tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35969737726937606392024-02-07T18:08:13.382+00:00The European Historical Combat GuildArtcles, research, thoughts and news relating to the Guild and Western Martial Arts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-23538070298591506762021-01-22T15:04:00.004+00:002021-01-22T15:04:39.223+00:00An art is an expression of the time that created it<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">An art or a system is the product of the time that it was
created and evolved in.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is an expression of what those that created it thought
was important to survive and thrive in the context that it was intended for.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The framework they
give it will be based upon and expressed through how they and their culture understood
the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They were of course still operating under the influence and
effects of the world the same as we do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a culture before modern physics, but where the concepts relating
to the physical world were expressed, these may well be used to communicate or
support those Principles and Concepts contained in the system.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It can be hard for us now to understand things from a time
before. We are seeing with a different baseline of how the world is. Both more
and less naive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if we hold
that our modern understanding of the world gained by a more refined grasp of
the sciences, is true, those rules would have been affecting the people in the past
as well. Even if the people then did not have the ways to frame that understanding.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For example, now have a deeper understanding of Physics and Physiology.
We can study an action with a set of tools that the practitioners of the past
did not possess.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That can be both a benefit and a curse. A curse because we cannot
truly unsee these things. It, further distances us from them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, whether we have more tools at our disposal or not.
We have to ask the question does that really matter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While I may have a “better” understanding of the rules of
biomechanics, time, and motion and so on, it does not mean I can impart he
skills of a martial art any better to a student. Nor can they understand it better?
Because, although this understanding is part of the make up of our culture,
that does not mean it has a deep personal impact or meaning. Most people are
experiential, and we as guides to a new skill, have to find those we work with,
where their experience lies and build from there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is an old trope that people of the past thought the
world was flat. However, people have known the world was round for tens of
centuries. Does that mean everyone understood the word was round? Heck, we even
no have people who think the world is flat and who try to use modern science to
prove it!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, we have to ask, how useful to most people in the
past was this information? They had no experience of it, nor did it add to
anything to their lives, as such it made no difference. So its truth was not
useful.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, what do we need to understand about the grasp of the world,
people of the past had?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We need to consider and grasp what they thought was important.
What they express in the words they leave us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For example, George Silver says there are True and False
times, that The True times are Time of the hand, Hand body, Hand Body Foot and
Hand Body Feet. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is not important whether these may or may not be “True”
in a modern scientific sense; even if we can interpret them clearly enough to
allow us to assess that in the modern sense. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We also need to recognise that it may not have been thought True
then; I am not suggesting this is the case but making an example.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What we do need to recognise<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is that those ideas were held to
be True by Silver when he wrote his work. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why? Because he used those terms and ideas to get people to
understand his Practice and why it worked and why it was better, in his opinion,
than those of others.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This does imply that his expected audience would recognise
and accept these concepts with the frame of their understanding. Or that the use
of these ideas would be influential to the audience he hoped to attract.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We need to consider that what we are studying is a product
of its time. We need to think Holistically about the time, how it thought about
the world and how it thought about its own past. We can use concepts from our
time us practice the analyse these things. But we must not lose sight that
while many things have remained the same Others have changed markedly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, the purpose, to convey ideas is one that still holds
a place now, even if who we do it has changed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also that the motivations to do so may well carry through to
the present day as well. Notoriety, fame, influence, ego etc.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-16767590322905169332021-01-16T21:00:00.004+00:002021-01-16T21:00:44.282+00:00Interpreting your interpretation <p>Some thoughts and considerations in part sparked by recent discussions
of an oft debated source in the history or European Martial arts, and no I am not
going to talk about who it is, though you might guess.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>How do we interpret the effectiveness of our interpretation?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First or all we are all interpreting a system, whether the
system is living or dead, we are interpreting through our own mentally,
physicality and a host of other factors. When we have a teacher, they can guide
us and perhaps lets us know when we are heading in an inappropriate direction, though
of course when we have a teacher we are interpreting, we are interpreting their
interpretation. This rabbit hole is another post if I have not done wone
already.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, let us consider some things we need to reflect on to
interpret our Interpretation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What are the sources for?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fighting? What is that? There are obviously different goals
for martial arts, and we need to be clear what those are. We need to know what those
goals are, what the source we are looking at is intended for and what we are
looking for in that source. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What we are looking for colours what we see, and we will
interpret what we are looking at through he lens of what we are looking for.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now while we can say fighting, as if it were one encompassing
thing. However, a system is a summation of the things the person who created
thought was important to function and succeed in combat, fighting, the goal
they intended it for. So really a system is a preservation of those things, it
is not about success in fighting, for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What is this source aimed at?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, we need to consider what the source we are looking at is
aimed at. What problems is it claiming to solve, explicitly or implicitly. We also need to consider time and context, place etc. they will all
effect the system that creates it. Are we matching the source to our approach?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What does the source say?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Obviously, we need to understand what the source is saying.
