Safety/waiver/ contact info
HOLD!/Marshals
Sign a waiver
Fill out contact info
Emphasize that you are not limited to sword and shield. Outside of training you can use whatever style you wish. Sword and shield is a means for us to train you on the basics.
If you would rather pick things up along the way instead of in a structured manner, then don’t take the classes. Don’t attend if you’re really not interested in learning. They’re strictly voluntary. You can walk away at any time. With that said, we have a lot of good information and drills as well as a dedicated staff to help you learn the basics.
When HOLD! Is called: -Stop what you’re doing -Say “HOLD!” -Be quiet and take a knee.
A marshal or officer will check why the hold was called. When “Positions” or “Resume” is said, take whatever status you had prior to the hold. The marshal or officer will call “Lay on” and fighting will continue. Marshals are identified by yellow tabards. Point out or demonstrate.
Fill out waiver -Equipment needed: waivers, clipboard, pens
Fill out contact info. -Equipment needed: sign in sheet, clipboard, pens -At minimum, name, email, phone #
Orientation
Belegarth
-Realm
-War Council
-Officers
Wolfpack
-Members/dues
-Officers elected every semester
-RSO
Garb
Sportsmanship and hit taking
Belegarth Medieval Combat Society
>-National organization with members throughout the country.
>-The smallest level of organization is the realm which is normally established geographically
>-Belegarth is run by War Council, which is made up of established realms. Rule and organization changes are voted on by War Council.
>-Five corporate officers: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Webmaster
Wolfpack of the High Plains
> Is a registered student organization known as the ISU Medieval Combat Club
> Three officers:
> President (Warlord)
> Vice.-president (Lieutenant)
> Secretary/Treasurer (Scribe)
> Member dues are $5 per semester. This goes to purchasing weapon building supplies, administrative supplies, and for holding events. Also entitles person to vote during semester.
> Officers elected by dues-paid members every fall and spring semester.
Garb-We wear garb to help identify us as a medieval combat society instead of a bunch of people hitting each other with sticks. It’s not very difficult to make basic garb. If you see something you like, there are many people in Wolfpack who would be willing to show you how to make it.
Sportsmanship and hit taking
> Be a good loser.
> Until you’ve been fighting for a while, take everything that touches you. EVERYTHING. It’ll help you develop a sense of what is a good hit and what isn’t.
> If you’re confused about what happened, just take a death. You’ll be up in a few minutes anyway.
> Don’t take it personally if someone calls you dead.
> DON’T ARGUE WITH THE MARSHALS!!!!!
> Come in here with the attitude of wanting to learn, not wailing on the other person.
Recommended equipment
Kneepads
Cup/chest protector
Gloves
Equipment needed: examples of gloves, cup/chest protectors, kneepads
Kneepads
-Will save a lot of wear and tear on your knees. Some recommended types are:
-Volleyball
-Rollerblading
-Wrestling
Cup/chest protector
-The groin and breasts are legal targets in Belegarth.
Gloves
-Swinging a weapon generates a lot of friction on your hands. Gloves can prevent blisters and raw spots as well as soften blows on your hands, depending on type.
-Recommended types:
-Period gauntlets
-Motocross or paintball gloves (try to remove or cover the modern logos)
-Martial arts gloves especially MMA.
-Weightlifting gloves for additional wrist support
Rules
10-15 minutes max
-Safety
-Target zones
-Weapon classes
-Missiles
-Armor
-Shield bashing
-Grappling
Warm-up
Stretches
-Neck, wrists, arms, shoulders, upper body, lower back, groin, quads, hamstrings, hamstrings, knees, calves, ankles, feet
-Warm up (TBD)
Stances
Square
Fencing
Staggered
-Square
-Both feet facing opponent
-Not stable if shield bashed from front
-No “tell” to opponent
-Fencing
-Foot pointing at opponent, back foot forming “T”
-Not stable if shield bashed from the side
-Staggered
-Feet approximately shoulder-width apart, shield leg (or weapon leg in advanced styles) forward
-Stable to front and sides
Grips
Pommel
Saber
Pommel/saber
Fist
Flat vs. edge check
-Pommel
-You may see some veterans do this. Not recommended yet. Yields additional range and control.
-Makes pommel break down faster.
-Saber
-Thumb in line with hilt
-Weapon more likely to be knocked out of the hand.
-More control along axis of weapon
-Thumb more vulnerable to being hit
-Pommel/saber—using a saber grip around the pommel. Advanced technique.
-Fist
-Most stable
-Thumb less likely to get hit
-Good for learning the basics
-Flat vs. edge.
Be aware of the edges and flats of your weapons.
A quick check: Using the fist grip, attempt to move your thumb up until you come in contact with the sword blade.
If you encounter resistance, then you’re probably not holding the sword right. If your thumb comes in contact with the flat of the sword, then you’re holding it properly.
Basic attacks
Assign numbers
Flow
Drills
-Assign numbers
-1 to opponent’s left shoulder
-2 to right shoulder
-3 to left side
-4 to right side
-Flow: going from one attack to the next in a smooth fashion
-Repetition of 1/2/3/4
-Rhythm during drills
-Will have to introduce additional numbers in Session III.
Control
Put weapon where you want it to go
Speed and power later
Accuracy
Flat vs. edge
Drills
-Going slow-you have to teach your muscles as well as your brain how to control the weapon and put it exactly where you want it to land.
-Speed and power will come later as your body gets used to making the motions and you require less conscious effort to make an attack.
-Accuracy—Visualizing where you want the sword to land and then telling your body to put it there.
-Drills:
-Repeating numbers. One fighter throws a shot. The other fighter blocks. Then the other fighter throws the same shot. The fighters will do each number in sequence. All shots will be done at half speed.
Forming combos
Call out numbers
Talk about good follow ups vs. awkward
Drills
-Combo: Attacks chained together
-Drills
-1,2,3,4
-2-hit combos (1/2; 2/1; 1/4; 2/3; 3/1; 2/4)
-3-hit combos (2/3/2; 1/3/2; 2/3/4; 2/1/3)
-1/3 & 2/4 can be a little bit awkward due to the arc distance you have to travel. Practice.
-Repeating numbers drill w/combos. 1,2. Other fighter…1,2…
Wrap up
Stances
4 Basic attacks
Combos
Grips
-Stances
-Square
-Fencing
-Staggered
-Grips
-Pommel
-Saber
-Modified saber
-Fist
-Basic attacks
-1/2/3/4
-Combos
1. Safety/waiver/contact info
2. Orientation
3. Recommended equipment
4. Rules not covered in detail
5. Warm up
6. Stances
7. Grips
8. 4 Basic attacks
9. Control
10. Forming combos
11. Wrap up