Joseph all geared up and ready to go
Normally this blog is about me and my serious study—though a lot of other people seem to find it funny—of German Longsword. But today I have to tell you about my alter ego Joseph because he did some epic fighting on the weekend.
Joseph is the guy who poses for me in the pictures I put up on my blog. We look a lot alike actually except that my eyes are blue and his are brown, and we’ve had a similar story because he spent most of his first tourney running backwards too (though he didn’t trip over his own feet like I did) and now he’s a really good fighter. AS YOU WILL HEAR.
This weekend was the inaugural—aka first—WMAA (Western Martial Academies of Australia) tourney held in South Australia. It was organised by ASA (Adelaide Sword Academy) and GLECA (Glen Lachlann College of Arms) came over from Melbourne to help run it, and it was an epic day.
“Combatants FOCUS”
And Joseph, who turned 16 a week ago, was the youngest competitor there.
I would have liked to be there too but though I am 3 weeks older than Joseph Master Raske says I can’t compete in adult tourney until I have
- Learnt when and WHEN NOT to use my fighting skills,
- Acquired some more fighting skills and …
- Passed my squires test (which will involve achieving a and b)
(Catch Tilly—who writes this blog—says I could not have attended because I don’t technically exist in the same world but I think she is being narrow-minded, and anyway I had a Facebook page before she did so in the modern—aka virtual— world that means I have more reality than she does. Though I wouldn’t say it like that because that is rude and Master Raske says that a knight is always courteous.)
Joseph scores an early hit – cleverly outranging his opponent
But Joseph did go to the tourney and even though he lost two out of his first three bouts he still did well enough in points to scrape into the finals as number 8. Then he had to fight Tim Harris (who was ranked number one) because they do an 8 against 1 draw.
And I thought he was doomed.
The estimable Tim Harris, swordsman and swordsmith and gentleman of letters
They lined up against each other, Joseph in red and Tim in black (and a kilt because he’s a GLECAN and they have Scottish roots and also have the self-confidence and awesome martial prowess to not mind wearing a skirt).
And I wish I could remember exactly how the fight went, but I just expected Tim to annihilate Joseph (imagine Yoda fighting Jar-Jar-Binks but with less jumping around) and I wasn’t paying much attention.
And Tim did get the first shot in. But then Joseph started to defend himself really well. He’s got this double krumphau parry that his instructor Mark has taught him. (Mark is a lot like Master Raske and usually poses for him in the photos but Master Raske’s hair is shorter and he’s more serious though they are both awesome fighters). Anyway Joseph was parrying like anything, beating down Tim’s gut shots and then he got a head shot in.
And then Tim got another shot but so did Joseph and suddenly Joseph was ahead and I don’t think anyone could believe it.
And though there was some dramatic moments like when Joseph had to leap out of the way (which is where skill in running backwards does come in handy) and another time when he nearly lost his sword he stayed focused and in control and finally the score was 9 to 8.
And you have to get ten points and a head is worth three and a torso is worth two and an arm is worth one so even though Joseph was still ahead it was anyone’s game and if he made one mistake he would have been toast. And I think I would have played safe and tried to get an arm shot but that wasn’t Joseph’s way.
He went straight in, under Tim’s sword in a beautiful mittelhau and out again cleanly and the whole audience cheered because it was so cool and Tim took off his mask and clapped him on the shoulder and laughed because that was his signature move and that was the best way to lose a bout.
And Master Raske says that not only do you need good technique and timing to do that but also real guts and Joseph showed all three when he did that move.
And he wasn’t a bit surprised (and neither was I) when Joseph won the Combatants’ Choice award for the coolest move of the day. I was super impressed by the sportsmanship and chivalry that all the adults showed – the way they generously welcomed Joseph in – and I think the fighters of ASA and GLECA are true knights.
The Combatants Gathered
Joseph receiving his award.
In the words of Tim Harris, his opponent:
“Something happened to Joseph in between my first bout with him and the last. I saw a lot of good attacks from him fall just short, and noticed it had a lot to do with where his front foot was pointing.
He must have paid attention when I pointed it out, because in our last bout, he was right on target, and hitting me with wicked stop-thrusts. Then, almost before I had the chance to take it in, he was across my body with one of my own favourite cuts. That was the unquestionable decider.
I stopped and joined in the general applause, because there was no question in the mind of anyone who saw it that it was the move of the day.
Some accounts say that in his final combat, the pirate Captain Edward Teach (or Thatch) AKA Blackbeard was still fighting furiously after taking any number of sword cuts and several gunshot wounds. Eventually, a young Scot caught him in the neck with a broadsword cut. Blackbeard turned and said something like “well done lad” then fell. Joseph gave me my Blackbeard moment, and I was delighted.
Remember the Rules (courtesy of GLECA):
Rule 1: Don’t get Hit.
Rule 2: Hit the other Guy.
Rule 3: Look Damned Good doing it.
Next post: Using Krumphau to parry and the Mittelhau move that won the fight.
Nerd to Knight 