Baron Jurgen's Personal Progress Page

Gravitas. Dignitas. Pietas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baron Jürgen Göttsfürböter is a low German nobleman and dilletante, who actively travels across Europe in pursuit of adventure. Sword, shield, & spear in tow, Jurgen has a knack for scrounging up the most unusual artifacts. Recently, he scrounged up territorial sovereignty over the Barony of Ponte Alto. It's a bit more than he's used to, so he's trying to figure out how to stay centered and play it cool. To date, he hasn't received any knives that could penetrate his backplate, but he's keeping his wits about him.

 

Jurgen's eager to use his sword, and mobilize the forces when called by the King of Atlantia. He hates having overwhelming advantage in battle, prefering to fight uphill, in the snow, against a large and more experienced opponent. The challenge is better than winning.

 

 

Novicius Concepts: The Seven Deadly Virtues, Integrated Fighting Framework

I love Virtueous Stances. They are great firing platforms. Duke Paul pointed out that you should integrate being on the balls of your feet into part of the "going on-line" ritual. I also appreciate that the Virtueous Stance is the same as the Bellatrix stance.

 

The Virtueous Turns... need to be up on the balls of the feet... And that's also true for Virtueous Stepping.

 

Max is also talking about twenty or so integrated techniques, but last night, he categorized these things into:

A) Attack (Range & Zone)

B) Defense (Zone & Range)

C) Movement (Angle)

D) Integration of A-C (Action)

 

6/25/08 Actually, we are talking about a set of decision-making choices based on a group of integrated and combinatorial Actions (Offense/Defense/Maneuver), Range (Inner/Outer/Dead-Zone), Zone (Onside/Offside/Angle), and Angle (Jam/Zero-Pressure/Fade-Follow). "Attack" as you may mean it above is a combination of offense and movement across a particular range through a set of angles and zones. "Defense" as you have it above is a combination of defense and movement across a particular range through a set of angles and zones. Movement is a set of maneuvers across a particular range through a set of angle and zones. We do not recommend thinking of "Attack" or "Defense" or "Movement" as you have above. Instead, at any Action or Reaction point in a fight, you need to think of which combination of Actions, Ranges, Zones, and Angles you apply to Act or React. You are thus simultaneously and continuously "Attacking, Defending, and Moving" at all points. They are not distinct actions, but are instead integrated components of a holistic approach to combat decision-making -- Max

Well, yes, but this is hard stuff to talk about. Really, the integration of attack, defense, and movement (Point D) is what you are emphasizing in your response. Let me try to restructure the list to match what you are saying....

 

OK, so I need a catchy way to think about this, and slam it into the fighting part of my brain:

 

RAZA!

Range: [A) Inner gate, B) Dead zone, C) Outer gate, D) one step beyond]

Angles: Jam (Sword or shield), Zero-Pressure(sword or shield), Fade, Follow

Zone: Onside, Offside, Angles

Actions: Offense, Defense, Manuever, Combined Actions

 

 

The millisecond by millisecond choice of actions really fit well into how I think about my fighting.

 

 

Class One: Breathing, Stance, Movement

 

 

Class Two: Zero Stem, Rotation Blocks

 

Class Three: Short-Stem

 

 

Class Four: Long-Stem

 

 

Class Five: Striking Blows

 

 

Class Six: Baselines, Evade, Legs

 

 

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

 

 

Class Eight: Onside Wraparound, Offside Jam, Uppercut Thrust

 

 

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

 Kat has zero pressure stuff down pretty well. I can see where she's ending up in her movement sequence, and I need to unlearn and relearn to do the same thing.

 

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

 

 

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

 

OK, This is where I need the most work. Before I even get into the class work, I need to incorporate a check that my shield is in the correct position as part of my nominal checklist.

 

Additionally, I've found some severe holes in my defense against offside attacks. I'm working on drills with Felix to improve my flat blocks.

 

9/18/08~Working with Felix is really improving my flat blocks! Last night, I gave some great fights to those people I face off against. A few thousand more, and my flat blocks should be high quality.

 

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

0707 2008: So I've been doing Pell work lately, and I notice that when I start stringing together shots, my third or forth shot wants to turn into a drop shot or a deep angled offside body shot. After Storvick Novice tourney, could we get a repeat of lesson twelve? Would this help with fighting from a shield wall? Thanks, -Jurgen

 

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

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

 

Legonaire 201,202,203:

11/19/08 - I spent 5 minute with a candle today. I was able to focus on the candle for the duration, without my mind wavering. I noted the evolution of the flame from a small light to a taller light. I found that I sat too close to the candle for comfort, and that the candle had a variety of colors in it. None of that mattered, as the only point was to maintain focus on the flame itself, for the specified duration. -Jurgen

 

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

 

Time to get back into chaining together combos in my attack sequence. First, let's go through my real strengths as a fighter:

1) Good basic form in onside shots (including returns)

2) Shield hook offside sequence kills lesser fighters

3) Improved defense (resulting from improved ready positioning)

 

Personal Notes about recent fights:

The past is the past, but I can look to the recent past and see how I can improve by identifying which virtues I applied sinfully.

 

At Lochmere investiture, I faced Duke Gaumr. Ultimately, I lost defensive focus. Once tired, my defense fell apart. In reality, it wasn't my body which gave out, but my mind.

 

Max, Stryker, I think I'm going to create a personal history page to organize our conversations: Jurgen's archive.

-Jurgen