Jonah's Personal Progress Page (work in progress)

Lord Jonah Mac Coghlan, fifth son of a minor Irish noble from County Offlay and destined to inherit nothing from his father but a love of battle.  In 1387 he took service with Sir Thomas of Calais, under promises of lands and gold from his liege.  Jonah has administered lands held in trust for Sir Thomas, but he has had to take certain measures to pay artisans and soldiers since the donkey groaning with two chests of gold has yete to arrive from Sir Thomas.  Before his service to Sir Thomas, Jonah traveled far---all the way to Venice to learn from the infamous Fiore dei Liberi, an Italian swordmaster of much repute.  Jonah felt pangs of homesickness and began his journey back to England and Ireland but met Sir Thomas while in transit and now he serves his liege-lord abroad and when not on campaign, in Calais.  Jonah's stubborness and audacity have earned him much in the world, but he must continue to devleop his warcraft if he is to attain all his goals.

Quotes from Fiore's "Flos Duellatorum":

"I am the elephant and I have a castle for a burden / And never do I kneel down nor do I lose my true place."

"None bears a more ardent heart than me, a lion / And I challenge anyone to battle."

Novicius Concepts: The Seven Deadly Virtues, Integrated Fighting Framework

I need a day to write this one up.....preferably with a Bushmills on hand.

Class One: Breathing, Stance, Movement

Just like any other martial art, breathing, stance, balance all preceed movement.  The guidance on breathing and centering one's self is very good and particularly important.  Part of "no mind" is correct breathing and a calm attitude.

I don't have problems with breathing, stance or movement.  Integrating compass steps into fighting has almost completely eluded me.  I attempted to integrate it into my movement last evening (6/2/08) at my place with Lachlann.  I was unsucessful and found myself resorting to the same ole' footwork (passes, etc).  I think it may be worthwhile to get another armoured student and both INSIST that we fight using all the steps in the 101 arsenal.  This might be something that we could work on one Sunday with Max and/or Steve looking on for critique.

Note: Perhaps include a blurb under breathing to address the cleansing of emotions/thoughts before proceeding.  Stessing this can't do anything but good.  No mind!

06/25/08 We can work on forcing compass steps (a useful exercise) in two ways -- one is by forcing the point leg to remain motionless by holding it down (with a sword point or cane, for example), and the other would be by taping a sufficiently large sword or bat between the two feet so you have to move them in a rotation step -- Max

Class Two: Zero Stem, Rotation Blocks

Great stuff....starting off at zero stem makes sure that the hips are an integrated part of the blow---easy to check, easy to execute.  Now I just need to integrate it to the point where I can throw 20 shots in less than 5 seconds....I need to make this my moneymaker so I can be more effective in close quarters.

6/3/08 Ok I'm very comfortable with the 0-stem and rotation blocks.  I found that the rotations blocks helped me in my fighting when I was in jam/press mode.  Learning to be comfortable/confident in blocking when I'm right up on my opponent is going to be an ongoing process---but I've got a start.  Spent some time last evening working two and four-shot combos.

Let us focus (in order) on Zero-Stem speed drills on the pell, Zero-stem two-shot, three-shot, and four-shot combination drills on the pell, Zero-stem swordwork integrating shots with movement, and 100-shot/200-shot/500-shot/100-shot Zero-stem pell drills - Max

Class Three: Short-Stem

Same comments as zero stem for short stem---need to integrate more effective combos in short and zero stem.  Must fight desire to move out of short stem range when in tourney.  I think it's easier for me to fight at short "B" range in melee because I have "less mind" and don't overthink things as much.

Let us perhaps try to focus more on fighting in a plane incorporating both the three ranges (Zero, Short, Long) in the linear axis and the three angles (Jam, Zero Pressure, Fade/Follow) in the longitudinal axis.  Short-stem blows are exceptionally powerful as parts of combinations particularly when incorporated as part of changes in movement and angle -- moving from long-stem through the dead-zone with a short-stem to a Zero-Pressure or Jam angle-change and back along the inner baseline to a third-shot short-stem in a combination.  However, one might not want to think in terms of standing in the dead-zone throwing short-stem combinations in a static sense -- it's called the dead-zone for a reason -- Max

6/3/08 Expounding upon earlier entry.  I have a bad tendancy to not want to be in close when in tournies.  I want to improve my comfort level in fighting through zero and short---without going all the way out to long range and "breaking the flow".  I throw far less timber in close than at long range---believe this is holding me back.  I think I just need to force myself to "hang in tight" and throw what I know are effective combos---but throw the WHOLE combo---before moving back out.

Class Four: Long-Stem

One of the only good things I can do is throw a very long-stem blow.  But I need to move quicker when throwing this and work on making it less of a "throw away" shot simply thrown to close distance.  Ocassionally I can get a good long-stem in that lands true, but this isn't as often as it should be.  I spend too much time fighting at distance when I am facing a superior fighter or I am not comfortable. 

