The Armour Archive

Direct link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVHlqUhDPGM

Thanks for posting this Gaston!

-Derian.

Gaston de Vieuxchamps wrote:September video is finaally up. Could use some more polish, I had some serious technical issues (video recorded over) but that's what I get for waiting till the last minute. I feel it's important to stick to my deadline so here it is.

Can't cut and paste the link from my phone because it automatically takes me to the mobile version, but if you click on one of the previous vid links it will show up under related videos....

Thanks,
G

Thank you for doing this.

This is such a useful resource for a new fighter... please keep this up!

Hoping some other ducal offerings show up soon...

I keep planning on making some videos but the guy keeps forgetting to bring the camera.

My projected videos are:

Ansteorran "Boxer" style.
Cross body shots.
Single sword techniques.
Spin shots

Now if I can just get the bloody camera. My lady and I were looking at video cameras and had planned to buy one until she decided to buy a Wii instead.

You know you can get a decent SD video camera now for less than $150.

G

Yeah, we're looking around. Elizabeth is checking out a couple of online auctions.

Many digital cameras will record pretty good video too. You may already be able to do it!

-Derian.

My October submission for Res Ducis is finally up. Happy Halloween!

I took some suggestions and just grabbed recent slow 300FPS video I'd already posted to youtube and narrated over it with descritions and explanations of the action. The footage is nothing special but I think the effect is good. Trying to talk quickly and follow the action you get sort of my stream of conciousness analysis of the fight which is not really what I was after but might be useful. It makes me want to hear other people do the same with video of them fighting, or even of this video so I could see how their perceptions differ.

It's already been mentioned that Several of Baldar's leg blows land flat. In later footage the same day I do the same thing. Neither of us realized it until watching at 300fps. I'm finding lots of other fighters have the same problem when viewd this way. Something to work on.

My intent with my part of the Res Ducis project was to illuminate the classic Asgard style developed by Baldar and practiced by a number of knights and dukes but his own technique has shifted in recent years due to the Viking kit he adopted in an effort to be more historical. He switched to center-grip round. 30" diameter because that was the smallest actual Viking shield he could find and his sword is now 4" longer because that's the shortest extant Viking sword he could find. You'll see him use a lot of the under the shield off body shot which we don't really even have a name for yet (only been 4 years ). In setting up that shot he does several things contrary to his classic style:
1) He leans over. One of the hallmarks of his style has always been keeping the shoulders directly over the hips and not throwing the body in any direction ever. This lends an element of control to the fight.
2)He lowers his right hand. Most of his "bread and butter" shots all involve hand held high which keeps the hand free from being impaired by either fighters' shield, sword or body, and allows very long combos to be strung together without the need for a long "recovery phase" after a shot. The ending position of one shot is the cocked position for the next shot. By dropping the hand accross the body he gives himself only one option.
3)He falls back after his attack. This is huge. As a result of 1 and 2 above Baldar retreats after the under shield off body in order to free the weapon and return to ready position. Not doing that has alrays been another hallmark. By throwing shots that all end as setups for other shots there should never be any need to fall back and recover. It's one of the things that allows an adherant of the style to assert control of the fight and never let up until it's over.

Yes, he was my knight and is my friend and I'm telling everyone how to beat him. Welcome to the internet.
Next month I'll be telling you all how to beat me.

G

I liked it.

Nice! This makes so much more sense to that video!

Gaston, thanks for the videos, these are very educational (and WOW that butterstick Baldar is using is tiny!) His range is deceptive though since he extends very well.

That offside under-the-shield move you were describing? We call that one the 'Cross-cutter', since I haven't heard anyone else try to name it yet.

I usually prefer the thumb lead, since it is more versatile for target selection and allows quicker followups.

I find your fighting style very interesting and would love to go a handful of bouts with you. Are you coming up to Castle Wars, by chance?

Cheers,

Dietrich

Another great video. Thank you!

-Derian.

I don't think i've heard of Castle Wars...

Thanks. I'm trying to get back to getting out a lot.

G

So my September video has been out for a month and has ~280 views. The October video got half that in 36 hours.

