Archive for the ‘Musings’ Category

On Personal Courtesy   1 comment

Courtesy is a word we love to throw around, but it needs a bit of context.  I feel more-than-usually qualified to speak on this topic not out of a deeply-rooted virtue, but because my absolute favorite sin is wrath. There are many stories I refer to as “beer stories”.  They’re usually long, and not exemplary […]

Posted September 8, 2010 by wistric in Musings

40 for XL   9 comments

The Plan For the record: the alcohol, enthusiastic newbies (Hi, Gawin!), and enthusiastic baronages DO mix, but sometimes in unpredictable ways. For instance, they can (but have not in Windmasters) led to some scandals.  Or they can lead to dancing that should never happen.  Or they can result in somebody saying “You know, next year […]

Posted September 2, 2010 by wistric in Musings

The every-so-often Melee Motivator   3 comments

Seriously, I’ve given the order “Advance with Jazz Hands”.  Also “Can Can”.  Wistric gets bored sometimes.  And a confused enemy is not a prepared enemy.

Posted June 25, 2010 by wistric in Musings

Safe running   3 comments

More of just a brain burp today: The discussion of the relative safety of running came up and it caused some thoughts to actually bother struggling out of the swamp water that passes for my gray matter. I can’t say I speak as an unbiased voice.  I love running.  I love running through the woods.  […]

Posted April 21, 2010 by wistric in Musings

Art of Marozzo   1 comment

Randy Packer is doing a detailed, step-by-step study of Marozzo, for all the world to see.  Are there better uses for the internet?  Probably not.

Posted March 20, 2010 by wistric in Italian Rapier, Musings

A Holistic Approach to Fencing   4 comments

or, We can’t fight 24 hours a day, so what do you do with the other 4 hours? There are skills which cannot be taught, but which can be learned.  Or, at least, skills I cannot teach them, and don’t really know anybody who can.  These include foresight and forethought, detachment of mental focus from […]

Posted March 3, 2010 by wistric in Musings

Thoughts on Teaching (and Learning) Pt. 2   7 comments

Greetings, gentles, Dreya/Caelia here again. Thanks for returning for the second installment on teaching and learning. Last week I proposed some ideas on how to go about approaching brand-new fencers with an emphasis on creating a comfortable space for those who may be feeling particularly self-conscious or unsure (sadly, this tends to be new female […]

Posted February 7, 2010 by Dreya in Musings

Thoughts on Teaching (and Learning) Pt. 1   2 comments

Dreya/Caelia here. As a follow-up to the question posted earlier this week, I thought I’d share some thoughts I’ve had on teaching and learning. I am not a teacher in real life, and I am not a gold or white scarf, but I don’t think either of those conditions preclude me from being able to […]

Posted January 30, 2010 by Dreya in Musings

Question: How do you define a trick?   6 comments

I’d love to hear everybody’s thoughts

Posted January 22, 2010 by wistric in Musings

Opening up a Whole Case of Whoopass   3 comments

I’m slated to teach a class on case with Alric the Mad at winter U.  We’ve got our outline in place and have discussed various aspects.  But I have yet to sit down and put together all of my thoughts on the topic.  Well, let’s remedy that. First, why fight case? I can speak for […]

Posted January 14, 2010 by wistric in Musings