Ursulmas 2015

Driving hundreds of miles to pack into a fairground arena may not be everyone's cup of tea, but when that tournament is Ursulmas you grab your kit and gear up.  Ursulmas is the first large tournament my kingdom holds every year in January.  It is a grueling test of endurance and skill where fighters must make their way through a round robin of around 20-22 fighters per field.  This year the total list was 189 entrants, with fighters representing at least three different kingdoms.  The top two fighters from each field, 8 fields total, fight in a double elimination sweet sixteen.  What I've seen this year and in previous years is that the individuals that make it to these later rounds are a shining example of energy conservation and patient skill.  You are guaranteed to see some excellent fights all around.

This year marked a slight change in the way I prepared myself for the fighting.  I practiced all the techniques of energy conservation my knight had gone over with me, including eating half-way through the tourney and setting down my shield between bouts.  I gave less focus to analyzing everything around me, and more thought to blow efficiency and good foot work in opposition to what my opponents presented me with on the field during the fight.  I also received some excellent feedback from members of the Chivalry on my field, and have been working with my knight to push forward on a new training plan for the year.

The main topics that we are addressing include:

1) Position of lower corner of my shield.  I've increased the size of my shield and am making the minor adjustments to train in the new hand position I need to keep it in the right place.

2) Work on under the shield body shots, (i.e change hand position to hit body rather than the leg.)

3) New ways to fight opponents on their knees

4) Fakes: shoulders, body, hand

5) Head position, keep the head up.


Note: need camera so I can record my tournament fighting for review later.

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A Sable Gauntlet

12th Night, for me, is the New Years of the SCA.  It is one of the two times a year we gather as a kingdom to celebrate the coronation of a new King and Queen. People travel for hours to renew their bonds with one another and set themselves to new physical and mental tasks for the reign. While I'm not one that revels rushing to attend court, I deeply enjoy the pomp and circumstance that accompanies this event. It inspires an air importance, authority, and pride towards the crown.
  
 This weekend I was awarded a Sable Gauntlet, by their Graces Styrkarr Jarlsskald and Dagrun Stjarna, which carries with it a Grant of Arms.  There were some lovely words spoken and I am very proud.


"The Sable Gauntlet is a kingdom level award offered to those especially deserving of honor for their excellence and chivalry in the pursuit and practice of armored combat." ---Read into the record, May Crown Curia Meeting (05/18/14)







The accompanying scroll awarded in court.


















Sunday's practice was invigorating.  I chased some knights around for fights and received some solid tips for improvement.  Discussed them with my knight and we've tailored a new winter training plan to incorporate the critiques. Can't wait to get started.  Detailed posts to follow soon! 

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