The Birth of a Renaissance

[Zodd]

So the concept of the Renaissance Man, a person who's talents and interests are as varied as the stars in the sky has always captivated me. I feel like being human allows us so much potential that it's impossible to ignore all the endless possibilities we are capable of. This seems to be the same approach that the Rebellion is suited to encourage. So I've been floating around the website and have had an Academy membership for almost a year now. After reading Level up your Life though everything seemed to click and I've made a lot of strides just on my own. However, I've decided it's time I actually join the community, and what better way to do it then with my first four week challenge? So here goes nothing.

 

I've decided to use the model of the example challenge, since I have no idea what I'm doing and also the less I have to think about it the less I can stall.

 

Nutrition Goal 1

Bring Lunch to Work 20 times.

 

Nutrition Goal 2

Drink only 4 Energy Drinks.

 

Fitness Goal

Attend 8 Fencing Classes

 

Life Goal

Read 4 books, where a book equals either cover to cover or 400 pages of a larger book which ever comes first.

[JuniperBlossom]

Great goals!  I love the idea of being a Renaissance Man (or Woman).  There are so many interesting things to learn and do!  Do you have any particular books mind?  I haven't read anything in ages and I'm always looking for a good recommendation!

[Zodd]

There really is almost no end to it really. As for books, I had compiled a 52 week reading list from books I hadn't read yet in my own personal library. The four for this month are what I have left of A Dance with Dragons, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, and two books by Dale Carnegie, I'm also really hoping to exceed four and get to read The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier.

[Jothra]

I remember Renaissance Man being a very forgettable movie, so it's a good thing I know you're talking about the concept instead.

 

Also: fencing? Badass.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Welcome to the Reellion.

 

If you want to talk more about swordmanship, we would be happy to hear from you in the Courtyard.  We Monks would like to get in touch with you.

 

I should do more fencing this challenge. It's so easy to neglect your training.

 

[Zodd]

I've just gotten started on the fencing, my first earnest class in epee will be on Tuesday. I was doing a little poking around to see if there were other fencers on the boards, funny enough it's actually what caused me to finally buckle and join the forums. So you will probably be seeing me plenty lurking around the Courtyard now that I know I am not alone.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

13 minutes ago, Zodd said:

I've just gotten started on the fencing, my first earnest class in epee will be on Tuesday. I was doing a little poking around to see if there were other fencers on the boards, funny enough it's actually what caused me to finally buckle and join the forums. So you will probably be seeing me plenty lurking around the Courtyard now that I know I am not alone.

Cool I'll point others in your direction. @Kyellan, @theodinspire

 

I'm sure I forgot somebody.

[Zodd]

Sweet, thank you for welcoming me.

[Kyellan]

Hey there Zodd, welcome to the Rebellion! =)

 

I'm not a classical fencer, but I'm a big fan of swords in general. I'm currently learning a fusion of Chinese broadsword, katana and western fencing via lightsaber. My Hung Gar Sifu is a pretty cool guy. It's been quite a year!

 

In an age of specialization, I feel like there's a lot less respect for the Renaissance Man then there should be. I'm also the kind of person with a wide variety of interests that come and go--everything from books, RPGs and video games to fixing cars and running. If you don't know, there's a whole community of "multipotentialites" centered around puttylike.com. It really made me feel good to know there were other people like me out there!

 

Glad to have you, and looking forward to talking swords with you (and pretty much anything else) as you learn!

[theodinspire]

So many different swords arts there are. I don't do sport fencing either, but instead do 14th Century Italian stuff. But I'm always glad to have another swordsperson on board! Welcome!

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

And I totally forgot to tell you, what I do. I'm into HEMA and learned German longsword from my boyfriend. I hope to learn some techniques for the Rapier as well next summer. Really looking forward to that.

[Zodd]

I had read a little bit about HEMA it seemed pretty interesting, a lot of the conversation was about how young the sport is and how its still developing. It's always awesome to have a variety of styles there's always something to take from each to adapt to what you need. So I hope we all get along.

 

Thank you for the website Kyellan, I've never heard it referred to as multipotentialities before. I'll probably spend a good day just delving through the archives of the place. it is a bit frustrating, because every where I turn for advice says to focus on one thing or just a couple things. I personally think that the better idea is to be really good at a two to three things that are just your things, your true passions and then be at least serviceable in as many skills as you possibly can.

[Hugh]

 

So, a classical fencer, a Fiorist, a Raperist and a Lichtenhauerist walk into a bar. Stop me if you've heard this...  

 

Good to see some more HEMA folks on here! 

 

1 hour ago, Zodd said:

... a lot of the conversation was about how young the sport is and how its still developing. ...

