I think I deserve a massage.

[gurdymonkey]

My gusoku-shita goes in the win column - my gorget fits over it perfectly and covers the button, so I don't have to worry about that getting a blade caught in it. Staffan agreed with me that velcro inside the collar overlap was not necessary, it was comfortable, cool and easy to move in. The only bobble was when I snagged my own quillion in the waist tie. This will not be a problem if it's under other garments or if I wear an obi over it at practice.

It was just me and Staffan last night.

I was putting on my gloves, when he marched over with an armful of weapons and his mask on and said, "You've read the rules, right?" Well, yeah. I've gone back and looked at them several times because it's stuff I should know if I'm going to fight rapier , not to mention having to design fighting clothes from scratch based on the correct specs. "Inspect me."

I started with weapons and he had two swords and one of everything else except for a buckler and a rubber chicken (and that's because the chickens were in the loaner gear bag). Swords were fine (no loose tips, appropriate amount of flex, no s-curves, no sharp dings in the edges), baton was fine (no splinters). "This can't be good," I handed back his dagger because the rubber thingy taped to the point felt like it was going to pull right off. "Ooh, good catch, I didn't see that.* What else?"

What else was the rattling cross guard, but it's just how that dagger is built and didn't pose a safety issue.  I inspected the cloak, he quizzed me on what I would do if it was (a) longer than 36" and/or (b) had a metal clasp. (Long cloaks can be used for parrying but not be thrown, any clasps or other metal bits must be held in the user's hand.) Then I inspected him. He asked me why I was asking the questions I asked. Then he popped his mask, we sat on the tailgate so I could watch as he re-tapped the blunt onto his dagger blade - another thing I'm going to need to know how to do when I get my own sword. At which point he grinned and informed me I am now an authorized rapier combat marshal. This is going to sound completely backasswards to non-SCA folks, but I do not yet have authorization to fight except at practices: that will come when I have had a chance to practice with the various parrying devices more and am deemed safe to do so. But I have an orange card in my wallet that says I can run a practice or marshal a tourney. Go figure.

It's a no brainer, really, and I was going to ask about learning marshaling at some point, and James authorized as a marshal a week or so ago anyway. Many hands = light work and all that. Besides, I've already helped ferry equipment between practices that Brogan couldn't make it to twice.

As for the fighting, I sucked. We worked on my non-existent dagger skills, both slow drills and sparring at speed. Staffan not only didn't cut slack, he pushed me. The brain gets the general concepts, but my eyes and hands are way behind my brain. Baby steps. We finished with some footwork drills from Di Grassi, cha cha cha. I have some exercises to practice in front of a mirror.....

*I'm confident this was not a plant. Weapons get tossed into duffels and shoved into vehicles and it's likely the tip came loose in transit since the last time he used that dagger.

Comments

[hunrvogt.livejournal.com]

Combat Marshal = help run practices and events

Advanced Marshal = run practices and events

Senior Marshal = authorize people

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Doh, yes, better explanation than mine. Thank you!

[didjiman.livejournal.com]

Come by, and I will show you my sword form sometimes (wow, what a pickup line!)

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

My friend Sue has been a marshall for quite a while. She goes by finickynarcane here on LJ. You two might get along quite well. Not just because of marshalling. She does dying, sculpture (stone and metal), chain mail, etc., etc., etc.