Crose Bastarda

Because of a special arrangement, I am suddenly left with a large empty area in my living space. I will be taking an online rapier course and really delving into rapier for the first time. Focusing in on Fabris, Capoferro, and Giganti. Really looking into getting some good use out of the Vienna Anonymous as well. Here’s hoping I take to it well :)

sort of? What does this mean? I don’t know!

How fortunate are we that pain and suffering exist.

There’s a thread in the Alliance facebook group that’s probably going to get taken down since it was a controversial post regarding fascism. I’m saving my response here for reference since it will likely be deleted. ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- I can tell this thread is going to get miles long pretty quick. Regardless of your views on fascism or what it is/means, I'd politely ask you read what I have to say. We all have our own clubs, ways of practicing HEMA, our own preference for how we train, "sport" vs. "martial," etc... But one thing is important. At the end of the day, what we practice is an art founded in killing. It's a dangerous activity and every time we train, even if we don't think about it or realize it, we are taking each other's lives in our own hands. That's part of why we salute. We are acknowledging between partners that we are allowing ourselves to engage in a dangerous activity for the purposes of learning and self-betterment. We are putting our lives on the line for each other. If you have respect for what we do, then we can not forget this point. As part of the real-world communities around us then, it behooves us to manifest this respect in how we teach and the decisions we make regarding our students. Whether we fancy ourselves martial artists or athletes, we should be vigilant and aware of the world around us and how what we do affects others. To practice with blinders on, or to practice "apolitically" is to completely ignore our place and our involvement in the communities we live in. Our practice does not exist in a vacuum; we our only hurting ourselves by practicing as though it does. To be able to practice what brings us joy is a privilege. If we are part of a club then we owe it to that club and the wider community to make sure that people who would seek to practice for the wrong reason or who would misappropriate what we do do not associate with us. We need to take a clear stand and show the people around us what is important to us. Now, whether you all know it or not, the way you have all commented or spoken has very clearly painted a specific picture that people will judge you by when they're considering the merit of your instruction. Think of how you conduct yourself. Think of what you're teaching. Think of who you're teaching. Stand against shitty people. Be a place where people who aren't shitty feel safe. It's not hard. When you see talk like this, listen first. Always listen. Then, only after listening and really processing the implications, then speak. Don't allow your first instinct to be your response here. Fascism exists. Fascists practice HEMA (people above have already started to point out evidence). Stay vigilant and keep your communities safe. That's all you have to do.

Dealing with things like depression, life transitions, and events has caused me to stay silent for a while. I am planning on writing more - trying to aim for at least a post a week to get my thoughts running.

- Carlo Giuseppe Colombani, L’Arte Maestra, 1711.

One of my students and I are at IGX this year. I'll be giving a talk on biomechanics at 1100 today - my first ever class I give at an event :)

The Way of Martial Arts is to Live. The Way is to live, because in practice Martial Arts is the study of survival and killing. In learning how to survive and how to kill, we learn the value of life through reflection. So, having studied how to deal death, we become free in living how we please. This is why we show others and teach them - to engage in some of the earliest traditions that mankind has: The process of self-alchemy, and learning to appreciate your life and those around you. This is not new thinking in any way, it is nothing special. And always remember the Way that can be named is not the true Way. (inspired by Yagyu Munenori)