What are the key concepts and Principles of the system? If the system says we should
only do X when Y happens, then we need to recognise that and only do X when
happens otherwise we are contradicting the system.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We also need to remember that a source will sell itself and the
person who created it. A source will say it is the best for solving a problem
that of course may or may not be true. Unfortunately, many systems do not address
this with examples of being of them being used, or when they do, they are often
self-referential. So, it hard to be sure how effective it was. Just because the
source survived, does not of itself mean it was s effective. Regardless, a
system is only as effective as the people saying they use it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Is the Source Unique or does it claim that it is? </b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many systems claim themselves to be part of a wider school
or lineage, others makes claims of being different to all the rest, others make
claims of being "New".<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now the veracity of those clams is less important than they
are actually made. If the source is saying it doing something different, I need
to make my interpretation with that in mind, especially when they are
expressing ideas that are an outlier to the others of the time and in wider
context.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Are we doing what the source says or are we “fighting”?</b> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Neither is wrong as such, unless we are claiming we are doing the system when we are not<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the system says we should fight this way, then if we are
doing that system, we should fight that way. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If I am ignoring the approach of the system, I might be
highly successful as a fighter, but I am not doing the system, my success as a fighter
says nothing about the effective of the system or my interpretation of it
unless I can show to be doing what I say I am doing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Do we know that the source was actually conveying an
effective approach to the problem?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Too often it is treated as self-evident that because a
source is from a period where people used the sword for example to fight for
their lives that it means any system that survives from that time is inherently
effective. </p><p class="MsoNormal">However we do not know that. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Especially if the source claims itself to
be different and outlier, new or unique. Even with more popular and widespread
a system may be, just means it was good at surviving in the market and sustaining
itself. In the modern world we cannot judge the effectiveness or validity of a
system based upon how popular it is, number of students, number of schools or how
present in the wider consciousness of the society it is.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>When we do what we say we are doing, is that congruent with
what we say it is?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My interpretation of the concepts and Principles of the
system may be a good interpretation. However, is my physical application of
those things in line with what I say they are or should be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Just because I say I am doing something does not mean I am
actually doing it?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just because I or others claim I am doing the system, am I
really. I have seen skilful fighters, who claim they were doing system X, they
stood in a stance of system X they had their fight, which was utilising g
system Y and then when they had won, were standing in a stance of system X.
