Our Oxford student met up again today for their regular outdoor freeplay session. These sparring get-togethers provide the perfect opportunity to practise techniques learned in class as well as get experience of fighting against opponents they might otherwise not get regular practise against.
It was the last side sword lesson from Kristian, at our regular Oxford training session, this evening, as well as the last beginner’s course lesson from Louis! Our new instructors have done splendidly with their lesson blocks at our Oxford chapter and everybody has enjoyed their instruction!
Students from our Oxford chapter met up today for their regular weekend sparring. There were a mixture of weapons available, giving all attending students valuable practise and experience.
Our Oxford students were joined today by members of Milton Keynes’ Clashing Steel for their regular sparring session. Fighting against new opponents not only gives you an opportunity to practise your skills, but to see how they stack up against an unknown opponent.
The School of the Sword was in the Netherlands this weekend, as Oxford Head Instructor, Emilia Skiurmuntt headed to the Winterkamp event in Tilburg Netherlands, to teach an introduction to rapier. It was an amazing, friendly event with a good range of workshops and talks. We hope everyone who attended Emilia’s workshop enjoyed it.
Our Oxford students held their regular outdoor sparring event again today, where students gathered to practise skills they have learnt in class, get in some much needed practise, and have some fun along the way.
Today saw our Oxford students’ regular sparring session, whereby students gather to practise new skills they have acquired and fine tune those they already know. There was a good mix of weapon.
When we first learn a new technique we will often drill it at a slower (or “flow”) pace. This is about learning and perfecting the technique. Tonight, however, our Oxford students took some of their drills to the next level by upping them to full (or “sparring”). It’s always interesting to see how drills can become sloppy when done faster, hence the importance of the flow drills.
The recent freeze hasn’t put off our Oxford students who were back out again today to do some open air sparring, practising and refining the skills they’ve learnt in class.
It was a special night in Reading last night, as the school saw not one, but four students rise to the rank of Laureando.
Laureando is the second exam students at the School can take after the initial safety test (to make sure they are safe to spar). This is typically after 200 hours of study and some experience of teaching others.
Daniel and Phil from our Reading chapter were joined by Kristian and Luis from Oxford and untook a number of bouts with a variety of weapons ending in an exchange against a weapon he hadn’t encountered before.
Congrats to all involved. It’s taken a lot of hard work.
