i'll be off all weekend

[Sir Wolf]

so please, leave me LOTS of messages and fun to read when I get home Sunday.  this board is awesome. glad it has exploded these past few months

[Sir Brian]

Agree with that sentiment about the board exploding with lots of great discussions! However I will not be able to contribute that much this weekend as I will be extremely busy. I have to clean my armor and get my garb ready for CRF next weekend. I have to work tomorrow and Sunday I have to change the oil in the Rogue and go to my first WMA class at MASHS! – YEAH! Rosemary is going to some woman-type party Sunday afternoon so I get to finally make a class and check it out! 

[Sir William]

CRF?  Where's that?  

LMAO @ Rosemary is going to some woman-type party...

Glad I'm not the only one who does that.  My wife thinks its funny.  Where's MASHS?

Sir Wolf, I can't make any promises...I'm usually not online on the weekends anyway and THIS weekend, the wife's away so I'm gonna get to eat, drink and be merry and play my video games, swing a sword about, watch my favorite movies, all that jazz.  Its gonna be great!

[Sir Brian]

CRF is the Carolina Ren Fair, which is our good Sir Andrew's home fair. It is smaller than MDRF but the people and patrons are the best. It's a real nice drive to it as well. 

MASHS has classes in Annapolis on Sundays and in Brooklyn Park on Wednesday nights.

[Sir Edward]

Awesome! Can't wait to hear how it goes with MASHS.

[Sir Wolf]

well i just had to come home this evening hehehe well i did the center ridge pole for the giant fly rotted to pieces so the guy with all the tools had to bring home 2 16 foot 2x4s and make a center ridge pole that fit into the other pole with sleeve. all together the ridge pole is 20 feet in length. I'm beat. it also aloud me time to finish up my rifle display holder for the event so I can take it with me tomorrow.

[Sir William]

Giant fly?  I meant to ask...what is MASHS?

[Sir Edward]

Giant fly?  I meant to ask...what is MASHS?

MASHS =  Mid-Atlantic Society for Historical Swordsmanship (http://www.mashs.org/)

So how did it go, Sir Brian?

[Sir William]

Oh...SCA org?

[Sir Brian]

Giant fly?  I meant to ask...what is MASHS?

MASHS =  Mid-Atlantic Society for Historical Swordsmanship (http://www.mashs.org/)

So how did it go, Sir Brian?

In a word AWESOME! I really had a great time. The folks at MASHS are very friendly and capable.

Paul Wiedorn was my instructor for the longsword and Larry Tom interjected some observations and instructions as well while we spent a good hour covering the four basic guards and the proper alignment of the blade, gripping the hilt and positioning of my hands. I had only speculated in the past that there was far more to handling a longsword and it was proven to me yesterday. It is both complex at first and yet it is exceptionally simple in the economy of motions. There really is no need for elaborate or exaggerated gestures to either block or attack however the stratagems for defense and attack can be exceptionally subtle. I can certainly see the appeal and am beyond a doubt a new and dedicated disciple. 

[Sir William]

That's awesome, Sir Brian...sounds like something I'd be interested in, further on down the road.

[Sir Edward]

Oh...SCA org?

Nope, SCA combat is pretty unique and not a re-creation from historical treatises. MASHS is more of a WMA (western martial arts) or HEMA (historical European martial arts) org.

In a word AWESOME! I really had a great time. The folks at MASHS are very friendly and capable.

Paul Wiedorn was my instructor for the longsword and Larry Tom interjected some observations and instructions as well while we spent a good hour covering the four basic guards and the proper alignment of the blade, gripping the hilt and positioning of my hands. I had only speculated in the past that there was far more to handling a longsword and it was proven to me yesterday. It is both complex at first and yet it is exceptionally simple in the economy of motions. There really is no need for elaborate or exaggerated gestures to either block or attack however the stratagems for defense and attack can be exceptionally subtle. I can certainly see the appeal and am beyond a doubt a new and dedicated disciple. 

Excellent! Glad you had a good time and got a chance to get started! Sword arts really are like playing chess at fast speed. It doesn't take much strength, but it takes quick thought and strategy.

[Sir William]

You get any footage, Sir Brian?  As for the sword arts, as in anything else martial, if it isn't second nature- you need to continue working at it until it is!

I find this applicable to many things in life.  This is one of those things, as an Order, we can establish perhaps- I for one would love it I think.

[Sir Brian]

Nope sorry I wouldn't dream of video recording my training session until I felt at least competent...which could be quite awhile! 

It has been more years than I care to relate but yes any type of martial art involves hours of repetitive practice to not only learn the proper technique but also for muscle memorization. The coolest part is I was under the misconception that I wouldn’t be able to practice in my basement because of the typical ceiling height, but I can practice passing steps and moving between the different guard positions except for maybe the high Vom Tag. 

[Sir Edward]

Yep, High Vom Tag is the real problem when practicing indoors. I know Das Bill made high ceilings a requirement when he was house hunting a while back.

In my house, I can't safely practice because of everything lower to the floor. The TV, aquarium, computers, droid, etc. I can stand in the center of my first floor and hit almost every piece of expensive stuff I own without moving much.

I would definitely welcome some days where we can get out and do some swordy stuff.