The Armour Archive

asbrand

I've seen several in Meridies fight with only an elbow cop on their arms. (well, and a half gauntlet / basket hilt).

Won't catch ME doing that...but I've seen it...quite a bit.

asbrand

We still do that at fighter practice here. Not whack the leg, but tap it to let your opponent know why you're kneeling too. It's a gesture that says "I'm giving up the leg, you didn't take it." Important for practice. Don't want someone going around thinking the leg shot they throw works ...

asbrand

Back when I first started in the 80's, we had a transplant from Midrealm. He insisted that face thrusts were unchivalric. We countered that by thrusting him in the face. *shrug* He also had this strange tendency of chopping his own leg off if he took your leg. No, not just dropping to his knees as a...

asbrand

Asbrand, The answer is Yes to both of those Vebrand LOL - so very, very true. I just told "His Highness" (via chat) that I'm appointing myself as "Official Royal Ego Deflator" for his reign. But, in all seriousness... Congrats to him and his Lady.

asbrand

Now...this is kind of amusing.

This is the first time that someone *I* taught how to fight when they first started SCA has now won Crown.

I dunno whether to feel proud or just old.

asbrand

For the first time in a LONG time...I cannot predict ahead of time, with fairly certain accuracy, who will win.

Good luck to them all.

asbrand

Cool video. Added to my favourites.

Glad to know I'm not the only AA'er on a broadcast video anymore.

asbrand

I remember 1986. Year I graduated High School. I'd already been in the SCA 2 years by then. That kit looks a hella lot better than what was around back then. Would still look decent compared to many today. Guy that started back when I did had carpet body armour, with arm armour made from parts from ...

asbrand

Heh...I'm surprised nobody critiqued how I used to train newbies.

For once, nobody had an opinion!

asbrand

Having had the benefit of living in a number of Kingdoms across the Knowne Worlde, I might add that there is a very large divergence amongst local cultures and approaches about most things, including how newcomers are handled. Back when I was the Knight Marshal for the Shire of Nant-Y-Derwyddon (wh...

asbrand

Dunno about Ealdomere, but they are legal in most SCA kingdoms.

I bought the one on the left at a Pennsic, a LONG time ago. It is vulcanized rubber. Still use it to this day in melees (just used it at Gulf Wars this past March).

They have some "give" and don't need to be padded.

asbrand

This is what I use:

asbrand

The only time I've done that is with some idjit who just won't listen to people with more experience, more knowledge, etc. And insist that they are invincible, and can kick everybody's arse.

Sometimes, certain types only respond to a buttwhuppin'...

*shrug*

asbrand

Never tried live steel. However, I've been an SCA heavy fighter for 25+ years now. Prolly won't be so bad if you start out doing both. However, in my experience, if you do one for a very long time, and then try to pickup something new, you can run into issues. Some years ago, I went with a friend to...

asbrand

Want a secret? I discovered this at Pennsic, many moons ago...

Clean it up with an old rag and cheap beer.

asbrand

Depends on how broke I am.

Either go out to eat and have a beer...or just go home.

asbrand

That is one sweet looking spear.

How "hard" is the slashing edge? Too soft, and I could see folks not calling the shot...

asbrand

You probably shouldn't be drinking anything while reading these m Not Acceptable An appropriate representation of the requested resource /dumbquest/comebacks.html could not be found on this server. Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle th...

asbrand

When I use a shield, I use a 24" center grip round that I made last year. Personally, I think a smaller round shield is easier than a large one. Simply because you *can't* just stand there static-like. You have to move around. In case you happen to be interested, I documented my entire building...

asbrand

He sure did. He became my squire a short time after that. I try to be very kind to new fighters. I wouldn't suggest beating the crap out of someone who was inexperienced. I was younger then and had less patience. But, on rare occasions, you just gotta whack the BS outta them. *shrug* Sometimes, tha...

asbrand

Az- Surely, as long as you have fought, you can recall fighting at least one guy who you knew would not call the first 3 you hit him with.... I mean... that's kind of like counted blows... right? ROFL - point taken. Then again...I've fought a few who apparently were doing counted blows, but I evide...

asbrand

I can't think if a practice that I've ever been to... ever when someone didn't say "you want to fight five?" or "let's go three more." Or "first to ten wins." that's counted blows any way you look at it. Never done that either. Has always been "fight until you are...

asbrand

Aaron wrote:Counted blows happens at every fighter practice I've ever fought at.

I can say, with all honesty, in the 25+ years of SCA for me, I have never once seen or fought "counted blows".

I'm not opposed to it. Just never seen it in our neck of the woods, so to speak...

asbrand

It all depends on how my knees are feeling that day. I'm in my 40's now.

And, if my opponent wants to take my leg shot to him as a "kill", that's fine by me. I just got a "freebie" as far as I am concerned. *shrug*

No skin off'a my nose.

asbrand

One I have actually heard...

"That one hit me on the belt. I don't take shots to the belt..."

...said by a person wearing a white belt.

...and from the sidelines "I guess his belt goes from his knees to his tits..."

asbrand

Personally, I'd like to see a reduction in 9' spears. I've noticed over the last 25 years that wars / melees have gone from being predominantly shield walls with a few spears and/or other long weapons, to nothing more than huge porcupines. Last field battle I witnessed (Gulf wars) it looked like the...

asbrand

At fighter practice tonight, I personally witnessed *5* cup shots. All from the same fighter. And not a single one was "intentional". Sometimes, crap just happens. *shrug* *sighs* I felt really...really bad. But by my count it was only 4. Needless to say I just stopped throwing anywhere n...

asbrand

At fighter practice tonight, I personally witnessed *5* cup shots. All from the same fighter. And not a single one was "intentional". Sometimes, crap just happens. *shrug*

asbrand

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I use basket hilts.

I need my fingers for my job. I type a lot.

asbrand

Thanks for the videos. I'll start practicing some of those on my pell.

After 20+ years fighting, I've grown rather stagnant, and need to learn some new techniques. I look forward to trying them out!

asbrand

Many years ago (17, 18 years), at Pennsic, I ended up separated from my team. I stumbled across His Meridian Majesty (I think it was Kane at the time) and a small handful of his guards. I teamed up with them. A few minutes later, we hear a shout, and we looked behind us, and there was a big pocket o...

asbrand

That's ok... Lots of things are my fault.

asbrand

you can come in, thrusting tip seeming to lunge for the face to bring up the foe's sword and shield in a knee-jerk reaction, then fade back out, bringing the blade down hard on the thigh or hip. That's pretty much what we were telling him Tuesday at practice. And, I think is what made him decide to...

asbrand

Remember that the last person who attempted to do testing like this got kicked out. -Aaron Aaron, His R&D had nothing to do with the bowling ball test and it is unkind to imply that it did. And he's not "kicked out" any longer. Back in the 80's, he was in my original shire, so I knew ...

asbrand

For those that care: At practice tonight, I met up with Meridies' KEM, Sir Morgan. We discussed what happened last week. I ran him through the two scenarios (the one *I* thought happened, and the one that a bystander watching us thought happened). He was left pondering it all himself, and decided to...