Look at how effective system X is!! Most vocally the supporters of system X.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Just because we say the same thing does not mean we are
doing the same things?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lots of systems say similar things or the same things. Yet
there can be a huge variation in how those things are executed in practice. Two
systems talk about economy of motion, one does something in one move, the other
in three. Wing Chun, and the various spellings etc, talk about similar
concepts, use artefacts like Chi Sau to train them they produce a huge variety
of results,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>How do we test our interpretations effectiveness? </b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Success in free play, competitions? Maybe? But are those
things a valid analogue of the intended goal of the original system? A practitioner
of that system may be applying as correctly as possible the Principles of the
system. However, they may fail in the modern analogues available. This may be
because the analogue is not an effective representation, the fighter themselves
is not skilled or experienced enough to makes what they know succeed in the
analogue, or the system itself is flawed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Conclusion</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have to constantly ask questions of what we are doing what
we think we are doing, what and how we look at things. We also need to vigorously
assess how we think about and verify what we are doing. This becomes more
important when we make claims about what we are doing being based upon a source.<o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-84115398516808605962020-04-12T21:09:00.003+01:002020-04-12T21:09:42.082+01:00Lock down catch upWho would of thought (actually quite a lot of people actually, ut that's another thing)... that we would be sat here in lockdown, during a modern plague.<br />
<br />
Something from the past that we have now been exposed to, something the practitioners of old would have been exposed to on a pretty regular basis.<br />
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As with many people, Im planning to use this to make more of out thoughts available here on the blog and on the website.<br />
<br />
Looks to see more stuff coming.<br />
<br />
Keep well and stay safe.<br />
Above all honour<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-42334682912572187762020-02-16T15:38:00.001+00:002020-02-16T15:38:12.609+00:00ehcg.net working againWe are glad to say that the Guild website, ehcg.net is working again.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Go here <a href="http://www.ehcg.net/" target="_blank">Guild Website</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-57439687684653052092020-02-09T14:53:00.003+00:002021-01-16T21:04:21.033+00:00Failure, expertise and time<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"The one thing that all expertise theorists agree on is that it takes enormous effort to build" the expert mind, either in the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px;">realm of chess or in another discipline, Ross states. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">In the process, "motivation appears to be a more important factor than</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">innate ability.... The preponderance of psychological evidence indicates" that professionals with outstanding skills, in short, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px;">"are made, not born."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Research indicates that the key "is not experience per se but 'effortful study</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">,'" according to Ross. Such study involves learning and practice that entail "continually tackling challenges that lie just beyond one's competence." </span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">In other words, Lewinski explains, as you gain in ability, "the bar is constantly moved higher so that your skill level must keep stretching and improving to reach it."</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br />The brief goes to say later:<br />"Instead of departmental policies and priorities that encourage mediocrity, we need a training philosophy that encourages, nurtures and guides the development of expertise. It's what the community expects and deserves."<br /></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">If you have the burning drive of a 5%er, determined to maximize your Skills regardless of obstacles, understand that "in the early stages, effortful study is very difficult," Lewinski says. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"Pushing your limits inevitably involves a lot of failure. When you fail, you need to back off a bit, learn to correct your weaknesses, and build your way back up."</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br />"To get really, really good takes time. Be patient with yourself, because you need that time for your training and experience to evolve into mastery."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-25330418215680846382020-01-19T11:27:00.001+00:002020-01-19T11:27:29.204+00:00Website up and running againSo after much hassle with the site hosts, the Guild website is up and running again<br />
<br />
The job of rebuilding th site from scratch has begun, but is a slow process. Also much of the old content was mislaid or disappeared.<br />
<br />
We are also updating the content the last over haul of the Guild site was 10 years ago and much has changed since then.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ehcg.net/" target="_blank">Go to the Guild site ehcg.net</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-68824636421029404512019-03-23T18:18:00.001+00:002019-03-23T18:18:15.799+00:00If it could have happened, how would it have happened?After John Waller's death many people obviously remembered things that he had said and done that had an impact on their livers and how they thought about things.<div>
