Olympic Fencing

“Take the romantic, swashbuckling epics of Errol Flynn, add some rules, protective clothing and an electronic scoring system, and you have fencing at the Olympic Games.”

With the Olympics on the horizon be sure not to miss the fencing

Women’s Saber – Fri Aug 8 to Sat Aug 9
10:00pm-1:45am Round of 64 through quarterfinals
7:00am Semifinals
7:50am Bronze Medal Match
8:10am Gold Medal Match

Men’s Epee – Sat Aug 9 to Sun Aug 10
10:00pm-3:00am Round of 64 through quarterfinals
7:00am Semifinals
8:10am Bronze Medal Match
8:40am Gold Medal Match

Women’s Foil – Sun Aug 10 to Mon Aug 11
10:00pm-3:00am Round of 64 through quarterfinals
7:00am Semifinals
8:10am Bronze Medal Match
8:40am Gold Medal Match

Men’s Saber – Mon Aug 11 to Tue Aug 12
10:00pm-1:45am Round of 64 through quarterfinals
7:00am Semifinals
7:50am Bronze Medal Match
8:10am Gold Medal Match

Men’s Foil – Tue Aug 12 to Wed Aug 13
10:00pm-1:00am Round of 32 through quarterfinals
6:00am Semifinals
8:00am Bronze Medal Match
9:00am Gold Medal Match

Women’s Epee – Wed Aug 13
1:30am-4:30am Round of 32 through quarterfinals
7:00am Semifinals
8:30am Bronze Medal Match
9:30am Gold Medal Match

Women’s Saber Team – Wed Aug 13 to Thu Aug 14
9:30pm Quarterfinals
10:40pm Losers bracket
11:40pm Semifinals
12:50am 5th place and 7th place matches
6:00am Bronze Medal Match
7:00am Gold Medal Match

Men’s Epee Team – Thu Aug 14 to Fri Aug 15
9:00pm Round of 16 (1 match)
11:00pm Quarterfinals
12:30am Losers bracket
2:00am Semifinals
3:30am 5th place and 7th place matches
6:00am Bronze Medal Match
7:30am Gold Medal Match

Women’s Foil Team – Fri Aug 15 to Sat Aug 16
9:00pm Quarterfinals
10:30pm Losers bracket
12:00am Semifinals
1:30am 5th place and 7th place matches
6:00am Bronze Medal Match
7:30am Gold Medal Match

Men’s Saber Team – Sat Aug 16 to Sun Aug 17
9:30pm Quarterfinals
10:40pm Losers bracket
11:40pm Semifinals
12:50am 5th place and 7th place matches
6:00am Bronze Medal Match
7:00am Gold Medal Match

Give me a sword fight any day

“Give me a sword fight any day.” – Joseph Fiennes

My nice new blade came in the mail the other day. I am very happy with it except for maybe its length. I bought the longer of the two swords they make in the idea that the extra length will be helpful and in fact they might.

Still I am not used to the length as of yet using a 37′ blade as opposed to a 43′. I did believe that a couple of inches would have helped the other day I fought so we shall see. If not I am going to buy another blade a little shorter in length. Might by another one anyway, a case of rapiers is always a way to go. Still need a dagger.

I am very happy with the actual blade thou and will not mind buying a number of them. I can see that is going to be a benefit in melee, looking forward to that quite a bit.

What more can a man want?

“You are surrounded by beauty, by intrigue, by danger, what more can a man want?”  – Aramis

Disappointed that I didn’t get to see either Batman or Hellboy this weekend I decided to go through my rather large movie collection to see what I can find. I have I am guessing over 100 DVD/VHS, so its an understatement then I say I am rather fond of a good movie.  Before the children it was not unheard of for my wife and I to go to a movie in the late morning and then see another one in the evening after dinner. Now I am lucky to see what my boys see – still some good movies – The Forbidden Kingdom, Indiana Jones, Transformers. 

