Category Archives: Swordplay

The journey toward swordsman begins…

I don’t know about you-all, but I had a pretty awesome day today. Today I ‘officially’ took the first step my journey toward mastery of the Western Martial Arts, that is the ‘Knightly Arts of Battle.’ Naturally, there’s a ton to learn, and if I can master it in my lifetime (or even have a good grip on it in the next ten years), I think I’ll be doing pretty good.

In an earlier post, I discussed my journey to get to this point. Today, I took the long drive to Ithaca, NY from my home (about 2 hours, one way), for 2.5 hours of classical fencing training. The first two hours were two, one-hour foil classes that are offered by the Classical Fencing School, In Ferro Veritas. After that, I receive 20-30 minutes of individual instruction from Adam Crown, Maître d’Armes.  The individual training will ultimately focus on the use of the small sword, but for today it focused on footwork, which makes sense as I explain below.

It’s a pretty heavy workout for one day, but it makes the long drive worthwhile. Plus, I can’t make that trip every weekend, so it makes sense to pack in as much as I can whenever I can make the trip.

One might think that to learn swordplay, one would be holding a sword much of the time. But that’s not how it works at all. You see, what I’m learning is a martial art, not just let’s-go-out-and-bash-on-each-other games. Like any art, one must learn the foundations first. Of those 2.5 hours of practice today, I held a practice foil for about half an hour – and that wasn’t during the individual training. Almost the entirety of the other two hours were spend focused on footwork. Because without a strong foundation, whatever you do with the sword is wasted.

It’s not just having a good stance, although it is important to get your legs to bend in those strange, unnatural ways, and to have them do that automatically. You’ve got to be able to move around, remain balanced, stay out of the way of your opponent’s weapon, and be in a position to perform any number of actions with which you hope to defeat your opponent.

So there’s the en garde position, wherein you’re standing still, poised to move.

There’s advancing and retreating. Sound’s simple enough. It ain’t. Just trust me on this one.

Then thrust and lunge. All right. Isn’t this the quintessential fencing position?

The lunge

Then there’s all the other stuff that I’m currently racking my brain to remember, and of course the names of them all are *poof* gone from my memory.

Lunge, back off, then lunge again. Lunge, then sneak a step forward while still lunging. That’ll get ‘em!

There’s that dodge to the one side. Oh, and now the dodge to the other side. Ooh! How about advancing with the other leg? Wait, what? I can’t bend like that, can I?

Oh yeah, and it all has to be fluid and you’ve got to keep your head up, your shoulders down, your back straight and you hips tucked. And where are your feet? Yeah, don’t forget about those. Now go! Fast! Ok, you can slow down now. Go!Go!Go! Slow down.

Ah, well, suffice it to say, I’m tired now. But excited too. Next lesson in two weeks! I can’t wait.

How Writing Made Me Get In Shape

A bunch of things came together in April of 2011, the end result of which is that I’m now 30 pounds lighter and calling myself a writer.

So how’d that happen?

It was in April that I decided that I was going to make costumes for our local Renaissance Festival so that my husband and I could to a renewal of vows in August in period-appropriate garb. So I started doing a little research. This included buying a bunch of books and some period movies. At about this same time, I started working on this 25-day writing challenge to describe a character of a book. This is when Trey of Herongarde was born. Trey was based upon James Purefoy’s character Marshal in the movie Ironclad (which I watched while doing my research).

It got my mind going in a way it hadn’t gone in a while. I pondered to myself, what would happen if I (me, Penny, paleontologist) was suddenly dropped into the middle of the 14th century? The first thing I realized is that I’d be in big trouble on several fronts: 1) As a 21st century woman, I’m a little independent and probably a lot cheeky. I’d get into trouble. 2) As a highly educated woman, on top of being cheeky, I’d probably be labeled a witch and burned right away. 3) I don’t have any skills that would be really useful in the 14th century. I’d starve! 4) I was in really, really bad shape, comparatively. I was a little jiggly in the middle and definitely not as strong as I used to be.

Thus was born the beginnings of the Herongarde Trilogy, which I’m still working on. I had to come up with a scenario in which I (me, Penny, paleontologist) wouldn’t wind up very dead if I blipped into the 14th century. The first book is written. Let me know if you want to read it and learn how I dodged burning at the stake.

The books involve a lot of swordplay and the ‘me’ character, Hanna, has to learn to wield a sword. I looked in the mirror and realized that I couldn’t even begin to do that. I did field work that May and was winded by all the hiking. What had happened to me? I used to be able to run eight miles!

So I started losing weight. First it was just portion control (I’m a comfort eater). That took 15 pounds off me over the summer. Then in September, I started a fitness program (various things through Beachbody). It was painful, but I started to feel better. I could move again. The aches and pains started to go away.

