Last week due to the enthusiasm of some of the newer fight medieval students, we started re-started a regular pugilism session. We are working as before from the manual of Daniel Mendoza(1764- 1836), which is a wonderful, simple, well structured training guide. One of the reasons I like Mendoza’s style is that he was relatively small which necessitated him forming a “sensible” style, with much in the way of defence as well as attack. It’s also worth noting that Kirk Lawson has just re-published Mendoza’s manual The Modern Art Of Boxing through Lulu .com, take a look.
Don’t worry it hurts less than a kung fu class and for the early stages at least every one is wearing modern sports boxing gloves.
The pugilism class is now the second hour of training on Thursday nights. and is only open to regular students.
Here are 2 more clips cutting with Owens work.
the first is with a left zwerchhau, notice that I start my body motion before the cut, this is bad form, and I’ll be working on it:)
the second clip is just a free flow cut through, just giving the allowing the weapon it’s heft.
I apologise for the lack of formal attire for the tameshigiri, but I hope you appreciate the simple pragmatic cutting abilities of this blade.
We will be introducing a lot more test cutting for the seniors this year. Train safely, Dave
Here are a couple of short clips showing the new blade “Dusk” made for me by Owen Bush.
bearing in mind this is my first attempt at test cutting in several years it will give you an idea of what an amazing blade Owen has made.
The first clip is to give you an overview of the blade and fittings, Dusk was meant to be a fusion of Saex, bauernwehr, messer and shamshir, the blade is Damascus as are the fittings.
I hope you agree he’s done an outstanding job.(I kept the balistol going over in just to show how excited I was).
This second clip is of me cutting with “Dusk” with the exception of one misaligned cut, (my bad no warm up, no practicing) you can see she cuts with almost no resistance.
Owen’s Work is amazing, he truly knows and loves his craft, if you want something outstanding this is the man to talk to.
The new two handed sword wasters are on their way, with several prototypes going through the paces as I speak.
These will be a major refinement of the previous wasters, and incorporate some of the more relevant tweaks asked for in a wide consultation with the wma community (who I’d like to point out, said pretty much what I said they’d say;)). teasing aside, the result will be much better training tools.
AND you will no doubt be glad to hear they will be a lot cheaper than the previous models.
Also very close to completion, is the Buckler. And I must say it’s looking very nice indeed.
Check here for updates and the first pics over the next couple of weeks.
Lessons this month are…
Mondays: 2 handed sword
Wednesdays: sword and buckler
Thursdays 2 handed sword/sword and buckler
Friday: Rapier
Sunday: Will rotate 2 disciplines each time, this week, rapier and 2 handed sword.