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<div>
This one was from Guy Wilson, former Master of the Royal Armouries and Johns friend and colleague for many years.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
As John and he worked together on many projects, the films, How a Man Schall be armyed, Masters of Defence and the building and setting up of the purpose built museum in Leeds and all that entailed.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Guy was remembering that in the quest to attempt to understand and to understand and bring history to life we needed to ask this question...</div>
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<br /></div>
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That it was an ongoing question, that one can not continue to question what we know and what we believe about the the answers we have.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Others may do that but evenn iof they don't we should questions it ourselves.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The renowned archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler, an influence on John in his youth from his appearances on television amounsgt others things, said that any theory he had, if not challenged by others after some time, then he needed to challenge it himself.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
We can not be too certain of what we know, with any subject, and especially when dealing with one separated from us in time or about which we may have little or small amounts of information.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
More worrying than not knowing something is being too certain of what we think we know.</div>
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If it could have happened, how would it of happened.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-11303848122280489722019-03-23T14:39:00.001+00:002019-03-23T14:39:28.241+00:00A yearA year...<div>
As near as. </div>
<div>
John Waller Guild Master died shortly after the last post here. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So a number of other things have gotten in the way. However other things have happend as there is always the opertunity for new things... Until there isn't. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So hopefully new things will be happening soon. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Above all honour. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-53435218850989971502018-04-13T16:13:00.000+01:002018-04-13T16:13:10.400+01:00Roman caestus found at Vindolanda One for the pugilists.<br />
Two leather caestus of twork different types found preserved at the auxiliary fort f Vindolanda...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/19/rare-roman-boxing-gloves-found-hadrians-wall" target="_blank">ARTICLE IN THE GUARDIAN HERE:</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-92000756680141195792015-10-01T16:52:00.001+01:002015-10-01T16:52:36.753+01:00Happy Slapping 19th Century styleNot much new under the sun, happy slapping 18th Century fashion....<br /><a href="http://www.madamegilflurt.com/2015/09/sweating-with-mohocks.html?m=1" target="_blank">Sweating amongst the Mohocks</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-49284022599200453432015-06-26T17:38:00.003+01:002015-06-26T17:38:54.191+01:00Ethics in HEMA/Swordsmanship<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Guy Windsor asked some questions in his blog asking for replies you can find my streamed answers below.<br />You may want to add your own replies to guys blog <a href="http://guywindsor.net/blog/2015/06/ethics/?fb_action_ids=10153436206677354&fb_action_types=news.publishes" target="_blank">HERE</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
1) When is it ok to stab someone in the face with a sword?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
When they are trying to stab you or someone in need of protection or assistance, in the face with their sword or other life threatening object.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
2) What is the one thing you find most useful about swordsmanship training outside the salle?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Not sure I can qualify it down to one thing. Also I have in effect been doing this my whole life and without sounding too grand, I make no distinction of in or out of places where one is specifically training.. to me it's all degrees. The Principle or Principles that would be the most important, and to me they are flip sides of the same coin would be Awareness/Intent</div>
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3) How important is history to you in your practise of swordsmanship?</div>
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History is important for everything in my opinion , you can not truly know where you are unless you know from whence you came., whether as an individual, a society/culture or as a species. Given that the practice of historical martial skills is the resurrection of dead arts, without striving to make sense of the historical context that created them means that one is dealing with.... a zombie for lack of a better metaphor</div>
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4) Can a duel settle a matter of honour?</div>