Come November, I was feeling pretty good. It was then I learned about National Novel Writing Month, and started putting the Herongarde novels down on paper. I started thinking a lot about swordplay, and wanted to try it out. I wanted to see what it would feel like to swing a sword and hit someone. Or be hit. But I wasn’t ready yet.

I went through a couple more of the various fitness programs offered by Beachbody and was starting to feel pretty fit. I thought I was ready to try some swordplay and began to seek lessons. Read about that here. I did figure out pretty quickly that I still was not quite as fit as I needed to be, but I was much closer.

Today, I think I’m in better shape than I was 20 years ago. I can’t go out and run eight miles still. But I can run circles around my students. I can curl 15 pounds. And I can eat a horse (geez, my metabolism has kicked up!). And, I’m learning about swordplay and know what it’s like to hit and be hit.

I’m in great shape now. Not perfect, but comfortable. I feel good. And all because I started to write a little book.

On Learning Swordsmanship

I’ve been fascinated with swordplay for the better part of my life. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if as an embryo I was trying it out. Well, OK. Maybe not. I’ve also been intrigued by the martial arts, though not so much that I ever wanted to try them out.

In the last year or so (call it a mid-life crisis or maybe mid-life enlightenment!) I finally that maybe I should pursue this interest and see where it goes. I thought initially that maybe it was little more than a passing fancy. You know the sort: something grabs your attention and you get excited about it. And then you throw a lot of money at it to buy all the equipment. And then, a month later, the interest is gone, and you realize that you’ve wasted your money.

Well, I’m old enough to know that these things can happen (thankfully), so I let my interest simmer in my heart for a while, bought a bunch of books, and after a few months I realized it hadn’t gone away.

So I pondered. I was still interested in swordplay, but I was in bad shape. I knew there was no way I could actually handle a sword. I’d collapse in exhaustion in ten minutes. I started a workout program, and after a few months of that I realized I was in better condition than I had been twenty years earlier, and I was STILL interested in swordplay (and as a bonus, I was also 25 pounds lighter!)

OK, now what? I, of course, had spent a fair amount of time on line during this time idly reading about swordplay and swordsmanship to see what I could learn and came across the web page for the Higgins Armory Museum. Well, shoot! It’s even got my name on it! I found out that they had sword classes and I immediately wanted to participate. However, the museum is a six-hour, one-way drive from my house, so that wasn’t going to happen. They did, however, have a full day symposium called “The Sound and the Fiore” which focused on the knightly martial arts of 15th century fencing master, Fiore dei Liberi. It included a workshop in which participants would be allowed to work with long swords for a quick lesion. I went, naturally, and came home positively chomping at the bit to learn more. I was excited to have learned something about wielding a sword, but I was also excited at the realization that swordplay was part of the “Western Martial Arts.” That is to say, using a sword and being a ‘knight’ was properly a martial art just like karate! This is what I wanted.

Then the search began. I tell you, there is nothing-doing around Rochester in the form of Western martial arts. Someone finally suggested the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) as an organization where I might get to learn some swordplay. I’ve met up with the local group and have also gotten involved in what they call “Heavy Weapons,” which is the SCA equivalent to fighting with a broadsword. This has been fun, making armor and bashing on people with sticks. I figured out pretty quickly that despite all my training, I still didn’t have quite enough upper body strength to fight well, but at least I was fighting now!

Something was missing, alas. As much fun as the SCA is, it lacks all the martial aspects of proper martial arts. Plus, while it sort of looks like real swordplay, it isn’t. I renewed my search. This time, I had the benefit of Twitter, on which I seem to spend far too much time. But I do follow some swordsmen who participate in swordsmanship as the martial art that it is. A month or so ago, one of them pointed me toward an instructor nearby who could actually teach me what I want to know!

Today, I made the drive to Ithaca and took a lesson from Adam Crown, Maître d’Armes.  Let me tell you what. It was a great experience, and unlike what I learned at the Higgins Museum, nor anything like SCA heavy weapons practice.

Here’s what was different. The Higgins Museum workshop most likely intentionally put swords in the participants hands knowing that was what participants were paying for. It wasn’t meant to be a lesson. It was a demonstration. It was to give a flavor for true swordsmanship to the participants, and so the most ‘romanticized’ of the weapons, the longsword, is the one that was pulled out and presented. The SCA practice is all about just jumping in and fighting. There isn’t any formal instruction, just short spurts of fighting with occasional stoppages to help explain the SCA rules and SCA fighting styles. And, in the end, it’s pretty basic. The SCA is not about reenactment or historical accuracy, at least in terms of fighting techniques. SCA heavy weapons fighting is not a martial art. I won’t say it’s not fun (because it is), but Western martial arts, it ain’t.

In the class I took today, everything that was done was calm and controlled. Much of it was about footwork and posture. It was a two-hour lesson and no-one even touched a sword until the second hour. I never even put on protective gear. I spent an hour learning how to properly draw a sword and salute my opponent, because you’ve got to get that right before you do anything else.

