| Written by Jean-Loup Rebours-Smith,
on 04-12-2007 22:37
|
Views : 416  |
Favoured : 90 |
Published in : The News, Latest News |
It's been a while I know, thought last time I tried to update the system ate my post so I got cautious after that (as well as uninspired). Though seeing how ranty this post was, this is probably just as well...
So instead of ranting let's talk about interesting stuff like fencing or guitar playing shall we? 
I have to say I am really quite pleased with the way fencing is going at the moment.
On Monday nights we study the rapier and dagger plates of Capo Ferro. We've managed to take enough in to start drilling regularly and it's really nice when you feel the technique that sink in to your muscle memory and body positions. I'm now able to select which bit of the drill I want to focus on without messing up all the other bits which is really quite helpful and when we drill dagger techniques from the core plates we've selected, there's quite a few things to focus on: proper stringere, proper cavando, dagger position, tempo for the parry, counter-thrust in tempo, point control, blade position, foot position, balance and I'm probably forgetting other equally important things.
On Wednesdays at the minute we're having the regular rapier class for the first half, which helps me to drill stuff I've already done but also it's good to be able to help others who haven't done these techniques before get it right with commentary on what they're doing. I'm not doing a perfect job yet, and by no means is it my job to do so in the first place but I'm enjoying it.
The second half we're looking at Di Grassi with drills issued from his "hurts" and defense of the 3 wards blended together in exercising footwork and body position. I'd still do better if I had a sidesword but I'm sure that will come in time when money is less required for other things like moving flats... It's likely this will move to Sundays in the new year so I'll probably continue it then. Because in the new year I'm looking at starting my own study group looking at Girard Thibault d'Anvers treatise on the Magic Circle and his own method developed from the Destreza techniques he learnt from Narvaez. I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to approach the study of this treatise. A lot of text in there simply describe geometrical ways to draw your circle in great details, which is useful but perhaps not in the salle. One thing I'm thinking is get some kind of material which is not likely to rip or too slippery to draw the magic circle in and train on that. I'm thinking perhaps tarpaulin should work but it all depends on how robust and how much grip there is to it. I'll have to experiment. One wee problem while I think about it is the sword itself. Mine is too short to properly study Thibault so I'll have to get yet another rapier (my hanwei being too long and prone to serious drooping towards the point...).
Lots of fun in perspective. 
Yes guitar, I did mention that. I'm really quite pleased with the decision I took to finally take lessons, I now have a completely different approach to how I practice and while I still have basic drilling exercises, I can also warm up and generally practice simply with jamming on a backing track. This can be a little tricky depending on the time at which I am able to practice. Thankfully I have a way to have the laptop and the amplifier to both play in my set of headphones. This isn't the best way as the distortion seems to affect the sound from the computer when the backing track is playing, but it's better than nothing.
Right now I'm going through hand stretch exercises and I NEED to get my ring and little fingers to gain both in strength and dexterity. If only I could find exercises to build that up without having to pick up the guitar. Things I could do at work, on a plane, or wherever I can't just pick up the guitar.
Speaking of planes, we're due for a rather tiring holiday this season. On Thursday we're off to France for 6 weeks. I'm lucky enough to still have 3 out of my 4 grandparents and the youngest is celebrating her 80th birthday this weekend so we're going for that. Then back on Tuesday to fly back to California on the Wednesday at bloody-stupid o'clock in the morning  , until the 28th, that's if the UK airports are not on strike then.... Joy!
And finally we've got a flat at last. It's going to be interesting to move, not that I'm looking forward to it since I hate moving but the fact that we're going to have to acquire so much stuff, white goods, furniture, sort out the gas, electric, phone, broadband, council tax etc... just ugh! The new place is quite nice though, it's a wee flat up a block of 6 on the top floor. It comes with wee bit of garden, a balcony from which we can see Edinburgh Castle (yay fireworks without the Princes Street Crowds...), an attic and sufficient bedroom sizes to make it comfortable. I'll let people know about housewarming, don't worry
Okay that's enough news for now. I think I'll just crash, somehow, I'm quite exhausted. 
Last update : 04-12-2007 23:20
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