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First define honour! <i class="_4-k1 img sp_fM-mz8spZ1b sx_7f72ac" style="background-image: url(https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/yx/r/pimRBh7B6ER.png); background-position: 0px -442px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">wink emoticon</u></i> The define the ways it can be attacked or diminished and then the ways that it would be ok to defend or regain those notions of honour. Perhaps If one can define what it is then it may be possible to deal with in the infringement of ones personal honour by someone else who shares that view point with a physical contest. From my feelings of honour, and in the modern world we live in I find it hard to reconcile a notion of honour with a physical contest, of a duel, which is a Monkey Dance (see Rory Miller) with cultural trappings layered on in am attempt to make it more acceptable. In the Historical context I can understand the aspects that drove people to duel, as notions of self defence , or the defence of self then encompassed both he notion of defending ones physical self and well being and the self by which you identified yourself and held your position in society. To quote from El Cid, "Can a man (person) live without honour?" Perhaps and perhaps not but then the question is At what point can anyone other than yourself be held responsible for it or harming it. It is my thesis that when people talk about matters of honour it s not to do with personal honour but rather social reputation. One then also needs to consider the social aspect that produces the notion of reputation/honour</div>
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5) Can violence be beautiful?</div>
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Define Violence and define beauty, then define the context within which those aspects are taking place. The violence of nature, a storm, raging seas or rivers can have a beauty when viewed from the outside. The appreciation of the beauty can soon disappear once inside it or on the receiving end of it. But then we have to consider how one is accustomed to the nature fo the violence were discussing. I would put forward that aspects of the physicality of violent actions etc can have a beauty of efficiency and effect in the notion of how it neutralises the danger, threat or situation. But if we are discussing the violence in the sense of what it actually does to other living beings, and leaving then broken maimed or dead, and ourselves and our surrounding covered in the gore a bodily fluids.... if we find that beautiful.... well what does that make us</div>
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6) To what extent is the practice of swordsmanship the cultivation of virtue?</div>
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First define virtue or rather virtues. The practice of any skill, especially one that involves person risk will or should cultivate discipline and awareness, and a clarification of Intent amongst other things, if only in the field being studied. Whether that bleeds over and affects the individual outside of the field will depend on the individual.</div>
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7) Is the study of ethics necessary for martial artists?</div>
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The consideration of ethics is something we as humans should all do. As people developing the skills and mindsets for harming, crippling and killing people then it is of even more importance, for if we don't then we are just playing at it like fantasists playing make believe. There is the argument put forward that not all the arts we study were intended with such serious goals, but even then if we do not consider the actuality of the game that were are playing then we are just as bad.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-79008081937137684582015-06-26T15:37:00.003+01:002015-06-26T15:43:56.005+01:00William Cavendish transcription available<br /><br />Thanks to Dave Rawlings of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSwordLondon">London Longsword Academy</a> for transcribing and making available Cavendish's work for, I believe, the first time<br /><br /><a href="http://londonlongsword.com/cavendishintro.pdf">http://londonlongsword.com/cavendishintro.pdf</a><br /><br /><a href="http://londonlongsword.com/cavendishmaintext.pdf">http://londonlongsword.com/cavendishmaintext.pdf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-80531717459590374982015-03-12T21:03:00.000+00:002015-03-12T21:03:18.919+00:00Problems With website The Guild website is experiencing some issues,<br />
If you need to contact anyone in the Guild you can contact me via secretary at ehcg dot net<br />
<br />
JonathanUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-65995387973915986162015-02-18T07:58:00.000+00:002015-02-18T07:58:16.481+00:00More EyesThis is from the Japanese text The Sword and The Mind translated by Hiroaki Sato<div>
This work is a synthesis of the ideas of 3 swordsmen of the 16th in to the 17th Centuries, Hidetsuna, Muneyoshi and Munenori</div>
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"Give special attention to the movement of your opponent's eyes. It is even said that you must make it your own. Unless you can follow your opponent's eye movements with absolute calm, whatever you may have learned about sword handling will be of no use."</div>
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While one could apply a more open or vague interpretation to this, for me the intent is pretty clear.<br /><div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-75489457270025790762015-02-14T09:25:00.000+00:002015-02-14T13:04:36.867+00:00Eyes on....This is from Matthew J. O'Rourkes A New System of Sword Exercise, with a manual of the sword for Officer (1872)<br />
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In making the cuts, care should be taken to extend the arm, to keep the thumb on the back of the grip, to keep the hand well in front of the centre of the body, <b>and fix your eyes* steadily on those of your opponent.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
