First Fighter Practice

Edric · Post by **Edric** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 9:16 am

Well I went to my first fighter practice last night. This was the first time I wore my armor other than getting it to fit right. I wore my full armor including my gambeson, mostly to test everything out.

It was about 90 degrees out there and I really didn't notice being too hot. What I DID notice was that I was majorly out of shape. The weight of the full armor was not an issue. The weight of my shield was the major concern, along with my general lack of stamina.

As a result, I will be able to be seen jogging around the trailer park my girlfriend lives in at around 8:00 am on a daily basis.

and when that becomes "simple" I am slowly going to start adding armor. We'll see what all the rednecks have to say about that.

Maybe I should take a sword with me too......

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--Edric--

Flos est puellarum, quam diligio, et rosa rosarum, quam sepe video.
"My love is a flower among virgins, and a rose among roses"

Steve S. · Post by **Steve S.** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 9:52 am

"What I DID notice was that I was majorly out of shape. The weight of the full armor was not an issue. The weight of my shield was the major concern, along with my general lack of stamina."

Hah! I know exactly how you feel! You spend months getting this armour "just so", all the while with visions of the guys on TV effortlessly parrying and thrusting and hacking away. Then you strap on all that armour and find out all those Oreos probably weren't a good idea!

I'm in the same boat! I can only fight 5 or so bouts and then I need a rest. I'm currently looking into obtaining lighter armor to help with the problem!

Steve

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 10:43 am

Good on you for getting out on the field in your own armor. In addition to the running, you might want to add lifting weights. For very high-energy activities like fighting, most of the energy you use comes out of your muscles. If you can increase your muscle mass, you'll be able to keep swinging a little longer before you have to stop and pant. If you're naturally bulky, you'll also have an easier time adding muscle. You may not _look_ "cut" like the overly serious guys in the gym, but the new muscles will be there under the flab

.

- Kyle

Edric · Post by **Edric** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 11:03 am

Hah! Bulky? No I am a naturaly thing guy that has been eating too much and has a nice belly. As for lifting weights, I was going to get a couple of small hand weights that I can do alot of reps with so I can excercies my arms while watching TV instead of shoving all that food in my mouth.

I forgot to mention before, I had to borrow a helm, and well it was slightly large. The top edge of the eye slots came about halfway over my eyes, in hang down too far below my neck so I couldn't turn my head more than a few degrees each direction, and part of the chin strap was in my mouth most of the time.
Makes me want to get my helm finished. Ehm Krag.....

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--Edric--

Flos est puellarum, quam diligio, et rosa rosarum, quam sepe video.
"My love is a flower among virgins, and a rose among roses"

Diego de Sagunto · Post by **Diego de Sagunto** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 12:09 pm

I know what you mean about out of shape...
I consider myself to be fairly fit... in terms of cardiovascular. However, at 6'1" and 130 pounds sopping wet (i was like 120 when i started heavy combat at the beginning of this year), im not exactly buff. The armor i used didn't bother me particularly (being mostly plastic), but shield weight was always a big issue. My eventual answer was to fight with a tiny little shield that everyone else in the canton hated because it was too small (24" x 20" heater) that was probably 2/3 the area of the next smalles shield. The couple of times ive used that shield i find i can go a couple extra bouts and am better about blocking shots... now i just need to remember how to block those leg shots....

Diego de Sagunto

malaki · Post by **malaki** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 12:22 pm

I also am having issues with shield weight. I am 6'2" 215 pounds with a good build, but for some odd reason my shield arm is DEAD after a dozen straight fights. Anybody who could give me some advice on appropriate exercises for this (other than more fighting) please do so.

Bedlam · Post by **Bedlam** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 12:33 pm

Malaki:

Assuming you are right handed. Get a tennis ball or smaller if you like. with your upper arms straight down, and forarms extended straight out in front of you, toss the ball with your right hand straight up about a foot. Catch the ball with your left hand using a crossing motion.
Do this repetetively and you will build your shield arm strength and endurance. Plus, after a while you can do it absent mindedly.

BEDLAM

[This message has been edited by Bedlam (edited 06-13-2001).]

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 2:33 pm

Good Show!!

I've finished my COP, Great Helm, arms and goret.

The COP needs some "suspenders" over the top to help bring it up.
I'm working on the legs.
My gauntlets need to be straped.

But, yes, just like you, I will be on the field with all my own stuff (except the elbows...they're made by accdntprone). And, I expect to make the same comments!

-Aaron

Gaston · Post by **Gaston** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 5:40 pm

There's no substitute for pell work. Exercises are great, but they may not train the shield arm muscles to hold and move the shield in an effective way.

While you're working on that shield arm at the pell, you can practice throwing sword blows without opening up your defense as much.

Practice carefully, you fight like you train.