I guess I'll be doing more slo-mo with narrations....

G

I like your instructional stuff and I think it's important but holy crap...the breakdown of the fight by someone intimately familiar with the style...that's awesome.

And it's great to hear, bit by bit, why a shield is here as opposed to there and why this mechanic works well and what this change helps.

Awesome stuff.

Nice videos!


Just a quick question: What size of round shield is Duke Baldar using in the last video and how tall is he?

30" round (based on the smallest extant Viking shield he found)

He's 6'3"

G

Nah!!! Baldar is 6'9" and the shield must be 5 foot round I swear...

Thor.

Gaston de Vieuxchamps wrote:30" round (based on the smallest extant Viking shield he found)

He's 6'3"

G

Gaston de Vieuxchamps wrote:30" round (based on the smallest extant Viking shield he found)

He's 6'3"

G

Thanks, Just trying to get a sense of scale.

Gaston,

As a lefty fighter your instructional videos are most useful. I saw that you were teaching nearly exactly what I have been doing for years. The extra refinement of technique I think is just what I need (that and to get to fighter practice more often )

So thanks for the videos.

November video up on November 30...

Another commentary video since people seemed to like last months's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJyNdp8ElMw

G

May I make an observation, YG?

Well, I did ask for feedback like 800 times so I guess an observation would OK just this once.

G

By the way, thanks for putting these up. With trying to use a round shield again, watching his Grace, plus watching a lot of An Tir film, has really helped out with seeing different techniques.

Replied via PM

What's the point of continuously requesting comments if one still feels me too fragile to discuss videos I have publicly displayed?

The dreaded comment Vitus feared to share:
We seem to basket block a lot.

It's true. Having recently changed to gauntlets I do make efforts not to block with my hands but this is a personal choice. There is nothing in the rules forbidding it and it's not considered dishonorable by any of my countrymen. The classic Asgard style of the last century employed basket blocks liberally, as do all other styles from this part of the world.

I take it from your stark terror at the thought of open discourse that you consider this a question of honor. I assure you it's simply a question of culture and nothing which might give offense.

G

Lol, I actually thought this, when I was watching the vids and thought of Vitus and Leo.

Well here's one then Your Grace...Baldar sure seems to throw a lot of Flat Shots espically on his mollinets (sp). Do you think that is because of:
A. Him being out of practice?
B. A detriment of the speed style of fighting you guys fight?
C. Much more common than we like to admit and the slow mo shows us the flaws in SCA techniques?
D. Something else entirely?

Regards,
byram

BdeB wrote:Well here's one then Your Grace...Baldar sure seems to throw a lot of Flat Shots espically on his mollinets (sp). Do you think that is because of:
A. Him being out of practice?
B. A detriment of the speed style of fighting you guys fight?
C. Much more common than we like to admit and the slow mo shows us the flaws in SCA techniques?
D. Something else entirely?

Regards,
byram

I would have to believe that it is probably C more than anything else. My guess would be that if you slowed down alot of SCA video, you would see alot of flats... But, with our equiptment, there is no way around this.

That is my suspection as well.

I don't even fight S&S, and I find these commentary videos very very enlightening. Thank you your grace.

BdeB wrote:That is my suspection as well.

I fought at a Pas this summer where the sponsor made matched weapons. The gentleman made matched single swords, hilted (requiring gauntlets) and bucklers as one of the weapons styles. He made the swords out of the latest trend in oversized rattan shaved and shaped to look like swords.

I can tell you that the fight I had against Duke Garrick von Kopke was both fun and enlightening. With the shaped swords you definately knew if you threw flat or not. It didn't take long to compensate/focus on technique to make the edge hit. But with the round sticks.... I believe in general you are right.

problem is the shaped sticks hit like a ton of bricks... I LIKE THAT but not every one does.

regards
Thorvaldr

Tor Magnusson wrote:
I would have to believe that it is probably C more than anything else. My guess would be that if you slowed down alot of SCA video, you would see alot of flats... But, with our equiptment, there is no way around this.

a-round.....

I GET IT! *ducks*