The Armour Archive

DukeAvery

My favorite shield was a wooden one with a steel boss and spine and a rim incorporating rope, steel, and then leather in that order outwards. The spines held attachement points for a carry strap as well as make the arrangement a true weapon capable of stopping steel attacks, for a time. But alas it ...

DukeAvery

Whats a big shield? I have fought with a shoulder to shoulder chin to crotch heater most of my fighting life. At one point i was given a "tourney shield" but it tired my arm out fighting so long with my "smaller shield has made my blocks ...dynamic, but when i ran into my first Westi...

DukeAvery

Awesome to hear from you, my brother. Alys and the kids are thriving. I miss you guys. Regards Avery Greetings unto my fellow Knights of the SCA Having come to intractable positions on this debate, I propose this experiment between you and I whenever and whereever we shall meet upon the King's Field...

DukeAvery

Avery's suggestion, while admirable in intent, runs contrary to the Western ideal of knighthood. In the West, a knight takes the field without precondition. For a belted fighter to impose any expectation on his opponent is antithetical to our Order. For example, I may not approve of madus; but if I...

DukeAvery

@Vitus Here is my brutally honest answer. My considered opinion of inter-kingdom tournaments is that far too many of them have become little more than rattan submission fights. To win or even do well you must batter your opponent. If I were SEM I'd try to find qualified individuals to determine our ...

DukeAvery

Thorstenn wrote:If it was good enough for the Black Prince, it's good enough for me!

Your Grace, I would humbly agree to your terms of combat, should we meet.

Thor.

Thank you Prince Thor.

DukeAvery

Paul, Steingrim, and myself (not to mention a great host of others who are to intimidated to speak freely) agree big shields are simply easier. We're not drinking the kool-aid. I love spear fighting, but it is also a lesser form. I got over it. Hence, my proposal which is the subject of this thread....

DukeAvery

Then I shall build a most excellent glaive for when we may meet - and hope that the time after that I might interest you in small shield combat (I do love it so).

Regards

Avery

DukeAvery

Absolutely Lord Francisco, welcome aboard.

I look forward to some informal experiments with the Vitus system as well. I agree about the demos.

Regards

Avery

DukeAvery

I will be sure to bring more cheese to the next council. Swiss seems appropriate.

DukeAvery

Greetings unto my fellow Knights of the SCA Having come to intractable positions on this debate, I propose this experiment between you and I whenever and whereever we shall meet upon the King's Field. If one does not like the shield size of the other, we shall choose a different weapons form without...

DukeAvery

... I was talking to my squire about the fighting at Crown, and he was lamenting the lack of artistry in what he was watching. He said that nobody there, not even Alfar, who won, was displaying any real artistry with the blade ... Valgard Jarl www.scafighter.blogspot.com It's not my fault your squi...

DukeAvery

@Sigifrith - Ah, thank you for letting me know. I did not meet Prince Alfar in the lists but clearly he is my kind of lefty. That kind of nobility, especially in a squire, well, speaks volumes. I acknowledge him as my fighting peer. This is well, and will making taking a knee an easy thing for this ...

DukeAvery

Lol please consider my round numbering approximate. Do you mind if I talk about your pre-fight comments when I go over our fight? (thanks for sharing your shade btw).

Regards

Avery

DukeAvery

4th round, Ritter Brion of Bellatrix. Brion's shield displays the arms of his mother, (forever) Queen Carol. I have never seen these arms before and I have no defense against this legend. The defining moment of this fight comes when I arm my brother. I refuse to engage him without dropping my shield...

DukeAvery

I am not a trainer, but I listen to them. I recently got a cheap elliptical, and I had been using it burn calories steady state - my thinking was things will be a great deal easier when I lose the extra 20 pounds I'm packing (and it will be). However two weeks before Crown my buddy Ajax suggested I ...

DukeAvery

7th round, I get this beautiful sword side bruise to the bicept from Sir Cyrus (sp?). Oddly enough, I would go on to win this round by double killing with this formidable and noble knight of the West. He landed this while running me down while I picked at his leg. I knew he was going to rush, but st...

DukeAvery

Ashraf wrote:Speedy lefties ftw!

sinister dukes and knights and squires oh my!

DukeAvery

Mockery hurts anyone's cause. This new waf is the bomb, but I could get real nostalgic for sweats and a t-tunic at the drop of a teleberet. Inspire, don't mock, don't dictate. And yes, those are things it is hard for me not to do sometimes as well. How can this be shared? Go Vitus!!! Regards Avery

DukeAvery

Counted blows work for me. Paul suggested one day counted blows, no targets repeated for that extra crispy experience.

DukeAvery

I prefer the term 'barn door'.

DukeAvery

Very interesting reading so far. It is a brave thing to do and I agree with much that was written. I'd like to point out however that no one in fact knows how the world works. So sad when prophets war. It was a pleasure to meet you. James couragously backed me up at one Potrero War when one our bad ...

DukeAvery

There was a newly formatted grand processional for the day. This took awhile to organize but in the end many agreed it added much pageantry. For the first time I see what I can only describe as a "Hostly Great Banner" of House Bellatrix. I didn't get a full look at it but it was huge and s...

DukeAvery

@Ivan - Well met. It is/was a doughty list and many seemed to expect and desire a rung bell. I picked up a light headache from one of my early fights and I have a heavily padded helm. I won that fight, as I lay 'dead' my opponent informed me I had 'slain' him first and so was the victor. I didn't fe...

DukeAvery

The weather was perfect - the bay area in general had recieved a much needed soaking but we were blessed with a week of sun to bake the ground. I carefully walked the great swath of even and short grass, and could not find a single gopher hole. I would stop occasionally and rock back and forth, memo...

DukeAvery

@ Vlasta, thank you for the link. Viscountess Aeschine shoots some wonderful video and I appreciated how unobtrusively it was done. Good video is a valuable training tool. The kingdom just keeps on giving. @ Miles, it was indeed a pleasure and I relish encountering you again. The late night chorizo ...

DukeAvery

It has to be about fun. Anything less would be a disservice to the realm. I do not believe I can 'save' the kingdom from any other fighter by force of arms without harming the realm. SCA combat may be passionate or even heated but I will not allow myself to intentionally fight in a negative mental s...

DukeAvery

Greetings Fellow Archivists Having just fought 9 rounds at Western Crown I would like to share how I approached this exciting and challenging event. I will do this in a series of posts in this thread. My intent is promote and encourage fun crown tournaments everywhere to the greater glory and enpowe...

DukeAvery

I tried for awhile using a shot I call a 'slap shot' with a spear. I'd start with the spear pointing up at a high angle and slap a shield down then thrust hard. Most fighters didn't like it, even though it was legal. It was generally effective. I stopped using it however, because overall I thought i...

DukeAvery

I'm very pleased to hear Sir Tino is still teaching.

Regards

Avery

DukeAvery

Which nicely demonstrates why the SCA doesn't do grappling/throws. One of the worst things that can happen to you that does happen to some people is getting projected backwards to land head first against something hard. Not telling other clubs what they should or should not be doing, however, just e...

DukeAvery

Calm down everyone - let the facts speak for themselves.

DukeAvery

I was hoping to learn more about the feared tree to ground based melee attacks.

Oh well.

DukeAvery

Heretics!!!

DukeAvery

Being very fond of Atenveldt I look forward to meeting its new heirs.

Regards and Congratulations

Avery

Re: Getting Past the Shield Size Debate: A Proposal

Getting Past the Shield Size Debate: A Proposal

Re: False Chivalry and Conventions of Combat

Preludes

On Preparation

Fun

Duke Avery's Guide to Fighting Crown Tournament