today i went to my first class. my mentor teacher's husband teaches, and when she mentioned it i thought it sounded like fun so she suggested that i try it out and i did and i'm going back next week.
that is the short version. the slightly longer version goes like this: i had no idea what to expect. it did not cross my mind what a serious kind of exercise swordfighting could be. the first thing we did was run laps around the gym (i thought the whole point of a sword, ha ha, was so you didn't have to run away). also lots of stretches. we are following the teachings of
fiore de liberi. i am a new student - zugadore and thus will be studying the fundamentals of fiore's longsword, stance, grip, poste, colpi, punte, and fundamental defenses. tonight we started learning about stance. that is illustrated by the elephant at the bottom of the picture with the tower on its back. we have to learn balance and stability, as well as how to keep our upper body like the tower. for homework there is footwork to practice!
i now know one of the nine dagger master moves, and one thing to do with a large king arthury wooden sword that i forgot the name because i am soooo tired and some hitherto undiscovered muscles are also announcing their presence by aching. i also tried on some seriously cool gauntlets that made my hands look like robo-ravaj. i was a bit scared by the helm, and will have to talk myself into trying it on next time. i did love the gauntlets, though :-)