So what’s next for me? Well, I’ll be going back to Ithaca for lessons as often as I can make it. I’ll continue to meet up the the SCA heavy weapons group too. It’s a fun workout and enjoyable social event for me. However, if ever it comes to a point where the things I do for SCA style fighting interferes with what I’m trying to accomplish with the Western martial arts, well, the martial arts will win.

Penny’s new armor.

I’ve been doing a lot of writing of late, mostly on my Herongarde novel. I also have become involved with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) – specifically with heavy weapons (aka swords and such). I have this character, Hanna, who is transported back into medieval times. She finds herself in situations where she must wield a sword. I want to write the story with some level of accuracy, but reading about medieval swordplay can only get you so far. And, let’s face it, what we see in movies most of the time is pretty bad swordsmanship. So, twice a week, I strap on some armor and learn first-hand what it’s all about.

I *really* enjoy it.

Yeah, it’s a hell of a workout. Armor is heavy. It’s hot. And since I’m borrowing armor, it’s also awkward and uncomfortable. Most of the bruises I get aren’t from sword blows, but from the armor itself. I need my own kit. I have to decide what I want my persona to be.

Armor includes many layers. One usually starts with a light shirt. Over that comes the gambeson, which is a padded shirt – so the armor doesn’t bit you as much. I’ve made myself a gambeson. It makes a huge difference. I need to make padded legs, too. I’ll get to that eventually.

Here I am, sporting my fancy gambeson.

What after that?

The SCA has its rules, so I’ll start there. You have to protect the knees and elbows from the front and from the sides. There are lots of ways to do this, but when I get my own kit, I want to go for metal knees and elbows.

Metal Elbow

Other necessities include protecting the Xiphoid process (the lower tip of the sternum or breastbone) on the chest, and to protect the kidneys and floating ribs on the back. A He-man style breastplate and a big ol’ weight lifting belt might do the job. My reaction: functional, but too Xena-esque. And, given my interest in medieval Europe, a better choice for me would be a bringandine or “coat of plates” which is basically metal plates riveted onto thick leather. This was the predecessor of plate armor.

A fine brigandine-maille combo modeled by my favorite human to watch: James Purefoy
Another image of the brigandine worn in Ironclad by James Purefoy

SCA rules insist that the neck be protected. The most common way to do this is with a gorget – basically a thick leather collar. I’ll probably go with that initially, since it will be relatively easy to make and can be made in any number of styles.

Obviously, I’ll also need a helmet. Hmm. Obviously, something like that, I’m not going to make myself. But I got people. And the Internet, if that fails…

Gloves are important, since the hand must be protected. For now, I’m using a sword and shield with cages over the hand for protection. Ultimately, I want to ditch the cages (making my equipment lighter), and get armored gauntlets. A good hockey glove does the trick, but is seriously NOT period. This will be a challenge to create.

Then there are the other bits that aren’t required by SCA rules, but I think might be foolish to do without if they were real swords, not just rattan rods with hilts.

My kit will include pauldrons, which sit on the shoulders like the pads that football players wear. (Clarify: American football, apologies to my non-US readers.) And they shall be shiny and metal.

James Purefoy (on the right) sporting a nice brigandine with pauldrons. Hey, check out his gauntlets, too. The Rory Kinnear (on the left) is wearing plate armor.

I need something over the thighs, hopefully wrapping completely around the thigh. Those wrap shots to the back of the leg really smart! These can be leather and simple, basically something to hang the knees off of.

Similarly, the elbows need to connect somehow to the shoulder, probably to points (or ties) under the pauldrons. Might as well protect the upper arm as well.

So far I’m glad I have the gambeson made. All these straps are gonna leave marks.

Ultimately, I dunno if I’ll put anything on the lower leg (greaves) or on the lower arm (bracers), but these can be independent of the knees and elbows, and that may just be how it goes.

Over top of all this, typically goes a tabard. This is a simple covering usually bearing the colors of the fighters nation. I made a really basic one with the colors of Herongarde. By wearing a tabard, the gaps in the armor are hidden (if there are any). A tabard can also be asthetically pleasing. For now, the tabard I’ve made will do. Later, I’ll make one with the proper materials (linen instead of cotton).

What about that chain mail? You ask. Well, mail (or maille) would be worn over the gambeson and under the brigandine. I have a maille shirt. It weighs 25 pounds. Not planning to wear it for any SCA practices, since it would be overkill, but in real action. I don’t think I’d leave it behind. I need to fit the shirt I have to my body a little better, though. The sleeves are too big. I might just discard them altogether. And the leather trim might get tossed too. We’ll see.

Me, ready to act wearing my maille shirt and the colors of Herongarde.

Of course, no one does the maille-brigandine-tabard quite as well as James Purefoy.

James Purefoy: Maille, brigandine, and tabard. Le *sigh*