*many authors lay down the rule that their pupils shall "glance" at the part of the person they intend to direct a cut or point. The absurdity of this must be apparent to the merest tyro. To do this would be equivalent to giving a verbal notification to guard a certain place, and would would be utterly opposed to the vital principles underlying the entire practice. The great aim of those which desire to excel as swordsmen should b to so far disconnect th hand from the eye that the muscular movement of the one will have no perceptible effect on the other. This can only be acquired by long practice, and so great is the advantage to be derived from it that when swordsmanship was at its zenith , and the first gentlemen the world staked their lives in the skull and dexterity with which they could wield their swords, it was deemed the very acme of the art to be able to deliver a "pass" without any movement of the eyes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-64387498845975868522015-02-06T08:03:00.001+00:002015-02-06T08:03:08.068+00:00Obligations of Teacher and Scholar - A historical perspectiveOf Interest<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.spanishsword.org/documents/obligations" target="_blank">Obligations of Master and Student</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-75528692574599151392015-02-06T07:54:00.001+00:002015-02-06T07:54:16.962+00:00Skill set of English Masters of DefenceInteresting paper making an analysis of the skills of English Masters of Defence<br /><br /><a href="https://www.academia.edu/5388172/The_English_Fencing_Masters_Skill_Set_1547-1590_CE" target="_blank">The English Fencing Masters Skill Set 1547-1590</a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-18020576371783249672015-01-05T12:09:00.001+00:002015-01-05T12:09:46.004+00:00V&A Petition 2500 signed and counting....Nearly 2500 signatures.... if you are interested in Arms and Armour and haven't already please sign and share or share again...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.change.org/p/the-victoria-albert-museum-display-the-collection-of-european-arms-and-armour" target="_blank">Sign the Petition here....</a><br />
<br />
If the link doesn't wok here is the full address...<br />
<br />
https://www.change.org/p/the-victoria-albert-museum-display-the-collection-of-european-arms-and-armourUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-78989537159107158932015-01-05T12:07:00.001+00:002015-01-05T12:07:35.557+00:00Happy New year!Here is to a good one for us all.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-68416860324569888942014-12-05T11:41:00.002+00:002014-12-05T11:41:57.885+00:00Petition to redisplay the Arms and Armour at the Victoria and Albert MuseumThe V&A has a premier collection of arms and armour, which can not currently been seen by the public.<br />
Matt Easton has started an online petition to show the interest in seeing it again<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.change.org/p/the-victoria-albert-museum-display-the-collection-of-european-arms-and-armour/sponsors/new" target="_blank">Sign the Petition here;</a><br />
<br />
JonathanUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-77515420380913393612014-05-18T08:14:00.004+01:002014-05-18T08:14:52.484+01:00Protective gear and what it can do to how you perform...Back on this subject! There are a number of discussions going on about this, and a few "names"have recently come out in favour of training with minimal or no protection, there is a growing number of people doing this. This post was originally written some weeks ago...<br />
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I read not long ago on a FB thread, someone saying that they had done some fencing recently. Announcing that is followed the "Safety Last" format which I took to be at least a slight dig at the on going moves by some to fence and spar in minimal no additional protective gear.<br />
Having said that it was fun and interesting he then pointed out that he lost by a certain number of points but then put that down in part to the lack of protective gear making him fence cautiously.<br />
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Aside from the idea that had the weapons been sharp and the intent to kill or maim, then he may have lost even sooner, with few hits against him, I was struck again by the obvious disconnect revealed by the statement.<br />
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At what point would one not expect fight with sharp and potentially deadly weapons not to be carried out cautiously. Certainly in comparison to safe sparring and certainly where one was accustomed to wearing protective clothing.<br />
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The second disconnect for me was while acknowledging that the cautiousness was caused by difference between the normal and the new one but then not seeming to recognise or acknowledge that the current approach was at fault, instead rather blaming the way it had been most recently tested it, the one closer to the actual experience being trained for.<br />
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I'll try not to sound like a broken record;<br />
<ul>
<li>If you are training for un-armoured fighting then you should fight un-armoured,</li>
<li>If you want to spar/fence/free fight (as opposed to training specific actions that may require protection), but do not have the confidence to do so with out adding lots of protective equipment then seriously consider whether you are at a level of skill to be considering free-play in the first place.</li>
<li>Remember that how you train conditions you on a deep level for what you expect to actually happen.</li>
<li>Don't forget that the mind set with the real potential for danger is going to be markedly different from when you feel safer. </li>
<li>Remember to not confuse the built in flaw (the things one does so you and others don't get broken in training) for reality.</li>
</ul>
The comment in the thread sounded like someone who was shocked that having inly ever driven a car around an empty parking lot, suddenly stating their driving was worse when they drove on a busy street for the first time, because it made them more cautious and then kind of blaming the busy street.<br />
