit will be shored up against the structure. This will help regulate temperature, cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
To take a better look at the building of this project please take a look at the link below.
Viking Pit House!
"A house!" they cried. "we will dig until it is done."
Preparing the wood, mid week, turned out to be quite the job as well. The chain saw was only usable part of the time and several logs were split by maul and axe. That in its self is no small task my friend. The wood must be watched to make sure it splits evenly along its axis, while the mauls are moved slowly up the length to keep tension on the split. I'm no logger so I took video to show you what I mean.
Setting to posts was simple. Those not splitting the longs had dug the post holes in preparation, and long steel nails were driven deep into the wood for stability and longevity as the frame began to take shape. Once the frame was set in place our minds bent toward roofing. And up the roof went, that is all I can say. It was paneled, tared, framed, and covered with the extra dirt from digging the pit. Having never roofed I just dug and poured extra dirt for the eventual sodding.
To take a better look at the building of this project please take a look at the link below.
Viking Pit House!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Every two years the Kingdom of An Tir hosts an event called Sport of Kings. This is the penultimate event. So much time, effort, and money is spent to improve and maintain armor, garb, camp, and travel vehicles that when gazing down the rows of hand painted silk flags one can only desire the opportunity to become a grand champion. The grandeur represented by this event is reason enough alone to strive on the off years to become a hero. As a squire it represents an open forum where I can receive helpful critiques from a wide variety of instructors, show knights progression in my fighting, and connect with people from other kingdoms.
Don't believe me...look at some of the photos.
Here is a taste:
http://talentus.smugmug.com/SCA/20110820-Sport-of-Kings/18655603_zxktGH#1442053455_dP3jZj7All of these photos are copyrighted.
http://www.sportofkings.org/
Sport of Kings: Academy of Armored Combat, August 18-21, 2011 Barony of Three Mountains, Portland, Oregon
"Sport of Kings: Academy of Armored Combat" is a four day learning event presenting to students of all interests and backgrounds, an opportunity to learn about the activities that support and glorify tournaments. It is an opportunity for aspirants to martial skill to learn from accomplished practitioners.
Don't believe me...look at some of the photos.
Here is a taste:
http://talentus.smugmug.com/SCA/20110820-Sport-of-Kings/18655603_zxktGH#1442053455_dP3jZj7All of these photos are copyrighted.
http://www.sportofkings.org/
Sport of Kings: Academy of Armored Combat, August 18-21, 2011 Barony of Three Mountains, Portland, Oregon
"Sport of Kings: Academy of Armored Combat" is a four day learning event presenting to students of all interests and backgrounds, an opportunity to learn about the activities that support and glorify tournaments. It is an opportunity for aspirants to martial skill to learn from accomplished practitioners.
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