[Steppes] Steppes Fighter Practice - 8-14-2005

[Mike]

Heilsa,

A brief announcement from Lord Hrafn Olafsson - Steppes Knight Marshal

"Just a reminder from your friendly neighborhood Knight Marshall. There
will be no official fighter practice on 09/04/05 due to a conflict
with GOTHIC WAR XV.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this event, it is held in the
Western region of the Kingdom, and is an EXCELLENT opportunity to get
in some melee and tournament fighting. I would recommend attending you
possibly can."

Lord Hrafn made this announcement on the Steppes fighter practice list 
on Wednesday, August 10th, 2005.

Gothic War:
Labor Day Weekend - September 2nd through 5th
Sweetwater, Texas - it is the old site
Heavy fighting melees on Saturday, with tournaments on Sunday.
Gothic War is also host to the Amazon household 25th anniversary 
celebration,
the annual Crane Party. Haflas are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday night
Gothic webpage <http://adlersruhe.ansteorra.org/Gothic.html>

Regular Fighter Practice:
Majority of Sunday afternoons from 2 PM to 6 PM
Location:
Mary Heads Carter (MHC) park in Carrollton
Notification in weeks will be given as to attending events or having War 
Practices other than in MHC.

Sometimes dawn brings forth a stillness with a muggy feeling in the air; 
which mislead one to the day ahead as the sun wakens from a small death 
call night.  The humidity was high and no wind to cool one's skin, gray 
to dark clouds that threaten to dump their contents. The weather 
changed, all for the better, the wind pick up delivering a cooling 
breeze with the clouds forming shade for those who came out to share a 
Sunday afternoon in the park.  The sun fought it's way through the 
clouds' shieldwall to shine briefly, only to be refused and driven away. 
Only at the very end of practice did rain actually fall from clouds, a 
few showers, quickly over, were felt. While in the distance there seem 
to be welcome relief upon the land as the trumpet sounded the call of 
moisture to defeat the dry cracked ground.

Some have asked what happens at a fighter practice - Training - is one 
word. There is another word that comes to mind - Fun.  Two simple words 
that cover a full range of activities - though images of these words 
would seem to be on opposing ends of a scale.  Joining these two words 
is what provides the necessary opportunities to relax from the rigors of 
Monday through Friday or whatever schedule one has in their modern life. 
The experience level makes no difference nor what is wore nor the words 
carried upon the wind. It matters little the numbers as long as there is 
both fun with training combine to provide an atmosphere of learning. The 
bottom line is that everyone wants to increase their levels of 
experience with the enjoyment of learning while in a relax and laid back 
group, this is how I see the two words combining to form a successfully 
fighter practice.

Training involves separate levels -
   Basic level to "good"
   Man-At-Arms and/or Squire entry level
   Centurion level
   Tournament level

Basic level and upward allows one to learn the how to defend as well as 
hold your own against all opponents - what this mean is "Can you defeat 
everyone?", answer is "No". It means that if facing a more experienced 
fighter and on a SCA battlefield, an individual should be able to stay 
alive until help arrives. Tournament field is a entirely different game 
with a different mental approach.

The Man-At-Arms and/or Squire entry level is just what it sounds like - 
an individual has progress further into the fine art of chivalric 
fighting, which is recognized by more advanced fighters - i.e., Knights, 
Centurions, Squires, etc... and a relationship is established to 
continue on a more intense level of personal instruction.

Centurion level is a fighting award that is at the pleasure of TRM and 
the polling order - Centurions of Ansteorra.

The instruction provided this day, a note about instruction which occurs 
at all levels, everyone learns something due to that it is a new day:
Centurion Morgan Buchanan (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan)  - Central Region 
Knight Marshal
Lord Richard of Durnsford (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan)
Lord CinaedOHosey
Lord Hrafn Olafsson (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan) - Steppes Knight Marshal

Till requested instruction from Lord Hrafn, Centurion Morgan and Lord 
CinaedOHosey in proper shield placement. The result Till's current 
shield placement requires adjustment for improvement in both offense and 
defensive to increase Till's fun upon the battle/tournament field.

This is August, it is Texas - combining the two equals being warm to 
hot. Everyone paced themselves, resting when their bodies spoke above 
the desire to swing that sword, block with that shield. One and all had 
supplied themselves with water and gatorade.

A reminder - please bring at least 1 gallon or more of water and 
gatorade. I recommend 2 gallons of fluids and snacks to replenish your 
energy levels. There are two water fountains in the park, plus there are 
several stores close by that carry these items and more.

People in armor:  5
Children:  5
Total in attendance: 13

Weapons used this day:
Sword

Shields used this day:
Heater
Round
Buckler

Over all, this was a very laid back practice with no real agenda other 
than to get in some fighting - which means that there were more fighting 
than what is being shown. Remember, I do not list the winner nor the 
loser of any contests, only list the opponents and not the total number 
fights between the two. This is practice and it is for fun.

At the end of practice, those who could, went and enjoyed dinner 
together. Everyone is welcome to join in this after practice dinner. We 
normally take a poll after practice and decide where to eat. We go to 
one of the local buffets in the area and the price will range from $6 to 
$12. This Sunday dinner was held at Golden Corral.

In attendance this day:
Clan Ross:
Centurion Morgan Buchanan (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan)  - Central Region 
Knight Marshal
Lord Richard of Durnsford (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan)
Lord Hrafn Olafsson (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan) - Steppes Knight Marshal
     and his lady,
        Lady Elizabeta di Valore della Rosa (Apprentice to Duchess Larissa)

Condottieri:
Lord CinaedOHosey and children
   daugther - Tori
   and sons - Jon and Nikko
Lord Michael Kettering

HL Chiara Francecsa Arianna d'Onofrio and children
    daughter - Alexandria,
    son - William.
HL Chiara whose is captain of the Steppes Baronial Guard and Apprentice 
to Master Fritz


Till

Individual fights witness this day:

Centurion Morgan with heater and sword vs Lord RIchard with round and sword
Lord Hrafn with heater and sword vs Till with heater and sword
Lord Richard with round and sword vs Lord CinaedOHosey with buckler and 
sword
Centurion Morgan with heater and sword vs Lord Curtis with heater and sword
Centurion Morgan with buckler and sword vs Lord CinaedOHosey with 
buckler and sword


YIS,
 Lord Michael Kettering
  Combat Archer for the Condottieri
  King's Archer
  Steppes Deputy Knight Marshal
  Steppes Deputy Hospitaler