 

Some of us wouldn't consider it young... or a sport. Just sayin 

(oh, and German Longsword is my main thing btw)

[Zodd]

4 hours ago, Hugh said:

 

So, a classical fencer, a Fiorist, a Raperist and a Lichtenhauerist walk into a bar. Stop me if you've heard this...  

 

Good to see some more HEMA folks on here! 

 

 

Some of us wouldn't consider it young... or a sport. Just sayin 

(oh, and German Longsword is my main thing btw)

I will remember that, thank you. I didn't actually know it was around until I was digging for information on grips in fencing. So it's all very new to me.

[Hugh]

heh, the clue is in the name - Historical European Martial Arts. 
It's reconstruction and rediscovery is relatively recent but the manuals used in the more common styles are from 1300 - 1600, give or take.

The "young" part of what you heard was possibly in regards to it starting to become noticed by the mainstream media and in reputable companies making equipment for competitive sparring. Some would say that competition with blunt swords (or federschwerts) while wearing full protective gear detracts from the art, techniques and/or "feel" of the thing. I think it has it's place in a well rounded syllabus.
I'm beginning to waffle. Sorry  

Anyway... There's a wealth of information out there in the big wide interweb if you're interested in learning more about HEMA.

[Zodd]

You're quite alright I think I understand it much more than I did before, and it is certainly something I will look into in the future.

 

Challenge Update Time

 

Got one meal out of the way, used the article to do my meals a head of time so I'm all set for the whole week, meatballs, yams, and broccoli.

 

Also went to my first fencing lesson, and ooo boy did I get my butt kicked. Nothing I don't think is as equalizing or humbling as that strip. I've got three nice welts and more sore muscles than okay ones. I also got my butt handed to me by a twelve year old and lost my team their match. So tons of room to improve.

[theodinspire]

On 4/5/2016 at 4:55 PM, Hugh said:

Some would say that competition with blunt swords (or federschwerts) while wearing full protective gear detracts from the art, techniques and/or "feel" of the thing.

 

Is plate armor not "full protective gear"?

 

On 4/6/2016 at 0:46 AM, Zodd said:

Also went to my first fencing lesson, and ooo boy did I get my butt kicked. Nothing I don't think is as equalizing or humbling as that strip. I've got three nice welts and more sore muscles than okay ones. I also got my butt handed to me by a twelve year old and lost my team their match. So tons of room to improve.

[Hugh]

1 hour ago, theodinspire said:

...

Is plate armor not "full protective gear"?

...

 

Yes indeed it it. My appologies. Because I train blossfechten (fighting without armour), I often forget that some others train harnischfechten (armoured fighting).

Blossfechten is more common in my region, probably due to the significant cost of historically accurate plate armour.

 

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

On 6. April 2016 at 7:46 AM, Zodd said:

Also went to my first fencing lesson, and ooo boy did I get my butt kicked. Nothing I don't think is as equalizing or humbling as that strip. I've got three nice welts and more sore muscles than okay ones. I also got my butt handed to me by a twelve year old and lost my team their match. So tons of room to improve.

I think that's totally normal. We all have to start somewhere. 

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Hey Zodd,

 

Do you have any more experiences to share with us? We're eager to hear about your second week. I hope you're fine and life isn't getting in the way.

[Zodd]

So everything kind of blew up in my face after a rough weekend. I drank way too many energy drinks, so many that I'm not even gonna give a number to it in a three day period which basically through an entire week into recovery mode from poor decision making. A bad of batch chicken from my local grocer also derailed my lunches at work. So yeah, definitely this challenge decided to actually challenge me.

 

On the plus side in the words of the infamous Sterling Archer 'It's only a mistake if you don't learn from it.' So the past ten days there have been no energy drinks and a few obligations made me skip fencing but the couple classes I have made since my last post were very rough. I felt beat up pretty bad the last couple times I went, and even though one of the teachers has assured me I am making progress it sure doesn't feel like it. I feel like I'm slow and clumsy, and I realize a lot of the problems I have on the strip is I keep trying to pull my punches because I feel bad for stabbing my opponent, even though it's totally the point of the sport. 

 

So yeah that's a quick brief to catch it all up to where I am at now. The reading has changed, instead of reading the books I listed I've ended up reading a pair of table top gaming books for Savage Worlds.

[Dreamspin]

Mmm, Wheel of Time. I'm currently starting the series over again. I stretched out reading it over so many years that I have gaps in my memory about what happened, not unlike Matrim Cauthon. :-P

 

[Zodd]

I have been trying so hard to want to get into that series but it's such a beast of a book series I've done everything but that.

[Dreamspin]

It really is, and I can't remember which one, but at least one of the books doesn't move the plot forward at all. Overall still one of my favourite series though! 

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

So any final thought on April? How did you enjoy your first challenge?