Bring me my spear: o clouds unfold!

The King has decreed that the next Crown Tournament will be contested without shields. We are now two weeks out from Crown and it is looking like one of the largest Crown Lists we have ever had. Why is this?

I know that the crown is trying to encourage people to try different weapon forms. We are a very sword and shield oriented kingdom. While this may be one way of encouraging people to try new things I am not convinced it is effective in the long term. Changing what people do is something that often requires a long term approach. In this case it is getting out there and running classes on different weapon forms. It is providing gauntlets so people do not get hurt. It is the quiet voice of encouragement between rounds. This is only my opinion, but I think we will have a number of people take up glaives, two sword, spears and other things for this one event and then go back to what is familiar and supported.

 This aside, why are so many people (myself included) entering?

I am sure that some see it as a challenge. It is time to test your ability, stepping away from what you have trained in for years to see if you can do well with the unfamiliar. This is a good challenge to prowess and I am going to admit I have not in any real way trained at all for this.

I also wonder if some of the attraction to this is the equalising effect of the no shield rule. With this one decision many of the top tournament combatants are denied their chosen tools. Many consider this Tournament is wide open. Gone is the challenge of having to overcome those who have put in years of effort and commitment to their art. A little bit of luck and a good spear thrust may get you to quarter finals.

This is a big draw card and I will admit that I see their point. I also wonder if this is such a good thing. Why deliberately handicap some of your best people? How does this advance the combat arts? Is making people leave their shields at home really going to improve what we do?

I am sure the Crown Tournament will be exciting and full of surprises, but is this just the draw card of novelty? The playing to this places notions of decrying the tall poppy? The dumbing down of what should be the pinnacle of our tournaments?

On the other side of this coin is the challenge to be a master of all the arms of the knight.  Sword, spear, poll axe and dagger. No matter the situation, the knight becomes the master of the field. While we may focus on a particular weapon form is not the purpose of this training to be yourself the weapon? Maybe I should have practiced more…

Gazing at Ones Navel

The Tournament that Was.

I thought I would share some thoughts on my last tournament outing.

Over Easter is the Rowany Festival. Several days of wars, combat, parties and fun. As a part of festival is run the Fighter Auction Tournament. This is normally the biggest list held annually in Lochac with approximately 80 entrants this year.

In the end I won the tournament but I am not at all happy with my performance.

On the day of the tournament I was having a lot of difficult finding any focus. My first two bouts was just me going through the motions. I was unable to excerpt any control on the encounters. By the fourth round my squire finally started to try to get me to focus and get my game brain engaged. Thankfully this mostly worked and I was able to make it though the next few rounds.

The last few rounds I was up against two Counts and a Duke. I dropped one bout here as my opponent was able to capitalise on my loss of concentration. A silly mistake on my part but used ruthlessly by my opponent. A lesson here that I hope not to forget.

The bout against the other Count was one I was happy with. He had just returned from the West and was fighting well all weekend. Anyway, after a little circling at measure he attacked strongly stepping forward with each cut. This had me completely on the retreat and I managed to take his leg. Once on the ground he lost his height and movement advantage and I was able to exploit a timing gap in his attack.

The other bout was against another Duke. He uses a very large aluminium heater and a very long sword. As he is also tall he had a massive range advantage. I actually do not recall any of this encounter except that I did manage to take his leg despite the huge shield.

So I go to finals against the Count I had dropped a bout in earlier. During the first encounter I was not controlling the range and being sloppy. I basically just sat in his effective measure trying to throw the occasional direct attack. This ended badly for me as he managed to time a nice cut to the side of my helm.

The second bout was again me not controlling anything. I ended up being legged and at this point decided that as I was unable to get passed my opponents defence I would see if I could last long enough for him to get tired and make a mistake. Apparently this bout went for eight minutes with my hunkering down tactic eventually working. The final bout was mostly a repeat of the second, me on my knees defending until my opponent was too exhausted to keep their defence active.

