Best. Exercise. EVER.

[JoitheArtist]

So tonight I started a new class. I have to drive an hour and a half in traffic to get there, but it's worth it.

Medieval German longsword fighting.

I hurt in new and interesting ways now, but that class was FANTASTIC. Also, swords, WOOT!

[ArcticChicken]

I hate you so much right now. Where's a jealousy smiley when you need one?

[Crossbow]

WooHoo! Sounds like fun.

Just don't take your exercise routine to work with you.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Yeah, sword fighting is an awesome workout. SCA?

Just make sure you spar with your off hand as well. Guys that have been doing sword for years have had their muscles develop asymmetricly like fiddler crabs.

[Salted Grump]

Amusingly, German fencing schools, in general, joked that their books on various styles were basically 'how to cheat in a fight, and win' manuals. Even showed how to wrestle someone to the ground and be in a position to stab and get up without assistance.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Ahh hell, let's go nuts. Swords for 48,000.

[Crossbow]

Yeah, sword fighting is an awesome workout. SCA?

Just make sure you spar with your off hand as well. Guys that have been doing sword for years have had their muscles develop asymmetricly like fiddler crabs.

You got it. Although I haven't donned armor in almost 20 years.

[draggar]

Are you in my area? PLEASE say yes!!

[ApolloSZ]

Woo another German long-sworder!!!! (Heavy or Rapier? - Two handed? MOAR information )

For an even better work out, get some gauntlets. Doubles as weights, and hand protection (depending on the guard of the sword you are using - mine has simple straight quillions.)

In my case they improved my fighting too, as I became "A tad more aggressive" as one fellow fighter put it.

RK - I won't have to worry about the Fiddlercrab dangers lol. I start two handed, and can monkey grip it one handed when I loose an arm - The thing that annoys others is I'm ambidextrous in Fencing.

[JoitheArtist]

Yeah, sword fighting is an awesome workout. SCA?

Just make sure you spar with your off hand as well. Guys that have been doing sword for years have had their muscles develop asymmetricly like fiddler crabs.

Not SCA: they take things waaaaay too seriously for my taste. but thanks for the tip about switching hands, that's good to know!

Amusingly, German fencing schools, in general, joked that their books on various styles were basically 'how to cheat in a fight, and win' manuals. Even showed how to wrestle someone to the ground and be in a position to stab and get up without assistance

Which is why I wanted to learn this style, not some poncy fencing crap. You win battles by "cheating."

Woo another German long-sworder!!!! (Heavy or Rapier? - Two handed? MOAR information )

Heavy, two-handed! I'll send you a PM with a link to the class website since that will probably have more specific info than I do at this point!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

That's why I like knife fighting, which we've done on occasion at practice (and rarely, in special tourneys and whatnot). Nothing poncy about knife fighting, especially "gypsy" style. It's fast, brutal, and nasty.

I fence, but I'd rather fight with nothing more than a knife and some adrenaline.

[ApolloSZ]

Hey now y'all. We don't 'cheat'. We just like to get back to our beer as quickly as possible. XD If this involves... questionable practices... well our opponents won't be complaining now will they

RK - We are practicing some German knife fighting aswell - "Gypsy" style sounds like it'd be a fast jabbing style?

[jedimaster91]

I would so take a class like that if one was offered in my area. Any chance you can hook a Kentucky gal up? Pretty pretty please? *puppyface*

[RecoveringKinkoid]

"Gypsy" style is where you have a length of rope and bind each combatant's off-hand wrist to each end of it. Gaining control of the slack in the rope means you can jerk your opponent into your blade, throw him off balance, and bind his hands as you attack him by suddenly letting the rope go slack and whipping it over his weapon hand. All while he's trying to do the same thing to you. Nasty.

Jedimaster, I can probably find an SCA group in your area, if you want.

[jedimaster91]

Is that what it's called? Woo! *wanders off to Google*