where do YOU get hit most?

[dukelogan]

by "open form" im assuming that means with your arm held out or away from your body? ive found, when helping folks with their shield hang, that often times complaints about arm fatigue can be attributed to a thin (anything less than 4") wide strap, baskets that are too high, and holding the shield away from the body. we just worked on that recently with a newer female fighter so it was fresh on my mind and i was curious. thanks!

regards
logan

your shield arm gets "tired"?? thats so odd to me. my shield weighs 28 pounds and my shield arm is about the last thing that ever gets tired on me.

why does yours?

regards
logan

Well I suppose I don't know. I started fighting years ago, and got my W/S Auth, then didn't pick up a shield for over 5 years. Fought everything with a bastard sword, polearm, great sword, or 2W for quite awhile.

It might be how I hold it, or how it's strapped. For comparison, a M16 weighs 8lbs. Which doesn't seem like a lot. People can get tired holding 8 lbs at arms length for extended periods.

I tend to start the day out fighting open form with the leading edge of the shield out in front of me, as the day wears on, holding that shield out at arms length tends to tire the arm out. So then it gets lazy, resting on the left leg. Whap! Crap! Didn't lift the shield in time.

Randall

[Murdock]

Hey Randy



Your arms bent to far when you have it strapped on. Maybe because it was strapped for someone else?

You hold your shield out to long. You keep your form open even when your out of range.

Plus imo the shield is strapped "off center" is the best way i can put it

you end up fighting gravity the whole time to get the shield where you want it.

Lemme mess around with your shield doing slow work at practice Thursday and i'll see if i can add anything more constructive

[Adeliz]

And I think I'll try the thicker strap trick. Ok...and upper body strength.

Thank you Your Grace.

[rmermuys]

by "open form" im assuming that means with your arm held out or away from your body? ive found, when helping folks with their shield hang, that often times complaints about arm fatigue can be attributed to a thin (anything less than 4") wide strap, baskets that are too high, and holding the shield away from the body. we just worked on that recently with a newer female fighter so it was fresh on my mind and i was curious. thanks!

regards
logan

Yes, The strap is about 5/8" and rests in the forearm. My shield arm is at an 45deg upward angle in open form. 60deg up if I close form. I've had my shield strapped like this for as long as I can remember. The way I was told was to grip the shield by the corner, and let gravity find plumb. Then strap the shield vertically along that line.

When fighting buckler, and holding the buckler out for extended periods of time, the arm gets tired as well. Weight lifting and conditioning tends to help.

Not saying that the way I learned is right though.


Randall

[rmermuys]

Hey Randy



Your arms bent to far when you have it strapped on. Maybe because it was strapped for someone else?

You hold your shield out to long. You keep your form open even when your out of range.

Plus imo the shield is strapped "off center" is the best way i can put it

you end up fighting gravity the whole time to get the shield where you want it.

Lemme mess around with your shield doing slow work at practice Thursday and i'll see if i can add anything more constructive

There is no Randy here only Zuul...

You're right, I should let my arm rest when I'm out of range. But then if you close fast and I don't get it into form fast enough, you hit me in the head.


Randall

[Cisco]

But then if you close fast and I don't get it into form fast enough, you hit me in the head.


Randall

I would venture a guess that you are more concerned than is necessary. Unless your shield is hella-heavy (and even if it is), you should be able to have a rest guard that's more-or-less guarded and rested at the same time.

Watch videos of Duke Branos. Now, granted, he'll do it two inches outside of the other guy's range, but he's crazy good like that.

If you watch videos of Duke Logan, he does it a bit too. Probably not as much, but he seems to have a resting position (and I'm sure he can chime in here on his thoughts as he's the one doing it ) that leaves his sword to guard anything. It seems like you may lose all of your attack at the range unless you pick up a sword block and counter-strike but it still lets you rest while out of range.

Or you could try a lighter shield. Won't last nearly as long but a 1/2" birch shield will last you a good 2-3 months at least.

[Murdock]

you need to know your range better Randy

we'll talk about it tomarrow

work slow with Valerius and Rob and me and we'll look for where you need to tweak it

[SERPENTDUKE:)]

Since HRM'S Logan and Ice Falcon beat my to sword and shield.

neither sword shield I get out of the way, so there

[Payn]

Greetings,

I think it's left leg, tall with a 28" round... tempted to go 30" round.

Try 26". . .


Hjlmr inn Danski

I've got an 18" if you guys wanna borrow one

I usually get hit in the "everything". Although argument could be made that I hilt block a bit (recently broke my second Ti basket hilt from Sir Markus).

[AlexendreBautista]

latley since i have had the new kit and different shield it has been low right leg calf or cup shots I know it is me

[Baron Alejandro]

Right in the kisser.
'Course I'm a rapier fighter...

How on earth are you letting them get close enough for that to happen?! BAD CADET NO BISCUIT!

[Vladimir]

It's the rabid bear style of fencing. He must have learned it by watching me.

At least, that is how Connor the Gypsy described it.

[Agnarr]

Greetings,

Left leg.


Hjlmr inn Danski

yup