Once we introduce fakes and feints with the Legionnaire level, your long-stems will become more effective.  One seldom kills with a single blow, but instead uses each blow to maneuver for the opponent's defense out of stance to land the next blow (one wins by making the opponent make mistakes).  The swordwork we will do on your inside game (see Zero-stem above) will make you more comfortable fighting at the inner baseline and less likely to stand at range throwing one-off long-stems.  If you want to fight at the outer baseline, the same basic rules apply -- throw combinations to move the opponents' defense out of stance, and change the angle of the fight.  Throw onsides to offsides, heads to legs and use compass steps around the outer baseline to rotate your shots around the angle of their shield.  We can work the combinations on the pell and the angle-changes in slow-work and sword-work --- Max

You can also affect timing by moving into, through and away from the outer baseline while attacking or feinting and changing angles.  These will be elements of the 200 and 300 series classes, but we can illuminate the logic behind them. -- Steve

6/3/08 You both hit the nail on the head.  Max, agree that if we can get me working the outside more effectively at MAKING an opening, then I'll get better results on my long stems.  Steve, you've told me this a few times before and I still haven't been able to correctly integrate it.  I know what I'm asking is at 200/300 level but I need help on this now.  I don't know how to proceed other than Max's suggestion of pell work.  I'm willing to work hard to get it right, just not sure what to do.

0604 1250 -- To become more comfortable in close, you need to know what to do, what the opponent might do.  Fighting with a standard heater or other somewhat larger shield helps. Also, knowing when to go in, and get out.  Closing and fighting close is about initiative, you need to seize it, use it, and then as the balance levels, go away.  Also, learning how to make your outer fight more effective will help you have a more effective inner game -- some of the 1xx and 2xx things will be the same, but different, but we need to develop a 2xx fight for the outer gate. So, you move and change range and angles at the outer baseline, creating weaknesses in your opponent that can be utilized, and making them "busy". Once they are "busy" you can seize the moment and close, determine how to throw effective attacks based on tempo, timing and distance, angle and offensive and defensive zones of offense and defence.  Variations on the 6 step drill will help developing some preprogrammed closing routines.  We need to work with you on the more effective long range play. Its not part of 201 yet.  -Steve

Class Five: Striking Blows

Personal notes about class five...

Class Six: Baselines, Evade, Legs

Personal notes about class six...

Class Seven: Leg Combo, Inside Angle Change, Unit Maneuvers

Personal notes about class seven...

Class Eight: Onside Wraparound, Offside Jam, Uppercut Thrust

Personal notes about class eight...

Class Nine: Offside Jam, Zero-Stem Swordblock, Thumb-Turn Wraparound

Personal notes about class nine...

Class Ten: Melee Concepts, Melee Drills, and Unit Scenarios

Personal notes about class ten...

Class Eleven: Shield Blocks -- Flat Blocks and Corner Blocks

6/3/08  I've pretty much got this one.  I'd like to move from the buckler 100% to using a center-grip heater (small one)---like Mathieu Chartrain has (Steve may remember).  If anyone knows who makes these, I'd appreciate it.  I refuse to pay what I guesstimate is $175 to Windrose for a custom shield.  If I win the lottery perhaps Eldrid will help me make one and then I'll turn a few extra out for Max and the Barony!  There are different techniques to using a buckler while blocking than with the standard Atlantian issue heater.  Perhaps in 201 we'll have a workshop?

0604 1300 -- yes, an interesting choice, I have no clue where you might get one. Using a centergripped heater will be different -- in detail. You will still use rotation and lean, corner and edge shield blocking, but the shield now observes the rules of "one stays home" and works with the sword in a more integrated way, almost like cuisinart two weapon.  - Steve

Class Twelve: Hanging-Guard Drop-Shot, Hanging-Guard Moulinet

6/3/08  I had a problem early on in my first year of fighting.  I became very comfortable with the hanging guard because it got me more time on the field.  In melee, it's a standard guard and it works fine.  In tourney, it's a death warrant---static and hard not to telegraph.  I got away from this a long time ago and now I think I'm using it effectively---and most importantly---only when it's called for.  I need to work (pell/slow) on the hanging-guard moulinet.  Mine is sloppy and lacks consistent power.

0604 1300 -- yes, the shot works much better with integrated footwork, turn and rotation, and it does, if done right, expose the right side. Siegfried  and I worked this out almost 30 years ago, its where Max got it, but we had differences in precisely how to throw it, Bob did it without the step, its more torturous to the arm and shoulder that way. STEVE

Novicius 101,102,103: Beginner Basics (101), Continuing Refresh (102), Advanced Practicum (103)

Personal notes about continuing progress in class thirteen+...

0523 0835 - Leaning the upper torso as part of turn in.  Last night I noted this, and knew the counter, and used it, but did not explain it to you. When you lean your upper torso towards me, rather than an integrated weight shift, it tends to expose your upper targets. A lean away the same way exposes the lower targets. If you have someone who leans, know this and exploit them. -Steve