This episode goes over the complexity and simplicity of having to camp in the medieval period, how to actually organize tasks in relation to ones group’s tactics and how those dont always look the same way some of us today may think about it.

” Jess and James talk about Jess's armored adventures in the woods and some lessons we can take away from it. —-

A desire line is formed from many people over time choosing not to walk the paved paths, but instead go the way that seems most expedient to them.  they are typically formed when planners don’t account for real human behavior.

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About us! James is the founder and principal instructor of the Goliath Historical Fencing Academy. He began fencing in 2009, after being inspired by the film Reclaiming The Blade. At Goliath, he instructs several weapons systems including longsword, rapier, dagger, unarmed combat, quarterstaff and halberd. He has taught at private seminars at major fencing events in Europe and Canada as well as across the US.

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Jess Finley has had a sword in her hand for the past twenty years. Her initial interest was in stage combat, but not too long after beginning that pursuit began to ask “… but how did they really fight?” From that question, she branched out to German Medieval Martial Arts after being accepted as a student by Christian Tobler, who remains her mentor to this day.  

She is the head instructor at Ritterkunst Turnhalle in Lawrence, Kansas. She has taught and competed internationally as well as private intensives at her home.

 She also has a background studying Judo under the tutelage of Arden Cowherd of Topeka Judo Club.She is a published author, having written a book entitled “Medieval Wrestling” on the fifteenth century Master Ott’s wrestling treatise of German wrestling techniques.

 She also researches medieval clothing construction and fabric armor, and has presented her findings at the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo and published an article in Medieval Clothing and Textiles (Boydell and Brewer) on her study of a 15th century quilted armor.

Jess’s Patreon is http://www.patreon.com/jessfinley“

This episode talks of  just how strongly shame can impact our daily training practice and that of those around us. A very interesting conversation that can help us find healthier ways to train together.

For anyone who hasn’t yet seen the following links:

Some advice on how to start studying the sources generally can be found in these older posts

Remember to check out  A Guide to Starting a Liberation Martial Arts Gym as it may help with your own club/gym/dojo/school culture and approach.

Check out their curriculum too.

Fear is the Mind Killer: How to Build a Training Culture that Fosters Strength and Resilience by Kaja Sadowski may be relevant as well.

Another useful book to check out is  The Theory and Practice of Historical European Martial Arts (while about HEMA, a lot of it is applicable to other historical martial arts clubs dealing with research and recreation of old fighting systems).

Worth checking out are this blogs tags on pedagogy and teaching for other related useful posts.

Consider getting some patches of this sort or these cool rashguards to show support for good causes or a t-shirt like to send a good message while at training.

You can find the original artwork here from https://www.instagram.com/muzhur/

For folks that are  interested in learning how to fight in armor check out  HEMA Harnischfechten and Knyght Errant(the one where this video is from and has a bunch of other great ones) and the armored section of the wiktenauer website and the  Gladiatoria: Fighting in Armor youtube playlist.  

Good luck everyone.

And stay safe

And if you can consider donating to any of these causes.

Consider getting this rashguard

We need change and justice for all.

This may be a useful link as well.

“ Today we're going to discuss a a few of the primary techniques used to decorate the surface of plate armor from the 14th century into the Renaissance.

Timestamps for quick access 0:00 Intro 0:43 Covering 2:39 Painting 4:13 Applied decoration 5:27 Engraving 5:56 Fluting 6:56 Gilding 8:18 Etching 9:55 Embossing 11:13 Thermal bluing 12:52 Conclusion “

Twee ridders in gevecht, Albrecht Dürer, 1517 - 1518 

Ludwig von Eyb Turnierbuch (Tourney Book) from 1519

Courtesy of Matt Galas

The first technique of pinning: when it happens in wrestling that you have brought him down on his back, then grasp with your left arm over his neck and knee him between his legs with your left knee, and hold him fast and work with your dagger, as you see illustrated above.

The second technique of pinning: when you have brought him on his belly with wrestling, then fall on his back with your right knee, and grasp with your left hand on his visor, and lift *hard upward, and work with your dagger, as you see illustrated above.

The third technique of pinning: when you have come to wrestling with him, and have grasped with your left arm in front around his neck, then fall down on your *right knee, and jerk him down onto his back toward you, and work with your dagger, as you see illustrated above.

The fourth technique of pinning: when you have again brought him onto his back with wrestling, then fall between his legs with your right knee, and press down on his right arm by the shoulder with your left elbow, and lift upwards with your hand by his *bevor (Part), and work with your dagger, as you see illustrated above.

The fifth technique of pinning: when it again happens that you have thrown him on his back, then fall down on your left knee outside his left leg above the lower leg*; if he pulls his foot toward him and means to get up again, then send your left hand through his left knee joint from outside, and grasp his right hand by the wrist and hold it fast, and work with your dagger, as you see illustrated above.

The sixth technique of pinning: when it happens that you have thrown him on his belly with wrestling, then fall down with your right knee beside his right leg, and fall with your left knee on his *arse (lentter); if he *lifts himself on his arms, and means to stand up underneath you, then clap his right arm under his chest with your right hand, and grasp with your left hand for his left hand by the wrist, and turn it around behind his back, and hold it fast, and pull out your dagger and work as you see illustrated above.

The seventh technique of pinning: when it happens again that you have brought him on his back with wrestling, then fall with your right knee between his legs, and catch with your right foot over his left instep, thus holding his foot so that he cannot pull his leg to himself; and take his left hand in your left hand, and jerk it behind his helmet, and hold fast, and work to his face as you see illustrated above.

Gladiatoria (trans. Jeffrey Forgeng)