I was unable to get into the fight. I am not sure why I was so hesitant to commit. Maybe a fear of failing. Maybe not being able to focus and use good technique.

So I need to work on some aspects of my form. Once I encounter a top end opponent I tend to become too cautious, unwilling to take the risks I need to take to ensure an elegant victory. I am thinking of how to organise my own training of the next year to move beyond this but I also need to work on my ability to focus and do what I need to do when it is needed.

But with the blast shield down…

The match has begun and two knights are warily facing each other. Poised and alert, just out of each other’s measure. Their swords constantly shifting, bodies and shields adjusting to new positions, seeking an opening or a moments lapse in concentration. One of the knights quickly moves forward, her opponent steps to defend his weapon side but is too late to see the smooth shift in the oncoming attack to the shield side of the helm as the cut strikes home.

How many times have we seen such a scene played out on our tournament fields? Is this preliminary manoeuvring just two combatants circling, trying to decide what to do or is something more interesting going on?

Could I suggest that the encounter begins well out of weapon range or measure. As you approach and enter measure you look for opportunities to attack and are cautious of an incoming strike. Even before you enter into measure, you can cause our opponent to react or commitment by applying a ‘threat’ or pressure of an imminent attack or offensive move.

Pretend for a moment that you are on the edge of measure and you take a diagonal step to your opponents shield side and prepare to launch a cut at the leg. Your opponent is likely to see this move and shift their own position and defence in order to counter your move.

This movement or threat we call ‘pressure’ and it is very similar to the idea of Seme in kendo.

You can apply pressure without launching an attack. By moving into a position in preparation to attack is an application of pressure. You are forcing your opponent to react to your move. This threat of an imminent attack must be done with smooth confidence, demonstrating a true ability to attack at a given moment. The moment you decide to apply pressure you must be ready to physically attack. If you are not ready to attack then you are only stepping forward inviting to get hit. Your mind must be resolved to cut the opponent, doing so will either force your opponent to move or you must strike.

So pressure is a form of attack as it forces a reaction from your opponent. Some would think of this as a fake or misdirection. You can use pressure to make an opponent commit to a defensive position of your choosing. This in turn may allow you to launch an attack to a poorly defended opening. An example of this may be that I move into measure and threaten a cut to 6 (off-side neck) and my opponent, sensing this moves their shield up and over slightly to close of this line of attack. I am now able to shift the direction of my movement and launch a cut to 3 (shield side leg) as I have caused my opponent to open that target for me.

In turn, by understanding the pressure that my opponent is projecting you are able to understand what attack they are building up for. Knowing what they are about to do enables me to organise my defence to counter the building threat. I need to move my feet to face whatever the oncoming threat is. Of cause by closing off such a threat my opponent will then shift the treat to a new opening and thus the opening dance begins.

Play Up and Play the Game

There is a big difference between free sparring (pick ups etc) and the tournament encounter.

In practice we try out different approaches and techniques. We see what works and what does not. We extend our range of options and capabilities. We bring the best out of ourselves and our training partners.

Tournament is not a time to practice. Tournament is about the accomplishment of the one central tenet of any martial art; hit them without being hit yourself.

Tournament combat is a different game of mind and body. We seek to extend our mental and physical domination over our opponent. We must be ready for sudden action while remaining still and calm within.

Technique is pared away to the most fundamental. Your attacks must be true and give no room for doubt. You defence is wary of feint and trick. Simple, elegant and crisp is the mark of a true competitor.

We seek to emulate that idea of noble or powerful grace. No wasted effort or flourish. Everything has one dreadful and true purpose. A beautiful and terrifying dance of skill, power and grace.

Shifting your mental gears into this space is something many of us struggle with. We are constantly stuck in practice mode, wanting to participate in a game of swords but without the focus required of the true test of person and skill in tournament.

How we get there is different for all of us. You will need to find the answer to this question if you are to progress. Think of those times you were ‘switched on’. What was happening for you then? How can you repeat that headspace?