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We should bare in mind.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Wearing protective gear can not but change how you approach a dangerous situation.</li>
<li>Our forebears seem to have conducted training unprotected, at least when training for unprotected fighting.</li>
<li>The Guild advocates unprotected training as the main method.</li>
<li>If you feel that you can not train without protective gear, then look at what you are doing and how you are doing it. Or think on the skill level you have and what you are expecting to do.</li>
<li>Just because most people want to play sword tag, doesn't mean it is the only or best way to train.</li>
</ul>
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Be safe be sensible be real.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-462162667456316192014-02-01T09:16:00.000+00:002014-02-01T09:16:00.756+00:00A Case of mistaken IdentityDon't mistake hard and fast, for "liveness" or pressure testing.<br />
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One can see people doing drills and exercises, generally with some protection, sometimes only minimal levels of protection, doing drills hard and fast.<br />
It can look impressive. the speed and force being used makes it look exciting and creates a sense of<br />
"Reality" ©™®.<br />
<br />
However look beyond that....<br />
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<ul>
<li>Look at the distancing, are launching the attack out of distance? </li>
<li>Look at the timing, is the responder anticipating the attack they "know" is coming? </li>
<li>Look at the attack, is there a wind up that serves as the feed cue for the responder or is it bigger than it should be to give the responder time to make it work? </li>
<li>Look at the preparations of both, are they maintaining an appropriate focus and transition into and out of the exercise or is switch on switch of? Do they both take time to "settle" before the actions or is their a continuous transition through Approach, Close and Entry</li>
<li>Look at the actual energy being used, is it forceful but stopping at the point of contact? Or is the responder actually dealing with or redirecting the continuous force?</li>
<li>Look at what happens after the "block" does the attacker just stop? Or do they stay present and "in the fight". Also how do both parties come out of the contact, do both stay present or do they switch off?</li>
<li>Look at the Protective equipment, are they using it to help them do the technique. Do you believe they would do the actions in the same way without the protection?</li>
</ul>
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If even one of this is faked without a clear and stated reason, then it really doesn't matter how Hard and Fast it seems, it's not any more "Real" ©™®. than a slow drill done with all of the above.</div>
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However we an be fooled hard and fast can seem real but really they are extras and are easy to use as fake sincerity especially when both parties have confidence. However confidence doesn't always correspond to competence and when it comes to creating an illusion or deceiving people as I was told... "Once you learn to fake sincerity, everything else is easy" </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-76655174992118727262013-12-31T15:40:00.001+00:002013-12-31T15:40:31.565+00:00Interpretation... or making stuff up?A short last post for 2013.<br />
This is one of a number of pieces that have been sitting in the Drafts folder, that I intend to get published as we enter the new year.<br />
I hope that you have all had a good 2013 and will have a better 2014...<br />
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I have seen some videos recently, and have again been reminded of the issue that comes back to the interpretation of sources...<br />
When a video is posted claiming to be an interpretation of some images from a MS. and then the live action shown. looks nothing like the images shown.<br />
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While I understand the idea extrapolating concepts, principles, tactics etc from techniques. However if one is going to show specific illustrations, I believe it holds that the moving interpretation you shown should contain moments where the illustrations are reflected.<br />
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For example is the MS shows the technique being done from behind someone who has been turned in the set up, then the "interpretation" shows a technique being done from the front of the opponent, then it really is not an interpretation but an extrapolation. The same thing with hand and foot positions, either do the action as illustrated and then explain why you can or may need to do it differently, or don't show the illustration.<br />
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Otherwise all I am seeing is stuff that has been made up claiming to be something it is not.<br />
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Of course once you have done a faithful interpretation of the technique etc. then show how it may be applied in different ways and under varying circumstances, but show it being done the original way first<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-33200363124232042013-12-05T15:11:00.004+00:002013-12-05T15:11:38.370+00:00Nature, influence, lineage The image below was shared on Facebook<br />
It has obvious connections to positions seen in the Works of Fiore dei Liberi, if you are familiar with them, you can see it.<br />
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Various comments arose, going over the areas of the universal nature of certain actions and positions due to the morphology of the human body, the nature of influence and transmission in the form of lineage or teaching and the concept of a pan European combat "style".<br />
