Settmour Practice - 9/19

Its much harder to get up to Glen Gardener for practice.  I used to be about half an hour away.  Now the practice is at least 90 minutes away.  Thankfully, the drive is made easier with some companionship.  Last night, my amazing cadet joined me for the trek up and back.  We had some good conversation on all sorts of topics, fencing and non-fencing related.

Ellynor wanted to work on case, so we went out to work on that.  I took my rapier and dagger out against her.  After making her work her left hand, by cancelling out her right, she was getting a better feel for the form.  She was still letting me get up the middle on her.  We went outside where there was some airflow and talked about it.  I showed her a different technique for fencing case, which seemed to make more sense to her.  She was able to process it and put it into play that same evening.

I then went out and did some passes with Master Orlando.  We both took buckler and it was back and forth, with him besting me more often.  I was not getting the control on him with my buckler that I am normally am able to achieve.  He hit me with some very pretty shots, one a slow thrust that I was expecting to deflect with the buckler, which he just went right over it.  I love fencing him as he pushes me with any and every form.

I then broke out the long sword for some passes with Duke Omega.  It was a fun fight, well paced, and not like I would have expected prior to the bouts.  On our last bout, we were both moving forward and he hit me right between the muscles in the shoulder (I think he hit bone).  That caused me to have to pause for a bit.

I then fought Duchess Caoilfhionn with the long sword.  When we got more room and it changed from a linear fight to one where she was moving around, the fight changed significantly.  On our last pass, I caught her flatfoot and with a stouter blow than intended.  We talked it over afterwards, as I was not the only one to catch her with a hard shot.

I was done for the night, as the heat and humidity were oppressive inside.  I talked with Jeff of Biscuits about how to get inside a long swords reach.  Omega helped me with the demonstration.  Then I showed Caoilfionn a few opportunities and ways to use half-swording to her advantage when pressed.

It was nice to have Ellynor to drive back with.  Last week, Jennie and Evan were with me.  The long drive home was made much easier by having company.  I've offered a ride to others who live down in the Iron Bog area.  Hopefully they will take me up on it.

Back in the saddle again

Since the move down to south jersey, I've been trying to get back to fencing. I hit the first bhakail practice after pennsic, had two bouts and I was done.  Eldrich and Morrwyl were teeing off on me. I was having issues even seeing them fire their shots until after they had buried them in my body. I was having shoulder/arm issues, so I called it an early night.

The following week I went to practice in settmour. What used to be a quick drive is now a long drive. I did get to fence some, but not as much as hoped. No issues except stamina.

I went back bhakail for practice but felt off.  I had the start of a migraine. I got some bouts in but not a lot.

Bhakail Commons is their rapier champions tourney. I felt good fencing there and was the top finisher in my pool. I fenced with the two hander or rapier. In the finals, Colin and I agreed to start single, then the loser would pick the best form until sometime win two bouts. I won the single bout, he chose buckler which he won, so I chose two handed sword for the final. Winning that bout made me champion of bhakail.

The following week I returned to settmour for Tuesday practice. Did pretty well there working in my game.

This week, I hit both settmour and bhakail. Not as much fencing as I'd have liked on Tuesday,  but had some nice passes. At bhakail, they had a round robin tournament going. I finished at the top with only a single loss. I fenced it all with rapier and dagger. Had some nice talks with people. I didn't have any ankle wrap with me so I'm hoping that it doesn't hurt tomorrow.