In an earlier discussion, I ranted about the problems that I was having with the translation of an article I was doing for a Japanese martial arts magazine. On Saturday, we did the photoshoot of various techniques with a high-speed camera. The process was both interesting and amusing.
Once again, let me emphasize that I am not an expert, blackbelt high-muckymuck of WMA. I'm just a guy who reads a lot of books and discussions, and practices as best he can. In this case, I got the job because I am johnny on the spot.
The focus of the article was on the major combat systems and techniqes of a mid-fifteenth century knight fighting on foot: armoured grappling, dagger, longsword (held at half-sword), and pole-axe. I was as pimped out as I have ever been with my full milanese over a chain shirt (still tring to make the voiders, sigh), a sadly SCA-style barbute, my chain standard. Basically, the best I can do at the time. No sabotons; I'm working on the chain sabotons that were popular with that particular kit.
The absence of sabotons became important. Here I was, trying to act as though I knew what I was doing: Demonstrating the pinch-legged takedown discussed by Ringeck (which i got from Mr. Tobler's translation), I did a fair job of taking Tada-san (also clad cap a pie) down over my right leg, following it up with my right knee on his chest and arm, and then a dagger to the throat. Unfortunately, his fauld landed on my right (unarmoured) big toe. So, I have his weight, the weight of his armour, my own weight, the weight of my armour, all coming down on one metal point. What's worse, I was in so much pain that I had trouble getting myself together to get myself off of my own toe.
I don't think it is broken. After we managed to sort it out, I was awfully glad to have my helmet on. It did a good job of muffling my ooh! ooh! Ouch! cries. You lose a lot of cred in the Japanese martial arts community if you cry like a girl.
Well, I did, but only because I was wearing the equivilant of the garter for the photo-shoot. In a real fight, I think Tada-san may have won just by staying in one place and crushing my toe. That hurt like heck.