My new hobby (ok an old hobby but a new aspect of it) has peeked my interested in some older movies. For those who want to see a good sword movie I highly recommend Ridley Scott’s “The Duelists”. The movie covers a fifteen year feud between two officers during the Napoleonic Wars.  Going back into the Severn Years War pick up a copy of Stanley Kubrick “Barry Lyndon” but don’t miss any version of the “The Three Musketeers “. Now there are more versions of it then I can count however I am rather fond of the 1973 version with Michael York as D’Artagnan.  Alexandre Dumas works tend to get butchered in most movies however the 1986 version of the “The Man in the Iron Mask” I did enjoy -  you cannot beat a movie with  Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gerard Depardieu, and Gabriel Byrne as the Musketeers.

Of course one cannot speak of duels or swordsmanship without talking about Highlander (1986). – please skip the others, there can be only one.

Two last movies, this list could go on and on. Either Gibsons or Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet (yes there are others) are a must. Shakespeare had his problems but the man could write.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends

King Henry V: We would not seek a battle as we are, yet as we are, we say we will not shun it.

As I sit at work contemplating all of the fun –other- people are having at Pennsic my mind tends to wander a bit.

 As I mentioned before I ordered a rapier the other day and in theory it is supposed to show up at my door today.  I don’t expect to see my armor for a few weeks and in fact I just asked for a quote on a nice shirt to go along with all of my nice new armor. My ensemble is of course not complete.  Armor wise I am still in need of a mask, but will order that next week. I do need to order a dagger and an epee. I might not be using the epee much but it is something else I can authorize in.

Clothing wise I need some new shoes, my boots are good for 12th century not so good for 16th. And I need a hat. One thing I noticed in the SCA that not enough people wear something on their head when they are not fighting. Covering ones head was fashionable for many years well into the 20th century. I found an interesting Elizabethan hat which is what I will most likely buy. I did notice a nice cavalier hat although not period would look nice. Just add the musketeer cape and I will be all set.

Since I am not doing heavy fighting any more I suspect I will authorize in combat archery as well as siege.  I have done combat archery before and it is a lot of fun. Siege is new to me and somewhat new to the SCA. Not everyone is thrilled (ok heavy fighters) with the thought of being hit by a large bolt or boulder but I can not stop grinning about that very thought (ok cackling). I would love to build a scorpion or catapult. I think you can even order plans for them. I know there are some fine Roman reenactment units out there that work with such tools.

One of the other members came by the house and borrowed a bunch of my steel armor. I always recommend wearing heavy armor for wars. You never know when you are going to be smacked and you never know how many people are going to be lying on top of you.

The Song remains the same

“Kiting is so fun, you never know when your gonna die”  – unknown Paladin

I have been a World of Warcraft player for a better part of three years. I am not a very serious player not hard core at all. Its only been a little over a year since I took a character to 60th level, an Orc warrior. Once I got him to 60 I actually took a 6 month break as I was a little burned out with the whole thing.

Now late last year I started another PC , a Blood Elf mage. I am now close to 63rd level (not really an Alliance player) and I am having a fun time but I can see once I hit 70th I am going to take a break again. The thrill of going up levels is exciting and the view of the Outlands is very cool however I cannot imagine going out and farming stuff. I do a little now as my mining is making me a ton of gold but still it all gets a bit monotonous. Also how many quests have I been on where I have to kill or collect 10 things?

I think for me at least this might be it at least for World of Warcraft. I might continue to play for a time when Wrath of the Lich King on August 3rd is released but I cannot fathom starting a new PC. I have gone back a few times and looked at my other alts but cant bring myself to play them.

I have played many other MMORPG. I played Ulitma Online when it first came out but found the interface horrible. I played Everquest forever but never could get a PC above 20 or so level. As I said I am a very casual player and Everquest required a lot more dedication. I really enjoyed games like NeverWinter Nights (creating Dungeons is a blast) but it at least for me never went any place. Other games such as City of Villians, Star Wars, and a handful of other games I have played for a time. Now a few new games look promising (Conan, Warhammer Online) however due to the nature of these games I fear that it is all going to be the same thing.

Kill or collect and turn in, kill or collect and turn in, and on and on….

Drums of war!

