The Armour Archive

I've hit a bit of a plateau with my chosen style (sword and shield) and have been thinking that perhaps I should start adding more styles into my training. (I'm authorized in everything 'cept combat archery.) It's been a while since I played with a mace and was wondering what you consider to be the best length for one? I honestly haven't used one in many years and can't for the life of me remember how long it should be. Should I add some sort of counter-balance to the end? I have played with T-Bob's pinky ball maces and they hit with authority. Any other ideas out there on head construction? I think I may still have some pinky balls in the ancient armour box... but I'm open to suggestions! Oh, and I would very much like to TRY and make it look like something a 12th century Norman would have used on Crusade... Thanks!



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Ld. David de Clermont
Squire to Ivar Rhidri Eithr Drenger
Haus Kriegsturm
Barony of Sternfeld
Middle Kingdom
House Kriegsturm Home Page

My suggestion to you would be to try something beside a mace. Maybe try some polearm or greatsword instead. These forms might give you a different perspective on fighting and allow you to move beyond your plateau. Mace fighting is very similar to sword and shield, only less effective, imo. Fighting with great weapons allows you to learn new kinds of movements as you are freed from the hinderance of the shield. Your vision and awareness increase also. Fighting with great weapons helped my fighting quite a bit. They are also LOTS of fun. Ofcourse, if you really just want to play with a mace...enjoy!

Dagonet

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ld. David de Clermont:
>snip< It's been a while since I played with a mace and was wondering what you consider to be the best length for one? I honestly haven't used one in many years and can't for the life of me remember how long it should be.</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

De Clermont:

Depending on usage, between 24"--30" in length.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2"> Originally posted by David de Clermont:
Should I add some sort of counter-balance to the end?</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mine generally had a plumber's end cap taped to them. I imaging that a ball bearing with a lag-screw would work as well. Having the mace too tip-heavy will hurt your wrist and shoulder after too long.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2"> Originally posted by David de Clermont:
I have played with T-Bob's pinky ball maces and they hit with authority. Any other ideas out there on head construction? I think I may still have some pinky balls in the ancient armour box... but I'm open to suggestions! Oh, and I would very much like to TRY and make it look like something a 12th century Norman would have used on Crusade... Thanks!</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have both the pinky-ball style (which consists on one layer of 1/4" closed-cell foam and two pinky-balls sliced in half and taped to the head) and the flanged variety from By My Hand. Both will serve.

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David, my reply is not just to you, but to anyone who finds that their skills have stagnated.

Plateauing is always due to training. Your body and mind have adapted to your normal training and are no longer challenged or pushed to improve. The answer?

Change your training.

This can be as simple as practising with people who use different styles, or as complicated as adding new drills to your current training style. However it is that you are currently training, stop training that way.

When I reach a plateau, I find that what helps me the most is to go Duke chasing. At any event I go to, or fighter practice I attend, I hunt down the Big Boys, the guys who make your palms sweat when you even think about facing them on the field. Approach them and explain your problem and ask them if they are willing to do some pick-up fighting. I've never been turned down (well, not exactly true, I remember a certain King of Ansteorra who broke his arm as wasn't able to play, but otherwise...)

The challenge of facing the best fighters in the SCA, combined with the tips and pointers they can pass along is usually enough to break me out of any plateau.

YMMV of course, but there have been dozens of training ideas put forth on the Archive over the years, I'm sure that one of them will be able to help you out (and that does include trying new weapons and forms. Sometimes you just need a total change.)


Frederich

Thanks for the tips. I guess I've just reached a point where I am not progressing and have become disillusioned. I've been doing everything I can think of to get out of my funk but to no avail. So I figured I'd try a new(er) weapon style for a while and give sword and shield a rest. Maybe it's time to drag out florentine again, though I don't like it and it surely isn't what you'd see a 12th century Norman on Crusade using but it might help my offensive abilities (which are far below my defensive skills.) Maybe it is time I spent actually learning more than just the fundamentals of polearm and/or great weapon. I've had a hankerin' to learn to use a Danish axe for a while... Hrmmm. Keep the ideas coming, folks. I surely do appreciate them.



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Ld. David de Clermont
Squire to Ivar Rhidri Eithr Drenger
Haus Kriegsturm
Barony of Sternfeld
Middle Kingdom
House Kriegsturm Home Page