The Tangled Web of Fencing
It’s easy to forget how interwoven fencing is and how our lessons play into one another.
Kane Driscol
If I Could Be a Newcomer Again…
With the new Training Program this year, a lot more responsibility has been given over to the students on what you want to learn and where you want to focus your training. That’s awesome and it offers so much flexibility and ownership! But it can be challenging to navigate the waters of your own progression … Read More
All I Want For Christmas Is My Rapier
Enjoy this little diddy as you sit around the fire, staring at your presents, greedily hoping your parents or significant other ordered your fencing gear before next season. You know the present. That one over there behind the tree. That must be a helmet. Some gloves. Maybe even…a rapier! And if you like this one, … Read More
You Want to Buy A Sword, But Don’t Know What to Get
With steel prices going up and the group growing, it’s a good time to buy a sword and start getting your gear together. Once you have your kit, you won’t have to worry if the loaner gear will run out or if you’ll get to train with the same gear every week. You’ll just have … Read More
Being an Underdog… Again
In my Big Orange Book, I wrote a chapter on Being an Underdog and how that mindset is so beneficial in fencing. Here’s my general stance. I believe one of the strongest positions a fencer can be in is as an underdog. It may seem counter-intuitive, but being an underdog can be incredibly advantageous because … Read More
An Over-Attention to Oddity
I’ve been thinking a lot about learning lately. Reviewing the training program and working with Shay to study her style at a high level put my brain on high alert for ideas floating around related to learning. In this case, it was an idea of Exception Bias that come up in one of the RPG … Read More
Strength, Power, Speed, Endurance, and Agility — What’s the difference?
When we talk about a Fencer’s Physicality instead of Mentality, we often think about the basic skills we are using. Blocks, Attacks, Footwork, etc… That’s all well and good, but I wanted to take a broader look this past week and focus on the building blocks of physicality itself. From there, as always, how could … Read More
I Wonder, What If, Let’s Try! | Persistence in Fencing
I’ve always been a strong believer that you can learn about fencing anywhere. The things you learn at work, at home, at your grandma’s house, or walking down the street may be hiding exciting principles you can apply to your owning fighting or fencing philosophy. A case in point would be what I learned from … Read More
Stretch Your Mind Towards New Opportunities
Two experiences this week prompted this train of thought and something that I wanted to share. The first was in Shay’s Thoughts for our upcoming practice (March 19, 2020) and the other was a video Sigmar posted to BAND. Here was Shay’s Thought: “We are going to work on intentional movement. There is so much … Read More
Caliber of Conversation
Break the barrier and start doing things on your own! Once you start experimenting and stop looking for someone to tell you what to do, the caliber of conversation that we can have changes dramatically.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Happy Holidays Terrasylvans! We hope you continue to enjoy your holiday season with loved ones and get everything you asked Santa for. But when the festivities end, that’s when you might start feeling the call back to Woodland and you look forward to the most wonderful time of the year!
Torchlight Tourney 2021 Stream
The Universe was on our side this year and we were able to hold the end of season Torchlight Tourney for Order of the Rose. As the previous victor, Renald ran everyone through a 5-Round Swiss Tournament* and everyone was limited to a single short sword. *A Swiss Tournament is a non-elimination tournament where the … Read More
Overview AKA I Redesigned the Website…Again
I know what you’re probably thinking, “Kane!? Did you really have to redesign the website again? I was just getting used to the old one.” Short answer: Yes. Yes, I did. There are all sorts of reasons why I redesign the website as much as I do. Site bloat, cutting costs, new techniques, my own … Read More
Training Program Revamp Idea
After a discussion with Evanlyn and Veron, I brain-dumped an idea of how to revamp the training program. The goal is to separate the “ranking” and the “learning” aspects of fencing within Order of the Rose, to have an experience similar to what it takes to become a Master Swordsman, and to bring back some … Read More