The most persistent sound which reverberates through men’s history is the beating of war drums.  ~Arthur Koestler, Janus: A Summing Up

The war is almost upon us. Unless you are a member of the Society For Creative Anachronism you probably have no idea what I am talking about. I am of course talking about Pennsic. Pennsic is a two week long event starting at the end of July and ending in the first week of August. Thirty six years old now it brings over ten thousand members of the society to Coopers Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.

 

Those numbers spend their time shopping, talking classes, partying (there are many) and the last week there is a war. The annual war takes place between the Kingdom of the East and the Middle Kingdom. The Kingdom of Atlantia which I am a member supports one side or another depending on the year. The rapier community will also take the field along with the heavy fighters along with combat archers and siege combat. This year I wont be able to attend, moving to a new place and such but ill be sure to be there next year along with 10,000 of my closest friends.

Kid in a candy store

When you meet your antagonist, do everything in a mild and agreeable manner. Let your courage be as keen, but at the same time as polished, as your sword.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751 – 1816)

I am like a kid in a candy store with some things. I am that way in a book store as it does take some self control for me to not walk out with a stack of books in hand. (i still need to read numerous ones that sit on my shelf at home still). A good game store holds the same spell on me and I can easily walk out with a few hundred dollars worth of lead. (table top wargames) or even role-playing stuff.

Armor and weapon shopping are a third place where I can get into trouble. Still I was good and yesterday only bought 3 things. Two of them is armor which is always important when fighting. A new doublet and knee high period pants where the first two things I ordered, I should see them in a few weeks or so. However one of the most important purchase was my new rapier. As I wrote the other week on this I decided to pick up a 43 inch Hanwei Practical Rapier. I stopped myself from picking up a epee and a dagger and oh maybe a metal helm and the list can go on and on. As I said like a kid in a candy store – cant wait till it gets here

Greatness comes to those who take it

“Greatness comes to those who take it.”- Genghis Khan

I have been hearing some good things from a movie about Genghis Khan. The movie ‘Mongol’ portrays the early years of the boy Genghis Khan (Temudgin). Based off a ‘true story’ the picture covers the conquerors birth in 1162, through his early childhood and the first battles that bring him into his destiney. The movie puts a human face on the man whose armies would conquered through fear and terror most of the known world. Historical inaccuracies aside it looks like an excellent movie.

All good things…

Katara: You’ve been hallucinating on cactus juice all day, and now you lick something you find stuck to the wall of a cave?
Sokka: I have a natural curiosity.

I thought the last episode of Avatar the last Air Bender was like the ending of a good book. You put it down and continue to think about it for some time afterwards. You wished that the author would continue a little bit further as you are interested in finding out what their future might bring.

As I watched the last few shows I knew considering Avatar is a Nick production that they would have to find a way for Aang not to kill the Firelord. I believed if it was an adult or late teen show that most likely would have been the fate of both the Firelord and the psychotic Azula. The last battle was very good and switching back and forth between the three groups worked well. At the end Aang did defeat the Firelord.

As the Firelord fell and the show broke to a commercial I turned to my wife and said one of the things they could do would to fast forward the whole show twenty or more years. (aka Harry Potter) Even better have the Avatar as an old man telling the tales to his grandchildren with his wife and friends looking on. The series of course did not end that way but the ending was satisfactory. My wife wondered if they left an opening for a next on with Zukos search for his mother. My youngest cringed at the kissing ending with Aang and Katara. My wife thought that a 12 year old in a serious relationship was stretching it a bit much.

An enjoyable show, a good ending, I will be sorry to see it go.

Sticker Shock!!

The internet is a wonderful place when you want to go shopping but its not exactly fast. Nothing beats walking into a store and picking up what you need/want right then and there. So I was pleased to discover up here a fencing club with a store inside their school. It reminded me of other martial arts locations I have been to in the number of years I have been doing this. I will say it was a very nice place, it looks like a great school. When I went into the back of the store, very helpful stuff, I got a sticker shock looking at the fencing gear. Now I have been researching the cost of things as of late and thought I might pick up a few extras but the prices were much, much higher then what I could get off the internet. I was not all that surprise it was higher, convenience and all that, but not that much. Buyer beware and a good reminder that before one goes out to purchase something do a little research first.