Llywelyn · Post by **Llywelyn** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 8:43 pm

Greetings,

My first question about the shield would be is it strapped right. That is what kills me. I am not a very big guy and a couple of the locals are. If I borrow their shields I am just about dead after a few fights. Because they have the raw muscle to lift the shield and I don't. But having a shield strapped right is the key. Talk to your local knight/marshall/armour guy/someone who has made a number of shields etc... and get them to show you how to strap it right.

If your shield is strapped right ignore me.

Llywelyn

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Stay open minded, but not so open minded that your brains fall out.

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I am neater with a 5lbs. cross pein than with a ball point pen!

Bjorn · Post by **Bjorn** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 11:53 am

I have always felt, and practiced that the best exercise for heavy fighting is heavy fighting. Make all the practices that you can and if there aren't as many see if you can get a couple of other fighters to meet you some where for an unoffical practice. Most groups have two a week with another one or two that are semi private.

Just fight as long as you can, till you are starting to get sloppy then take a break for a little while, then go back at it, you'll be surprised how fast you will develop endurance, and strength.

Bjorn

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 11:18 pm

pell work helps a lot. always try to do pell practice with ur shield and if possible in all your armour.

the key to not having your shield kill your arm is to balance it so it doesn't tire your arm. im not a big guy and my shield is balanced so that the weight rests on the heel of my hand. my shield arm rarely tires out since i rest my elbow on my body and basicly move my body to block most shots and if i need to block more than that ill extend my arm a little.

the shield style that tires me out is round shield since you keep your arm extended most of the time

Duc Kjosua · Post by **Duc Kjosua** » Fri Jun 15, 2001 8:28 am

yeah, I know what you mean about being out of shape. I can usualy fight several fights before I am beat, but never notice it unless I go sit down or take a break. usually i just fight continuously, and when I get home and take a shower, i feel like I am going to die because my arms hurt so much. Its getting easier though. I have full arms, but was usuing aluminum gaunts. I have since moved up to steel, to add a little more weight for practice.

as for gettign a pell..
I'm working on some armour for my brothers right now.

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My Homepage

Edric · Post by **Edric** » Fri Jun 15, 2001 10:45 am

I would love to have a pell to play with, however, I have no way to transport a large wooden pole to my house. Maybe the next time my dad comes down I can convice him to go with me to get one.

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--Edric--

Flos est puellarum, quam diligio, et rosa rosarum, quam sepe video.
"My love is a flower among virgins, and a rose among roses"

Morgan · Post by **Morgan** » Fri Jun 15, 2001 11:12 am

Some people stand and hold a shield up while watching TV. If you do that for as long as you can a few times while watching your fav shows (if you are a tv watcher, that is) it's productive physically instead of being a couch potato.

Gregor von · Post by **Gregor von** » Fri Jun 15, 2001 1:27 pm

just my $0.02

I think we can all say we had the same "out of shape" feeling when we first started, so don't feel too bad about it. And like yourself, I started a workout so I could enjoy the fighting more. I do not have a pell I can use on a reg. basis either. But try the following to see if this will work for you.

1) (while watching TV or something) Get into your fighting stance and do some blocking excercises ---Reps = 25 blocks Left side of Head, 25 block right side of head, 25 Blocks left side & leg, 25 blocks right side and leg. Repeat whole thing 4 times. and then just mix them up. When I first started this I could only get past maybe 40 reps before my arm giving out. Now on a good day I can get up to 125-130. Repeat that 4 times and thats 500 shield blocks. Its a lot of work but it has helped me. Sometimes if I'm feeling extra stupid I'll add some weight to the shield hand.

2) Get into fighting stance and just freeze for 30 seconds. do it again, do it again, do it again..... (this kills me)

Not that you are going to be doing this in single combat but us new fighters always wind up on the shield wall. This will help.

I can now last a whole fighter practice or tournament. I still have ways to go but I'll get there.

have fun.

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"I may not come out alive, but I'm going in there !!!" Cowardly Lion from Wizard of OZ

Dmitriy · Post by **Dmitriy** » Fri Jun 15, 2001 2:44 pm

Don't feel bad about the shield dragging your arm down the first couple of months (or weeks, depending on how often you go to practice

). The muscles used to hold the shield up are just not ordinarily utilized in normal life -- so they are underdeveloped even on the very fit guys. I have yet to see a new fighter who could hold the shield up for more than 5 minutes of practice -- after that, it just starts drifting.
If you are in good shape otherwise, the arms will get used to the shield fairly quickly.

-D

Krag · Post by **Krag** » Sun Jun 17, 2001 1:49 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Edric:

Ehm Krag.....

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hmmm....I seem to recall last Fall telling several people they should finish things such as helms first in case I leave and they won't have access to my equipment. I also remember a certain person spending three days polishing a breastplate instead of working on a helm....cutting out brass...etc, etc. Ehm Edric...

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Krag von Berghen
KragAxe Armoury

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