Find what works for you and use it when you must. For after all the training, sweat and hard work, it will be that determination and focus that enables you to push beyond your own fears and seek that one perfect moment when your blade strikes home.

There’s a breathless hush in the Close to-night

Ten to make and the match to win

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

An hour to play, and the last man in.

And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat.

Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame,

But his captain’s hand on his shoulder smote:

“Play up! Play up! And play the game!”

 

The sand of the desert is sodden red –

Red with the wreck of a square that broke;

The Gatling’s jammed and the colonel dead,

And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.

The river of death has brimmed its banks,

And England’s far, and Honour a name,

But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks –

“Play up! Play up! And play the game!”

The sweetest kiss of all

In my last post I talked about some of the reasons to enter tournaments. A few have noted my omission of consorts in this. This was partly intentional as this is a topic that does deserve a separate entry.

Consorts often get the bum rap of the fighting game. They are there sometimes almost in sufferance. Certainly they are often there on the sidelines looking a bit cold and bored while everyone else has fun running around in harness.

Time for this to end.

The Consort is an integral part of how we play our game. It is those that bestow us their favour that makes us more than a mere sport, more than another branch of the martial arts.

We enter the field carry the favour of some one we respect greatly and some of us (I will count myself here) are lucky enough to carry their love as well.

It is the consort’s honour and renown that are prime in our endeavors. This is what prevents us descending into a slugging match of ego. We are able to use our consort to focus our minds and settle those nerves before the lay-on is called.

Think about how we can involve our Consorts in the game we play. How can we make them a full part of our events and tournaments?

Certainly we can declare our intention  to fight for  our consort. This can be a public or a private moment.

Use this as a way of bringing your focus to the fore. Use it to find your centre and share the moment.

Do you best to be worthy of your consort. Make sure your gear is looking good, clean and in good repair.

Work with your Consort to organise were they will be during the salutes. Looking around trying to find them looks bad and will break that focus.

Have a salute that is for them alone (I will be talking about salutes in a future post).

What is important here is that you are on the field bering the honour of your consort, victory or defeat is not important.

You display your commitment to your consort by your appearance and demeanor. Bring your best to the day and all will be good.

Once more into the breach!

For all the training and practice, it is tournaments and wars that is the focus of our efforts.

It is here we bring together all that we have learnt and practiced. He we get to see how well we stack up against all the others.

Tournaments also give us an opportunity to show off all the banners shields and gear that go together to make our events more than just a sporting meet.

What is import for all of us to understand is that success is a varied and sometimes complex animal.

For some of us it is the prise of reaching finals and then being the final victor of the day. But let us be real, this is not going to be the outcome for all of us.

So then, why compete?

Completion is possibly mare about the process then the outcome. A tournament gives you something to work towards,. Think about how well you did in Rowany Fighter Auction last year; do you want to go an extra round the next time? Giving yourself such goals can encourage you to train and practice rather than just turn up. It forms a point of focus to give your efforts a bit more purpose.

Competition can give you an insight to your strengths and weaknesses that free sparing never will. This is an essential part of learning. To quote Duke Radnor “For all our study, drills, interpretation and postulations, we are not prepared to perform in the midst of the fight without hazarding our bodies and/or egos in earnest contest. Unless your practice embraces the real threat of failure, you are not advancing. There’s no substitute for the real thing.”

Remember here that such a test is about learning. To be defeated in a tournament is a lesson in were you defence is weak or were your attack needs work. Never look on such an outcome as failure but rather as a window to future success.

Tournaments give you a unique way to deal with fear and stress in a relatively safe environment. There is the fear of failure and sometimes the fear of pain and being hurt (remember the last really hard but-wrap). Stress is also a natural part of the competitive environment. Being able to cope and then control these feelings can be very valuable both inside and outside of the tournament field. Stress also brings with it adrenaline. Adrenaline release, like any chemical reaction in your body, can be adjusted to and tempered through repetition and training. You might begin your tournament career attacking all out, unnecessarily tiring yourself out and missing all kinds of opportunities, but you should end your career fighting like a fighter pilot – calm and clear minded, unshakable emotionally, and focused on the task at hand.

