Novice Day, The concept behind the event.

Everyone who comes to a group is the new kid in town once. In sword fighting and fencing, we host tourneys for those new people In the Shire of Rusted Woodlands, we host the East Kingdom's tournament to celebrate those people. In terms of the Marshallate of the Kingdom of the East, we consider someone a "Novice" for 2 years from the date of their authorization. So armored combat fighters may compete in a double elimination tourney to win the honor to carry the Novitus Gladi, The New Sword, and have their name engraved on the blade next to the other winners. Historically, the winner also gets a prize helm and a scroll.

Not to be out down the Novice fencers will also compete in a tourney for similar prizes. So it's sword fighting and fencing during the day. There will be many different weapon forms being wielded; sword and shield, greatsword, polearms, two swords on the armored combat side. The Period Fencers can wield, single rapier, case of Rapiers (dual wielded), Rapier and dagger, rapier and rigid parry device, Rapier and flexible parry device, and two-handed sword.

The concept as extended to include an Arts and Sciences tourney, an Archery Tourney, and a Thrown weapons tourney. Pomp and circumstance are encouraged, this is a showcase for the Society also. If you're in the Tappan NY area on July 20th you're welcome to come out and see what we're all about.

The Shire of Rusted Woodlands Thursday Night Practice

What up with The Shire of Rusted Woodlands Thursday Night Practice? Well there's the name change from "The shire of Rusted Woodlands Thursday Night Heavy Weapons Practice" to its current iteration. Why? The Shire saw the need for and acted upon hosting a Fencing practice at the Hawthorne Site. Sir Arne Ulrickson has taken the helm as the Armored Combat MIC (Marshal in Charge), while Sir Tanaka Raiko leads the Period Fencing activities, having recently attained his Fencing Marshallate at this most recent Birka. Happening on Thursday Nights starting at 8PM til 11:00 PM it's a great practice for new and seasoned fighter alike. https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Shire+of+Rusted+Woodlands+Fight+Practice/@40.9541255,-74.1577535,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c2fdebeb516f7d:0xe5facda73805884f!8m2!3d40.9535968!4d-74.1556066?hl=en If you have questions or would like more details please reach out to 845-545-5274

Sterling Delarosa is knighted.

Sterling Delarosa was one of the most beloved unbelted fighters in the kingdom of the East. A consistent fixture on the unbelted teams at the Pennsic War, a fencing champion for his local group. Sterling is known for his Chivalry, Prowess, Generous nature, and sense of humor. He has been a favorite of the martial set of Rusted Woodlands even though he had to travel 2 hours one way to get to our practices. He was elevated to the Order of the Chivalry on March 30th at the event Muddthaw.

Holy moly this thing still works!!!

Aesa's Quest - One Woman Warrior's way

Aesa is a dimiutive, yet spirited and tough young woman. She exudes energy and confidence with her ready smile and intelligent dark eyes. She asked me for a squire's belt signifying that she would be my student and my responsibility. I told her that I would put her to quest for that belt. Her quest is to fight 25 Squires and 25 Knights and ask them all what does it mean to them to be a member of the chivalry in the SCA. Simple. Straightforward. Yet, there is a profundity intrinsic to the simplicity of the quest. She and I get to learn about her and the education will also be both physical and existential concerning the Society for Creative Anachronisms. SCA's armored combat is not just for hulking muscle bound men brooding through their dark eyes and sullen brows. There are no weight classes. No gender classes. No limits. You fight to the best of your ability. The real opponent in this journey isn't Conan across the list field from you. The real opponent in this is almost always yourself. Yes, Aesa is diminutive but she approaches this quest with a sense of wonderment, grimness, audactiy and dispatch. There's more courage in her than I've seen in men 3 times her size. Female fighters are real and celebrated in these current Middle Ages. Follow her here, or at the Shire of Rusted Woodlands in the SCA

Medieval Fashion Show Friday, a 14th Century Corizina with case legs and Great Helm

In the Society for Creative Anachronisms (SCA) one of the activities we do is sword fighting, well armored combat with a variety of weapons actually. We fabricate, wear, and brandish the arms and armor of many of the Dark Ages, Medieval, and beyond. Toward that end I present to you Lady Caterina Maddalena de' Gabrielli in her 14th century Corazina (coat of plates), Great Helm, and plate arms and legs although the sword is not a SCA legal weapon, this is her actual fighting kit. Lady Caterina Sword fights at a Northern NJ SCA fight practice in the Shire of Rusted Woodlands.

Sword Fighting in Northern NJ - Femme Fatales - thoughts on training women how to fight in armor.

As a long standing instructor of fighters I have a tendency to think of fighters as genderless. As admirable as this may be, as an instructor I have to consider the individual and what they bring to the table, rather than their genetic sex. That's all established with an interview. I want to know what their physical background is like, what their body is going to default to, how resilient is their psyche. All this is gender neutral. What isn't gender neutral is how they define themselves, and how they drive the bus that is their body. I can teach you how to throw a shot, but I can't teach you how to find the drive within your heart to want to learn it. Women are special when they come to this game. Understanding why they came is nearly as important on mastering a wrap shot. It has been said, "Guys are dogs, women are cats". Simplistic rationale but not without merits. Guys will follow a leader unless they are the leader and then they will figure it out and go forth. Women want to be the boss, but understand that a boss without the necessary skill set is just bluff and bluster. The best female fighters I've know want to figure it out, but not be told how they need mastery of a skill however they get to that place. Again generalizations fall before the individual example, but it works for our conversation. Retaining men in this game is about their comradery and their desires to excel.. Retaining women in this game is about appealing to the individual and how much in love with it they fall. Again generalizations, but mine are based in observations over the years. So what do you think?