Wierd Request

[drewdane]

... and I don't know where else to post it, so what the hey!

My mentally-deficient impulse buy of the year came last weekend at the Rennaissance Fair. I bought a sword. A real sword - steel, sharp edges, plain lines (none of those decorative spikes and curliques you see for the "Dungeons and Dragons" geeks to put on their mantlepiece).

So, given that I spent a pretty obscene amount of money on this pointless tool (which, not coincidentally, happens to be my wife's new nickname for me), does anybody know where I can go to learn how to use it? I figure there's gotta be a reenactor club or something like that around here somewhere...

[tsteele999]

Before you start to practice, make sure you have video rolling...

http://www.screamingpickle.com/members/StarWarsKid/video_nolinking/Star_Wars_Kid_0550.wmv

You could be famous like the Star Wars kid.

[TMayhew]

Steer clear of the SCA. They "reenact" history as it "could have been." In other words, they're a fantasy club with delusions of authenticity. Contact The Association of Renaissance Martial Arts (http://www.thehaca.com/). They can put you in touch with a group to help you learn and practice safely. At the very least, their collection of essays on the topic and copies of actual swordplay manuals of the period are quite interesting.

[bunky]

Before you start to practice, make sure you have video rolling...

http://www.screamingpickle.com/members/StarWarsKid/video_nolinking/Star_Wars_Kid_0550.wmv

You could be famous like the Star Wars kid.

Oh my God is that funny

[cclarke]

The Virginia Fencing Academy near Wakefield Park has historical swordsmanship classes. Good instructors. My son is in the longsword class and he really digs it. I usually go ride at Wakefield while he's at class.

[bunky]

none of those decorative spikes and curliques you see for the "Dungeons and Dragons" geeks to put on their mantlepiece).


Yeah--they're real geeks, man! I hate those dorky elf and wizard types! But buying a sword without that stuff? -- oh yeah, the chicks TOTALLY dig it.

[IFBikeMD]

Sounds like it could be quite effective on some trail work days... Forget the machete, lopers and other more modern tools.

[drewdane]

Yeah--they're real geeks, man! I hate those dorky elf and wizard types! But buying a sword without that stuff? -- oh yeah, the chicks TOTALLY dig it.
Yeah I know, man! That's why I bought a real sword, 'cause I'm not a geek. :rolleyes:

[drewdane]

Contact The Association of Renaissance Martial Arts (http://www.thehaca.com/). They can put you in touch with a group to help you learn and practice safely. At the very least, their collection of essays on the topic and copies of actual swordplay manuals of the period are quite interesting.

The Virginia Fencing Academy near Wakefield Park has historical swordsmanship classes. Good instructors. My son is in the longsword class and he really digs it. I usually go ride at Wakefield while he's at class.

Thanks! Those look like good places to start!

[bikerRob]

... and I don't know where else to post it, so what the hey!

My mentally-deficient impulse buy of the year came last weekend at the Rennaissance Fair. I bought a sword. A real sword - steel, sharp edges, plain lines (none of those decorative spikes and curliques you see for the "Dungeons and Dragons" geeks to put on their mantlepiece).

So, given that I spent a pretty obscene amount of money on this pointless tool (which, not coincidentally, happens to be my wife's new nickname for me), does anybody know where I can go to learn how to use it? I figure there's gotta be a reenactor club or something like that around here somewhere...

10/01/05 >>...you know if you go thru with this ( training ) your wife is gonna think you went off the deep end.. ;) The next thing ya know you'll be showing up for group rides with full body armor... :D ...last but not least, you'll change your handle to "Sirdrewdane".

[Squirrel Girl]

I bought a sword.You're just trying to out-whacky-hobby me!

OK, so your sword is a lot more deadly than my whip. But my whip is longer and moves a lot faster. But, granted, one misflick by me, and my whip instantly becomes useless if we were to go at it.

[drewdane]

You're just trying to out-whacky-hobby me!

OK, so your sword is a lot more deadly than my whip. But my whip is longer and moves a lot faster. But, granted, one misflick by me, and my whip instantly becomes useless if we were to go at it.
Bring it on, Babs, bring it on!

[burghpunk]

Between Squirrel Girl and DrewDane we are only an elven archer short of a kickass Lord of the Rings style movie directed by Peter Jackson.