Camaraderie is also a big by product of our combat endeavours, particularly wars. It is by talking to the field together that bonds of friendship are created and strengthened. There are not that many no-shit-there-we were stories from training sessions.

This is fun. Walk out onto the field, banners snapping in the breeze, armour gleaming to face your opponent as the crowed becomes hushed and the lay-on is called. It is wonderful to be part of such a spectacle. No matter what the outcome, here is your moment in the centre of it all.

The glory of victory. OK, let’s face it, winning is fun! It is a great rush to stand victorious on the field. Even if it is your only victory on the day it is still a victory and yours alone Victory in competition, especially if it is a difficult competition, is very rewarding and a big ego boost. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying that, and having that as a goal is itself very motivating in competition. In any tournament there are many victories. There is the success of the novice who just being able to compete in a full event is success. There is the person who has never won a tournament bout getting to the third round. There is the squire who finally managed to execute a new technique crisply. There is the person who has fought harder and further than they have ever done. A tournament has many victory songs; you just need to listen out for them.

I will end with something I stole from somewhere else and changed only a little-

Today, while there is breath on your lips, remember well that one day you will be forever but a memory of one who walked this earth in a blink of history’s eye. As you look around you, see today’s champions. See those Knights who have knowledge but whose fires burn weak at the twilight of their visit here. See the young who stand at the edge of a clearing, waiting to fill it with their potential. And look to the future to see that sooner than you know, you will be just a memory whose best achievements and actions will be little more than ripples at the edge of the universe.

So, while you still can, fan the flames inside you and go for a ride. See what you can do. Make some noise. Enter the field and let the world know you were here. Step boldly into the place champions are made and take your best shot. So that one day, when your tassels sit dusty in a box, and the cheers are just echoes of the past, there will be a ripple in the universe however far away that says to all it meets, “I was here. I fought. Maybe I won, maybe lost, but I was noticed. Now tell me, what have YOU done lately?”

Preparing for Crown Tournament

 Some notes to a friend who is looking to enter Crown.

Things to prepare

1. Gear (fighting) – make sure your harness is in excellent repair. Make time a week or two out to do a serious maintenance session.
2. Gear (non fighting) – have your kit looking good, expect to be on the high table. Also have a plan for Coronation and the Reign – what will you need, who will help produce it?
3. Training – two armoured sessions a week. One session concentrate on form/technique and the other one focus on effectiveness. Think of this as training for a National Championship.
4. Training – body-Do strength and\or cardio training at least every other day. Make sure you are eating properly to maintain the additional training you are doing and to avoid fatigue and getting sick during your training.
5. Reign Plan- you and your consort get a plan for the reign. Who will be the key people on your household. How are you going to organise this? What events do you have to be at?

Training – Crown is nine weekends away. You have about 18 training sessions, so let’s say 20 hours…not a lot really…8-)

Have a think about how many bouts you get in any given training session. I suspect it is not as many as we think.

Now is not the time to learn new forms or attacks but rather to hone what you have to a tournament winning edge.

I would spend the rest of this month focusing on getting as much in armour time as possible. You do need to push your endurance a little here.

You need to be focusing on basic techniques. Makes sure you move on the balls of your feet, maintain good line and measure. Makes sure you make your cuts cleanly with good form and power. At this point it is not a matter of winning bouts but working on doing things right and crisply.

In October start switching the focus to the competitive side of things. Try to fight as many different opponents as you can (you may have to travel) with different styles and shield types. At one session each week make sure you organise to have some ‘final fights’. Get one of the knights and fight a best of three. Try to think of this as finals. Do this at the end of the session so you are tied.

You can reduce the amount of trainings sessions about three weeks out (tapering) but up the focused fighting.

The aim of all of this is to go to Crown secure that you have done the work and sufficient preparation. Remember also, luck is still a big part of this.