Fight Camp [2012] Gearing Up Thread.

[Lyceum]

The purpose of this thread is to create a (loose) list of suggestions for gear, especially since I don't have a lot.

I currently have a mask, gloves and a (steel) sword and will need to grab a more suitable jack. What else do I need for sparring and drilling?

[admin]

Jas asked me this by PM, but I thought it would be useful to have it here, as it might be useful for others and also others can make their own suggestions.

My answer is that it basically depends on what you want to do. You need training weapons for the classes you intend to take part in, for example if you want to do dagger classes then you need a safe dagger simulator. In that case a short wooden stick or a rolled-up and taped half magazine would work. For sword classes you need something safe to use that approximates the dimensions of the sword being taught. That could be a red oak stick, or a nylon sword, or a blunt steel sword.

Regards safety clothing it again comes down to what you intend to do. For attending classes you will need a pair of leather gloves and many classes require a fencing mask.

If you want to spar then you need all of the sparring gear that you need to spar.. If you intend to spar with steel then that's a lot of required stuff and we recommend people to wear certain minimum sets of safety equipment in proportion to what weapon simulator they are using. People are responsible for their own safety and that of their training partners, and attendence at the event is reliant upon signing a recognition of risk form, but at the end of the day we will stop anything unsafe that we see, including wearing inappropriate or insufficient safety gear whilst sparring.

[Lyceum]

Well I'm mainly interested in longsword incl sparring, would a mask, gloves, shinpads, mask and padded jack be sufficient for that? I figure that's ok for most things. I've never found a gorget I've been happy with thus far.

Also sidesword would be cool if anyone is doing that.

[admin]

Remember a box, you need it for everything (assuming you have genitalia).

I would say that the equipment listed is not really enough for steel sparring, for that I would suggest a proper masters padded fencing jacket with a chest protector underneath, a gorget, a back of head protector, very good gloves (broken fingers are the most common proper injury apart from bruises) etc.

For nylon the stuff listed is easily enough and I would recommend that if you haven't sparred with people from other groups before then stick to nylon, at least for the first day or two of the event, so that you can safely work out what the parameters are.

[Lyceum]

Wait, you prefer the coach jacket to a padded jack?

Broadly speaking how many weapons should I expect to fence to have a decent time across both days? I know I should do something non-longsword but can't think what.

[Payson]

Borrowing stuff is always an option. Obviously it is less likely that people have spares of the more expensive bits of kit but it is worth asking. I have spare escrima forearm guards and brush cutter greaves.

[Mearcstapa]

Just to make sure, we only need to turn up and 'queue' for the classes (rather than book them) right?

[admin]

Yep

[Mearcstapa]

Thanks. I am unwholesomely excited by the prospect of Polish sabre and don't want to miss out. Do you know if Daria Izedbska is offering private lessons?

[KeithFarrell]

Thanks. I am unwholesomely excited by the prospect of Polish sabre and don't want to miss out. Do you know if Daria Izedbska is offering private lessons?

I believe that she will be happy to offer private lessons. All of the instructors from the Academy of Historical Arts should be happy to do private lessons - just find our Corsair's Wares stall and ask someone there to sign you up

[Mearcstapa]

Superb. Thanks!