Armoured Combat
Why I Fight
I started playing around with armoured combat in 2002 as another area of the SCA
that seemed fun. At the time I was doing another martial art and that was still my main
fitness focus. Slowly over the years I've stopped my other martial art due to time constraints,
completed my armour and started practising armoured combat as my main form of exercise. Now I'm a
little fitter and I can move in my armour which all makes a big difference to my enjoyment.
Two Knights of Drachenwald visited the far distant shores of our fair Adamastor in April 2006. They inspired me immensely and since then I have upped my level of enthusiasm and practice a lot - hoping one day to not look like a lumbering whale while fighting one of them... one can hope! Armoured Combat is currently one of the main focuses of my time - particularly with a lot more bits and pieces to make and mend continuously.
I fight for fun. Sometimes it is nice to win as well.
What I Fight
I started fighting with two swords initially as I am a left hander and at the time I started
there were no workable left handed shields around - only right handed heaters. I am currently focusing
a lot on sword and sheild now that I have a sheild that I enjoy fighting with.
I initially completed a rather large left handed heater that I was given a while back. After
succeeding to do alright with that I've made myself a smaller Islamic style shield which I am enjoying a lot.
It can be seen in the Here Be Dragon's 2007 pictures at the
Adamastor Site and can be see in one
of the videos below. I have been training more sword and shield for the last while. I have a
vague interest in pole axe and great sword
as these use different techniques which it would be nice to master.
I am currently keen on finding more drills and practice routines that I can do - particularly on my own - as a large amount of my practice is not with other fighters. Any input on this or positive feedback on anything below is most welcome!
Videos
Below is a video of my fights at Yule AS LXII (December 2007). This was an interesting tournament for me
as I did not expect to be fighting due to the immenant arrival of my second daughter. That combined with
being a bit low on fitness and it being very hot despite the shade and starting after 4pm showed me that
mental preparedness does really make a difference to how you fight. I did not feel like I did too well mostly
because I didn't seem to be in the right mind space to think what to do... I don't win too much, but I still
seem to move okay so possibly that muscle memory is starting to take.
Below is a video of me fighting in the Here Be Dragon's tournament AS LXII (September 2007). This was a tournament run in the honour of the King at his request while I was in the Black Dragon Guard hence the tabard that I am wearing. It was a tournament à plaisance so lots of crests, heraldry and fun. Unfortunately my belt looks a tad on the white side against the black - it isn't meant to be but it is undyed leather. I hope to dye and decorate it soon - definitely before Yule.
Below are a couple of videos of me fighting Màel Duin at the Yule Tourney AS LXI (December 2006). I'm the one with the two swords. Màel Duin has only been fighting seriously for less that a year at this point and he made a good showing in the tourney as well.
I hope to place more videos of tournaments and practice here (or more likely on a linked page) in the future and show some positive progress.
My Fighting Memory Dump / Todo List
Currently I have a complete set of armour including helm but there is much still to be done...
| Armour repairs | One arm cop isn't letting my arm in deeply enough |
| Armour repairs | Left leg is not staying up perfectly |
| Armour repairs | Fix arming coif (torn) |
| Armour repairs | Clean Helm (stickyness left over from attaching crest) |
| Spare Set of Armour | Knees and elbows need beating - one arm beaten but needs rolling |
| Spare Set of Armour | Demi guantlets if needed |
| Gauntlets | Make up flat pack gauntlets |
| Great Sword | Finish hilt and make nice |
| Great axe | Make a new nicer one |
| Decorate armour and helm | Come up with a design and a plan to decorate armour in a period fashion. |
| Fix up Guntram's armour | It needs some fixing after so much use |
| Chainmail armour | Make parts of my armour chainmail so it is more period. Mostly body and head related. This has been order but not recieved yet. |
| Make bazuin style arms | They will be less consticting to fight in and more period. |
| So there is an end... I'm sure I'm missing lots | |