[drevil]

Between Squirrel Girl and DrewDane we are only an elven archer short of a kickass Lord of the Rings style movie directed by Peter Jackson.
JoeP used to be an avid archer and is fairly slim, but I'm not sure how pointy his ears are...

[crashmore]

I think Indy had it right when he went for his pistol rather than the bull whip when dealing with the guy with the sword :)

You're just trying to out-whacky-hobby me!

OK, so your sword is a lot more deadly than my whip. But my whip is longer and moves a lot faster. But, granted, one misflick by me, and my whip instantly becomes useless if we were to go at it.

[crashmore]

Just curious, which one are you considering as the dwarf, Squirrel Girl or Drew?

QUOTE=burghpunk]Between Squirrel Girl and DrewDane we are only an elven archer short of a kickass Lord of the Rings style movie directed by Peter Jackson.[/QUOTE]

[Squirrel Girl]

Ain't nobody NEVER called me a dwarf! :D Though, alas, I do love to go underground...... :eek:

I think Drew is vaguely the same height as me.

Ya know.... JoeP would make a fairly decent elf. I'm sure that there must be quite a few plastic surgeons in the area if his ears need a little additional shaping.

A girlfriend of mine was entirely taken with Orlando as Legolas.* She used to say, "Elves..... Mmmmmmmm."

I have to say that there were no whips in "Lord of the Rings" (at least not that I remember). It's an old fashioned "cowboy" type skill. Yep, crashmore, there's no comparison between lethality of guns and whips. But I used to do some target practice when I lived out west, and I just think cracking whips is more fun. I always said, though my whip could be of some self protection, it was no good against guns. Indeed it was of no use over Labor Day when my friend I were shot at (or at least VERY NEAR) while cylcing on a gravel road in the WV National Forest.

*or Legolamb, if you've read "Bored of the Rings"

[drewdane]

I think Drew is vaguely the same height as me.
Not quite. However, while I may not be tall, I don't think I qualify as a dwarf, except sometimes in surliness.

Ya know.... JoeP would make a fairly decent elf. I'm sure that there must be quite a few plastic surgeons in the area if his ears need a little additional shaping.
Hmmm...

Whaddya say, Joe? :D

*or Legolamb, if you've read "Bored of the Rings"
Mmmmm... Lamb.... (insert Homer Simpson drooling face here)

[jks9199]

Steer clear of the SCA. They "reenact" history as it "could have been." In other words, they're a fantasy club with delusions of authenticity. Contact The Association of Renaissance Martial Arts (http://www.thehaca.com/). They can put you in touch with a group to help you learn and practice safely. At the very least, their collection of essays on the topic and copies of actual swordplay manuals of the period are quite interesting.

SCA likes to play their games... More power to them -- but last I'd heard, it's only luck that's kept anyone from being outright killed at some of their events. I think a fair number of folk in the SCA aren't quite right in the head... but who am I to judge? I like riding bikes on bumpy trails... But they aren't so much into "real" sword play.

What sort of sword are we talking? Long sword, short sword, saber, Roman-style gladius? The techniques and tactics are different for each, and it depends on what you want to do with it. Learn a few nifty moves, or actually end up able to use it to make shishkebab of someone who breaks into your house?

Jim

[drewdane]

What sort of sword are we talking? Long sword, short sword, saber, Roman-style gladius? The techniques and tactics are different for each, and it depends on what you want to do with it. Learn a few nifty moves, or actually end up able to use it to make shishkebab of someone who brakes into your house?

Jim
I dunno. A sword. Straight blade, handle for one hand. The shishkebab concept sounds like a decent rationalization, but nifty moves would be fun too (I saw that suave bastard in the video posted above *swoon*).

[jks9199]

I dunno. A sword. Straight blade, handle for one hand. The shishkebab concept sounds like a decent rationalization, but nifty moves would be fun too (I saw that suave bastard in the video posted above *swoon*).

Probably it's a long sword; there relatively common. I'm reasonably skilled in the use of a few styles of Eastern swords, and have a basic understanding of a little of the use of a long sword. For a brief primer, see if you can get a copy of Cold Steel's latest promotional DVDs. I think you can get a copy through their website at Cold Steel (http://www.coldsteel.com/). They've got a little manual at the end of one of them. It's mostly saber, which uses some different tactics than the long sword.

(Yeah, I've got my share of unusual hobbies... For functional self defense weapons, nothing beats learning mid-length - 3 to 4 feet - stick and/or cane techniques. Those sort of things are always easy to find...)

Jim