MD HEMA gathering in Jan 2010

[Sir Edward]

It's a shame we didn't post here about the MD HEMA gathering back in January. I'd love to drag a few more forum members out to one of these events.

Here's the web announcement: http://marylandkdf.com/?page_id=128

I fought in a few bouts, but they didn't record much of it. Here's the clips I've gotten my hands on from one of my bouts:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kokLS7yV8ag[/youtube]

I'm happy with these clips since I scored hits in both video fragments. Actually, I won the bout 5-0, but there was definitely one good solid hit to my mask that didn't get scored (not in the video). I was hoping to see the rest of it, since I find this useful for discovering my own bad habits.

I take it as a great compliment that after both bouts, people walked up to me and shook my hand and complimented me profusely, one of whom was an instructor at the event, so I guess I didn't look too bad.

[Das Bill]

Yeah, I had that awesome bout with Jake Norwood (who is a phenomenal fencer... I had bruises for weeks afterward!), and got to view the video of that. We officially tied, though I'm not so sure if it was really a tie or not. I felt the judges made a lot of weird calls... They kept saying some things were doubles when only one of us had hit, or giving the hit to one of us when it was clearly a double. Its no big deal, I was just there to fence and have fun, and I don't think any of them had any previous experience directing bouts.

Still, it was a fun day. I wish I'd gotten to take Jake's messer class, but I was teaching at the same time.

[Sir Edward]

Your bout looked great. Admittedly, from where I was sitting, it was sometimes hard to tell what was a double and what wasn't. But you're right, a lot of it was probably due to them not being used to judging.

I'm glad I went to this event. It was like a mini-WMAW.

[Das Bill]

Speaking of mini-WMAW, you planning on going to Chivalric Weekend? *That's* definitely like a mini-WMAW in many ways, right down to the instructors.

[Sir Edward]

I really wish I could! I was hoping to, but they put it on the one weekend that I already had plans for the summer. Grrr....

[Sir Edward]

Md HEMA Gather Cory Winslow and John Bax
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdoMRSP-IHQ[/youtube]

Md HEMA Gather Bill Grandy and Jake Norwood
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-48Y33v3_jQ[/youtube]

[Das Bill]

Cool! I hadn't realized these were on YouTube until I saw your post on Facebook earlier today.

I'm glad to see Cory and John's bout again. I'm always very impressed with the MEMAG guys. In fact, I've issued a "Martial Challenge" to Cory Winslow for Chivalric Weekend this summer:
http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100662

[Sir Edward]

I hope people bring video cameras to CW. I'd love to see some of the bouts!

I'm glad these videos got posted. I'd love to see more of them. You can see the bouts very well, which isn't always the case when people film bouts, particularly if the camera is statically mounted on a tripod without someone moving around to keep the shot framed well.

I feel I sometimes learn as much from watching other people fence as I do from the drills.

[Das Bill]

I hope people bring video cameras to CW. I'd love to see some of the bouts!

Well, for the "Martial Challenge" bouts, its a requirement that they be filmed and hosted publically. I don't know if you're familiar with those or not, but its something that started in the UK and started spreading. It began initially as a Western Martial Arts thing, but apparently is starting to somewhat expand to other martial arts.

The goal is that someone challenges someone else publically to a friendly bout. The two fencers then publically agree to the rules, who is judging, what equipment is needed, where and when, etc. The bout is filmed and hosted online for everyone to see.

http://martialchallenge.wikia.com/wiki/Martial_Challenge_Wiki

Its kind of a fun idea, and since Cory and I have never fenced each other, I thought it'd be fun to do this with him with longswords. He suggested the Hanwei "federschwerter" as our bouting tools, which I agreed to.

(EDIT by Ed, fixed /quote)

[Sir Edward]

The goal is that someone challenges someone else publically to a friendly bout. The two fencers then publically agree to the rules, who is judging, what equipment is needed, where and when, etc. The bout is filmed and hosted online for everyone to see.

http://martialchallenge.wikia.com/wiki/Martial_Challenge_Wiki

Actually, I wasn't aware of that. That's awesome, I heartily approve.

[Sir Wolf]

kewlness

[Sir William]

Super cool...I watched the Bill vs Jake one first as I know Bill somewhat (from SFI) and was interested in seeing his technique.  I love this stuff...I hope you guys announce it here for the next one, I'm there.

[Das Bill]

I love this stuff...I hope you guys announce it here for the next one, I'm there.

While I don't want to spoil anything yet, keep your eyes peeled over the next few days. I'll be announcing something really, really cool.

[Sir Edward]

While I don't want to spoil anything yet, keep your eyes peeled over the next few days. I'll be announcing something really, really cool.

Oh? Cool.... I hope you're buying me the entire Albion catalog.

[Das Bill]

Oh? Cool.... I hope you're buying me the entire Albion catalog.

Yeah, keep waiting for that announcement. :p