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Here is the Elderly Swordsman's report on his latest practice session...
I skipped fencing on Monday...my bad. Tonight I went to heavy practice. My main goal tonight was to get more lateral movement into my attacks. Secondarily, I aspired to fight some battleaxe.
My evening began with a couple or so dozen fights with Marcello. She is new to heavy fighting, so we were in learning and teaching mode, not as quick as a full speed fight. I made sure to pop her a couple of 3/4 speed and one hard hit, that's part of the teaching. But such a lesson is mostly about fundamentals: watch the sword hand, keep your feet moving, neutral stance, cut when in range. She was having issues with her left shoulder, so we did a little single sword.
She's improving; I'm seeing some real progress.
I fought Durin next. Way better than last time! I wasn't counting, but I think he won more fights. However, I felt far more competent, and confident. Moving much better, swinging with authority, some trick shots landed.
Then I got out the battleaxe. My axe is a 14th-15th century Italian style, as seen in Fiore. I fought approx. thirty (?) bouts with Zitos Turk. Again, he won more fights. But I felt way better, my aerobic conditioning let me keep going until he was finished. After the set was over, I realized: I hadn't been hit in the legs or body.
For those who don't fight axe, this means that my form was correct when Zitos closed: I drew my hands down to waist level, blocked leg and body shots with the haft, and also kept the head of the axe at the height of his face. That's a good idea when fighting with an axe.
All in all, that practice gets a solid B.
Gotta go. See ya.
I skipped fencing on Monday...my bad. Tonight I went to heavy practice. My main goal tonight was to get more lateral movement into my attacks. Secondarily, I aspired to fight some battleaxe.
My evening began with a couple or so dozen fights with Marcello. She is new to heavy fighting, so we were in learning and teaching mode, not as quick as a full speed fight. I made sure to pop her a couple of 3/4 speed and one hard hit, that's part of the teaching. But such a lesson is mostly about fundamentals: watch the sword hand, keep your feet moving, neutral stance, cut when in range. She was having issues with her left shoulder, so we did a little single sword.
She's improving; I'm seeing some real progress.
I fought Durin next. Way better than last time! I wasn't counting, but I think he won more fights. However, I felt far more competent, and confident. Moving much better, swinging with authority, some trick shots landed.
Then I got out the battleaxe. My axe is a 14th-15th century Italian style, as seen in Fiore. I fought approx. thirty (?) bouts with Zitos Turk. Again, he won more fights. But I felt way better, my aerobic conditioning let me keep going until he was finished. After the set was over, I realized: I hadn't been hit in the legs or body.
For those who don't fight axe, this means that my form was correct when Zitos closed: I drew my hands down to waist level, blocked leg and body shots with the haft, and also kept the head of the axe at the height of his face. That's a good idea when fighting with an axe.
All in all, that practice gets a solid B.
Gotta go. See ya.