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<img height="246" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Cod.11093_43r.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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I find it interesting that when similarities between actions in different cultures, for example medieval Japan and Medieval Europe are observed and highlighted the general response is... well because the human body is basically the same the world over... so it's not surprising that we will encounter things that look and/or operate the same way. However if someone suggests that their may be some connection via lineage or direct transmission...we consider then to be a bit strange.<br />
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Yet when the same thing is observed in a similar culture or time frame and where despite cultural differences there is over lap and similarities, the attitude often flips. Now people look for and suggest, linear transmission, direct influence... Now... if one is suggesting that the similarities could be down to morphology, and facing the same problems and having the same tools to solve them often producing similar results, is treated as a little strange!<br />
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I am not holding with any faction or view point, just airing an observation on the workings of the human mind.<br />
BestUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3596973772693760639.post-77044029606554498632013-08-10T13:56:00.004+01:002013-08-10T13:56:39.589+01:00Learning while you sleep....I have known for some time that the process of acquiring a new skill is a process of mapping it in to your nervous system, forming and strengthening the connections between the nerves, in the brain and to the muscles that make the action happen. I also knew that part of the efficiency of the nerves function is based upon the proteins that form the "insulation" to the nerves that insure that the signals the signals through the nerves are stronger and faster.<br />What I had not realised or thoroughly considered was the importance of sleep to this process. Research has shown that it is during sleep that this mapping takes place and when the proteins are produced.<br />
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<b>From Stages of Motor learning (2005) Andreas R. Luft and Manueel M. Buitrago</b><br />
<i>Successful learning of motor skill requires repetitive training... This article covers the growing evidence that motor skill learning advances through stages, in which different storage mechanisms predominate. the acquisitions phase is characterised by fast (within session) and slow learning (between sessions). For a short period following the initial training sessions, the skill is liable to interference by other skills and by protein synthesis inhibition, indicating that consolidation processes occur during rest periods between training sessions.</i><br />
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When you are practising a skill to acquire it your brain will be trying out different things to ascertain the best way to do them. As it finds things that work it then refines them. However to make lasting changes takes time and happens through a process know as <i>Consolidation. Consolidation </i>is taking place at all time, but appears to be most effective during sleep.<br />
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<b>It's Practice, with Sleep, That Makes Perfect: Implications of Sleep-Depnedant Learning and Plasticity for Skill Performance. (2005) Matthew P. Walker and Robert Strickgold</b><br />
<i>Practice is often believed to be the only determinate of improvement. Although repeatedly performing a new task often results in learning benefits, leading to the adage "practice makes perfect", a collection of studies over the past decade has begun to change this concept, Instead, these reports suggest that after initial training, the brain continues to learn in the absence of further practice, and that this delayed improvement develops during sleep.</i><br />
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The study concludes;<br />
<br />
<i>Although the functions of the sleeping brain remain uncertain, rapidly increasing literature now supports the role of sleep in modifying and improving memory These reports provide an abundance of converging evidence indicating that sleep dependant mechanisms of neural plasticity lead to skill memory consolidation and consequently to delayed performance improvements. Different forms of simple and complex skill memory appear to require subtly different types of sleep for overnight memory enhancement, and several studies indicate that within the first 24 hours following initial practice is essential for consolidation to develop.</i><br />
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More recent research suggests that for greatest effect one should sleep, even just a power nap, within four hours of practice, otherwise the body/brains ability to <i>consolidate</i> is impaired. It would seem in light of this that evening training sessions, if you then get to bed within four hours of finishing, is actually a good idea! ;)<br />
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<i>Interference </i>occurs when one doesn't sleep properly or within the suggested time, and the consolidation is inhibited has the brain is having to deal with more present issues, also as noted the production of the proteins involved takes place during sleep. Also if you practice or use another similar but conflicting skill soon after training it causes <i>Interference</i> of the consolidation process. It seems that four hours is the boundary line after which such practice won't cause <i>Interference</i>. If you can wait four hours until using the conflicting skill, then <i>interference</i> doesn't occur and if you can get a nap as well..... so much the better! ;)<br />
It should also be noted that once a skill has been acquired then both skills can used and practised with less or no effect<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1