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You are very welcome! The term is used differently in different schools of fighting, it seems--this is just how I define it for sword sport combat.

Surprisingly complicated answer! This class was held at my home in Trimaris. We also are partial year residents in Aethelmearc. I won my Spurs and my Duchy in Atlantia. And I had my beginnings in the kingdom of Meridies.

Thank you! One does one's best!

It is a glorious and effective technique, when thrown properly!

I use either Bedford baskets made by Duke Michael of Bedford, or Ironmonger baskets. Glad to hear my videos have been helpful for you!

The cost for a good, solid helm made to your size has come down significantly over the years, and I feel like a well-fitted helm padded with anti-concussion foam is a must, for our sport. I am not an armorer, and cannot advise beyond spending the extra money to keep your think-meat safe, in something that is well fitted and comfortable. Best of luck to you!

It is from a Polish swordsmith (I believe), name of Regenyei

This one isn't inflatable, it is a free-standing mounted to a sand bag. I've since changed to the big blue full length wavemaster pell, that has a base you can fill with water or sand. I like the new one better, as it gives more resistance but still squishy enough that it doesn't hurt the joints.

Thanks Mate. Purchased one and now loving the fact I'm not getting shock travelling back into my joints. Following your pell workouts and enjoying the results. Really appreciate you being so free with your knowledge. Do you have a special workout with combos targeting left handed opponents?

@@wpsupplies1129 That makes a world of difference, when you can train without hurting your joints! I don't have a specific anti lefty workout--the general strategy is just to be a better off-handed fighter than they are. I like to snipe at range with backcut to offside head, or flat snap or short wrap to swordarm. I also like to lead at range with a rising face thrust that if they start to block, drops into a hard leg wrap. Good luck!!

Thanks Barry, Anaya and I always love spending time with you! We also would have liked to see you more, but sometimes that's just how Pennsic goes!

Absolutely, help yourself!

It's the only way! I tell everyone whenever I teach a class, it does 0 good to learn a technique from me. It won't work for them, unless they practice it until it's theirs.

Thanks! This one is still part of my regular pell routine!

You are Welcome!

Welcome! How exciting to be starting off on the Path of the Warrior. I'm going to point you in the direction of one of the deadliest two-sword fighters our sport has ever produced: do a youtube search for Duke Sven Randalson. His technique is not only effective for him, but many of his two-sword students have become knights or Royal Peers.

@@DietrichvonStroheim many thanks!

What kind of resources are you looking for? For tabata drills, there are several good free timer apps you can download to your phone. The creatively-named 'Tabata Timer' app is the one I use.

@@DietrichvonStroheim I was curious if you had any specific drills in regards to 8 shots/shot groups for single sword, longsword, and other weapon types. I have picked apart your videos emulating which ones I have been able to watch you do.

Tapata Drill #1 1.On-side head 2.Off-side head, to On-side head wrap 3.Off-side head, to On-side Body Wrap 4.Off-side Leg, to On-side head 5.Off-side body 6.Off-side head, to On-side Leg wrap 7. Rising On-side head wrap 8.Off-side Leg, to On-side head

nevermind lol i didnt here leg wrap

You tend to get diminishing returns on a combo beyond 3 strikes, or 4 at most. By that point, if you haven't gotten the job done yet with 3 shots, I generally recommend a defensive disengage. The shortcoming of a longer combo is it can devolve into flailing, and if your opponent has weathered the first few, they probably won't fall if you just keep swinging. Not only that, but you are at greater risk of a riposte/counterattack.

Thank you kindly! I'm thrilled to hear my longsword videos have been so helpful for your students!

Ahh that is the Simple Interval Timer app. You set it to how many sets, how long the exercise goes, and how long a rest between. In this case, 8 sets, 20 seconds activity, 10 seconds rest between.

These are Mylec Low Profile street hockey gloves. My favorite fighting gloves when used behind a basket hilt.

@@DietrichvonStroheim You are the very best, Sir.

Welcome to the Path! I'm glad my videos are helping you. Best of luck in your training!

I am definitely a proponent of using pells that squish. The joints are the first things to go, in our sport, and wood pells will tear them right up. Bobs are great!!

I am doing great, thank you! I've been semi retired from fighting since 2018...but have started to become more active again in the last year or so. And heh, I guess this video suggests I'm not out of the game quite yet :-)

You are absolutely correct!

Hahah, my 8-year old was the cameraman and I think I asked him the same question, although hopefully I was more polite about it

@@DietrichvonStroheim well in that case i sincerely apologize. I didnt mean to be rude.

@@tchr-gv1im It is completely ok, I just wouldn't have put it to my then-8 year old son like that. Now that he is 16 though, that might be a different story LOL

@@DietrichvonStroheim Ok, I am glad its fine :) time flies man... 8 years ago seems like yesterday. By the way I wanted to ask you, if you could maybe make a video for lefties. I am a left handed and find your videos very useful, but not everything is applicable. Maybe you have like a few tips or can show some advantanges, that left handes fighter can use :) that would we awesome

Let's see, here is a class I taught on how to fight off-handed fighters, that is equally applicable for lefty vs righty as righty vs lefty. It is on a Facebook group since Duke Timothy's squire filmed it. I think you should be able to view it, but if not, just ask permission to join the group and it should be accessible then: facebook.com/758878393/videos/10158726592753394/

Thank you! Wow, my son's voice in that video. This was so long ago, now he is driving in his first car I recently bought him and has his own job. I go WAAAY lighter on the pell than in combat--the point of the pellwork is to build smooth fluid muscle memory and program the ol' battle computer, not blow out the joints. A lot of my fighting style revolves around footwork. I actually taught a class on combat footwork at Duke Tim's practice in PA last weekend--it was uploaded to the group's facebook page.

@@DietrichvonStroheim Thanks for the response. I'm 50 now so not sure if I should get back into it. Your videos started popping up in my feed and it took me back 29 years or so to when I used to play. Super informative and inspiring. It really made me long for those rattan welts on the backs of my thighs! lol I'll look for the footwork video on FB. I dunno, if I ever make out east to Pennsic maybe I'll make it to your campfire. Congratulations for preparing your son for his own hero's journey, the boon of chariot and all. Best wishes to him and you.

That is one hell of a Day 1! Great job, and I'm glad to hear my lessons have been helpful for you. Best of luck to you in your training! --Dietrich

I use 1.25" shaved rattan. I look for rattan filled with helium and broken promises! LOL

Oh wow yeah I'd forgotten about this vid! That's not how I work out at all normally LOL. Other than pell work I usually do 2 gym trips per day. But, given how much the heat/humidity has drained me the last few events--no matter what kind of physical conditioning I've achieved--I'm working on a new regimen with a lot more outdoor HIIT training. Got to build up some better heat tolerance. And you are very welcome, I'm thrilled my videos have been helpful to you!

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy my videos. I've competed in Battle of the Nations duels so I'm familiar with the world you come from. To answer your question, in SCA fighting you can 'place the shield against the opponent to restrict his ability to attack or defend' but not actually strike with it. So shield manipulations? You bet. Crashing into someone and knocking them ass over tea kettle in a melee? Happens all the time. But Shield punches to the opponent's body/head/limbs Not allowed. I get a surprising amount of force on the reverse-punch sword strikes, because of the body mechanics I put into it. Although, it's totally ok if the shot hits and isn't hard enough, because it sets up some nice followup shots :-)