Woof. I'm told that's a common Earth greeting. Google told me that "grove" (which is an approximate English translation for my last name) in Japanese is "Kodachi". It also told me that "Kodachi" means "shortsword". I like all manner of weapons, so I'll take it. I have issues with anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, gluten sensitivity, weight, bad joints, and figuring out what I can do about all the world's problems. I'm a CNC programmer and machinist, currently doing prototypes for a medical device company, and when I have the time and energy I make medieval armor. When my health issues permit I sometimes put on said armor with some friends and we hit each other with sticks.
Hello bro of jacktrash! I approve of both making armor and hitting people with sticks in a presumably safe manner.
Yah. I still want a shirt with that silhouette guy with a gun on a yellow background. I think the quote was "Medicated for your protection".
Sometimes the making of armor is not in a safe manner. I get a little blood on all my best creations; it's like the life tithe or something.
Cool beans. Do you do plate armour or chainmail or...? That's about all I know about armour. Oh wait, scale-mail is a thing, right? If all goes well in a couple of weeks I'm going to be learning how to hit people with sticks while carrying a big shield. And maybe hitting people with the shield too?
I mostly do plate. Mail takes too much time for what it's worth; good flattened and riveted mail is affordable now but it doesn't protect against impacts very well. I got some flat riveted titanium mail voiders (sections to cover armpits and insides of elbows left open by plate) just for looks, but I have yet to attach them to my gambeson (padded coat worn under armor). Scale is indeed a thing, as is lamellar. Scale is when small plates are attached to a something, while lamellar is when small plates are attached to each other. Which group are you hitting people with? I've been doing SCA, in which shield strikes aren't permitted. There are groups which do permit it but my body isn't up to it:
Here's the version that I do: I have had the privilege of taking fighting instruction from the narrator. He is very skilled both with the sword and with song. Edit: Some of his work: Crusader's Song - Words and Arrangement by Sir Conn MacNeill Chorus I'm for the Holy Land sailing To win back Jerusalem's walls I'm for the Holy Land sailing And i'll win a fortune or a martyr I'll fall As my ship sails out I watch the far coastline For leaving of kinsmen my heart is full pained And I've traded all for a cross on my shoulder No land for a third son, so I'm away Chorus As I look around me at the men on the benches Their eyes are like mine so I know their heart's pain I sing them a song of bravery and battle And now their eyes shine liek their keen polished blades Chorus I followed King Richard to Sicily Island For Johanna's dowry 'gainst Tancred prevailed Now a fortune in silver and a new wife have Richard And I've a swift horse and a new coat of mail Chorus At landfall in Cyprus they refused Barengaria And Richard in anger has answered in steel Now the crown of Cyprus he's added to England And I've added knighthood's gold spurs to my heels Chorus I followed the Banner to battle at Acre And held it aloft when its bearer was slain Now we've given Richard a tower of the city He's given me rank and a full captain's pay Chorus At Arsouf on the coastline we met with the Paymin We won the battle though many were slain And one was a Baron with lands that need tending Now they are mine and I'll tend them well Chorus Now I sit in court over Christian and Muslim And I've a strong keep and soldiers ten-score King Richard's army has sailed back to England And I've said farewell for I'll see them no more For I'm in the Holy Land staying To guard my own castle walls I'm in the Holy Land staying For I've won my fortune so farewell to all http://bertransbardicnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/01/crusaders-song-words-and-arrangement-by.html
This one! It's technically a hiking/camping group but really it's just a bunch of people doing fantasy-type things in real life. So there've been a bunch of archery meetups as well, and now since one of our members has an interest in making things and hitting people, there's this. Those battles in the SCA video look fun! Have you ever been in one? Is it a lot different from one-on-one combat?
The SCA battles are a lot of fun. I think the happiest moment of my life was slugging it out at Pennsic in the rain and mud at the brink of exhaustion, but maybe it was just an endorphin rush. Pennsic: Yes, it is a lot different from one on one: Melee is largely about hitting someone who isn't paying you enough attention while attempting to prevent others from doing the same to you. Intimidation also plays a significant part, making people hesitate and focus on you so that your friends can hit them from the other direction. Singles is more like a combination of contortion, bloody knuckles, and speed chess. Strength and stamina are very important in both.
