SG1: Schola Gladiatoria London

[admin]

We have a wooden dancefloor as well, but they were using rolled-up magazines wrapped in tape.

[The Guardsman]

Interesting stuff.

We can't do that in our training hall as the floor is wood and we might put nasty scratches in it if we go stabby stabby even with wooden daggers. And I'm not sure that all my people would be up for intense stress/cardio training (I would ).

I try to build up their fitness, and their stress response and aggressiveness, even had them throw the brick last time (ok, foam bricks), but I might pick up ideas from that.

Thanks Neil.

Ideally the stabbing should be done on grass with sharps. There is more resistance when the blade is going in and out of the mud and it tires you out quicker so you get that rubber arm feeling. It is around that point when the only thing keeping you stabbing is just pure venom and anger.

I was very impressed with the way everyone stayed the course of the lesson, it was very physically demanding.

If you are coming to the gunpowder mills this year, I am keen to do something similar there.

[Fab]

If you are coming to the gunpowder mills this year, I am keen to do something similar there.

Good. I'll try to bring along some of my students, to harden them up.

[admin]

Just a little update:
SG1 experienced a surge of newbies recently, and then it went a bit quiet due to holidays, illness, theater productions, rain and babies.
However, we have been using the extra space to concentrate on building up some set flourishes for the 'curriculum'.
I think flourishes are good for several reasons:
- Improving footwork, stance and movement
- Learning to string attacks/movements together and become more fluid
- Memory
- Improving speed and coordination
- Being able to micro-analyse one's form
- They look cool
- They are useful for demonstration purposes
- You can put the fear of god into an opponent with an awesome one
- They are historical to several countries
- Some competitions now demanding that contestants perform a flourish at some point.

I have set groups of 3 or 4 people the task of putting their own team flourish together - the mission being to make a flourish where the movements make sense in terms of what might happen in a fight against one or multiple opponents. Then they must practice in their team so that they are able to all perform the flourish either individually or in time with each other as a team. At some point we will have a team flourish competition, and I will video all of them and people can vote on which flourishes look the most martially valid, which look coolest and which were best performed.
I have been surprised with how popular flourishing has been with the students - I think it's different enough to normal training exercises that it feels fresh and new. Given that the people who perform flourishes best are generally the people with the best overall fencing form, I think it is a very useful exercise.

[boxshapedheart]

The flourishes were lots of fun and really enjoyed the team work. I was still going over them in my mind this morning!

\thumbs up

[admin]

This week we ended up having a whole session of dagger with lots of pretty tough and exhausting drills, ending with limited sparring unarmed against armed. Always good for a reality check. We also had a new beginner who managed to rip his trousers in half.

[Monster Zero]

This week we ended up having a whole session of dagger with lots of pretty tough and exhausting drills, ending with limited sparring unarmed against armed. Always good for a reality check. We also had a new beginner who managed to rip his trousers in half.

Nice!

[admin]

SG1 now has ranks:
http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/phpBB2/vi ... php?t=9321

[admin]

SG1 potters along as normal - it has been nice to see the return of some old faces, and to meet new ones.
This week we again concentrated on gioco largo longsword, with an integrated drill where people can choose from a number of technique options after the initial set action, gradually building up the speed and flow.
We finished off with critiqued bouts, where we stopped the bouts at important moments and analysed what had gone wrong or right. A couple of the bouts were very fine to watch indeed, and this sort of critical exercise really puts pressure on people to try and show good technique and also gives them and everyone watching the opportunity to learn and improve throughout the exercise. Ironically I think in our case the people who can learn the most from this exercise are the most experienced people, as they are more entrenched in their own ways of doing things.

[admin]

Oh, and a meaningless conversation between Simon and myself during training gave birth to the concept of what form our Free Scholar insignia should take.

[craftyfighter]

Oh, and a meaningless conversation between Simon and myself during training gave birth to the concept of what form our Free Scholar insignia should take.

care to give us a looksy...

[admin]

How strange the eb and flow of students is. Last night we had 7 beginners and only 5 old timers. Most odd. Where are all the 'regulars'? I was thus forced to divide the class into two halves, which worked much better for all involved, I believe.

[admin]

Classes are going on as normal - The Free Scholars have taken up the mantle of teaching beginners to great effect. I am already seeing a great benefit in me being able to spend more time on the more advanced students.

[janner]

Back soon having survived my Balkan extravaganza - certainly less people shooting at me this time

[admin]

In the last few weeks I have been concentrating a bit more on the more advanced guys. There is good progress and I'm looking forward to this carrying on - there are also some bad habits to crack.
Thanks to Alexander in particular for taking the beginners through the basics - other Free Scholars don't rest on your laurels though; you may be next! I think it's time some more of you took the beginners.
We've been having a steady flow of new people coming along and a couple seem to be sticking with it. It has also been good to see some old regulars becoming regular again after time away.

[admin]

I feel like training is going rather spiffing at the moment. A regular flow of new people coming through the doors and some of them coming back again! Good to see some of the old regulars back this week and some good sparring was had with longsword and spear. I got a couple of nice bruises and Simon got a new dent for his fencing mask.

[admin]

2009 training started again last night at SG1 with a reasonable turnout and 4 new beginners. It was great to see Sarah back as well!

[boxshapedheart]

Was great to get back into it (despite the unpleasantries of my journey home, and the beer spillage... heh). And I started learning something new straight away (the 3 and 4). Great stuff, am looking forward to more.

[admin]

Since new year we have seen quite a few new people start training, as well as the return of some familiar faces. Good stuff.

[admin]

Despite the snow, training is on tonight. Probably the 'warm' up will be on Ealing Common.