Swordfighting ideas?
robin
My son, who is 10, has been asking for the last year for me to find him an opportunity to learn swordfighting. We looked into fencing, which was too sport-like and too little like traditional dueling for him. The weapons weren't right for him either. We looked into martial arts that use wooden swords, but that wasn't what he wanted. I found the the local SCA does swordfighting, but you need to be 16 for liability reasons. We did some research and it also seemed that they do not use real swords. I talked with him about getting involved with the SCA and apprenticing so he could spar in the future but he'd really like to do it now.
I'm at a loss here. He wants to use a real metal sword (with armor, if possible), he wants to be able to fight other people and have it be skill-based (using traditional sword moves and techniques). It has been really hard to explain to him that there just seem not to be many opportunities for this because of his age and liability, and frankly, I don't know if I'm ready to be a parent of a sword-weilding 10 year old unless he can do it with a skilled mentor in a controlled environment. It's especially hard because the few other interests he's asked my help with have been especially hard for me to make happen. He'd really like to learn hypnotism, but most resources out there tend to be for people or professionals to help themselves or others through behavior modification, or on the other end stuff about stage hypnotism which was more on the trickery side of things. Neither met his needs and it was all geared toward an adult audience. I tried to explain that the topic is a hard one because there is no consensus whether or not hypnotism is actually real.
I need some suggestions as to options for him as well as help for myself to get
past my issues with the danger aspect in all this.
Robin M.
I'm at a loss here. He wants to use a real metal sword (with armor, if possible), he wants to be able to fight other people and have it be skill-based (using traditional sword moves and techniques). It has been really hard to explain to him that there just seem not to be many opportunities for this because of his age and liability, and frankly, I don't know if I'm ready to be a parent of a sword-weilding 10 year old unless he can do it with a skilled mentor in a controlled environment. It's especially hard because the few other interests he's asked my help with have been especially hard for me to make happen. He'd really like to learn hypnotism, but most resources out there tend to be for people or professionals to help themselves or others through behavior modification, or on the other end stuff about stage hypnotism which was more on the trickery side of things. Neither met his needs and it was all geared toward an adult audience. I tried to explain that the topic is a hard one because there is no consensus whether or not hypnotism is actually real.
I need some suggestions as to options for him as well as help for myself to get
past my issues with the danger aspect in all this.
Robin M.
Kelly Halldorson
Sword fighting is something that seems to be going around groups.
My husband, Jeff, just created a bunch of nerf-type swords for the boys (mostly - some of the girls wanted them too). They were so popular that we are going to put together a short how-to-make them video. If I get it done this weekend I'll post the link or just email it to you.
The kids have been having one on one fights, group matches all sorts of similar play. It's neat. Maybe these nerf-type sword fighting with friends might be a good intro.
Peace,
Kelly
From: robin
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 12:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Swordfighting ideas?
My son, who is 10, has been asking for the last year for me to find him an opportunity to learn swordfighting. We looked into fencing, which was too sport-like and too little like traditional dueling for him. The weapons weren't right for him either. We looked into martial arts that use wooden swords, but that wasn't what he wanted. I found the the local SCA does swordfighting, but you need to be 16 for liability reasons. We did some research and it also seemed that they do not use real swords. I talked with him about getting involved with the SCA and apprenticing so he could spar in the future but he'd really like to do it now.
I'm at a loss here. He wants to use a real metal sword (with armor, if possible), he wants to be able to fight other people and have it be skill-based (using traditional sword moves and techniques). It has been really hard to explain to him that there just seem not to be many opportunities for this because of his age and liability, and frankly, I don't know if I'm ready to be a parent of a sword-weilding 10 year old unless he can do it with a skilled mentor in a controlled environment. It's especially hard because the few other interests he's asked my help with have been especially hard for me to make happen. He'd really like to learn hypnotism, but most resources out there tend to be for people or professionals to help themselves or others through behavior modification, or on the other end stuff about stage hypnotism which was more on the trickery side of things. Neither met his needs and it was all geared toward an adult audience. I tried to explain that the topic is a hard one because there is no consensus whether or not hypnotism is actually real.
I need some suggestions as to options for him as well as help for myself to get
past my issues with the danger aspect in all this.
Robin M.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
My husband, Jeff, just created a bunch of nerf-type swords for the boys (mostly - some of the girls wanted them too). They were so popular that we are going to put together a short how-to-make them video. If I get it done this weekend I'll post the link or just email it to you.
The kids have been having one on one fights, group matches all sorts of similar play. It's neat. Maybe these nerf-type sword fighting with friends might be a good intro.
Peace,
Kelly
From: robin
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 12:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Swordfighting ideas?
My son, who is 10, has been asking for the last year for me to find him an opportunity to learn swordfighting. We looked into fencing, which was too sport-like and too little like traditional dueling for him. The weapons weren't right for him either. We looked into martial arts that use wooden swords, but that wasn't what he wanted. I found the the local SCA does swordfighting, but you need to be 16 for liability reasons. We did some research and it also seemed that they do not use real swords. I talked with him about getting involved with the SCA and apprenticing so he could spar in the future but he'd really like to do it now.
I'm at a loss here. He wants to use a real metal sword (with armor, if possible), he wants to be able to fight other people and have it be skill-based (using traditional sword moves and techniques). It has been really hard to explain to him that there just seem not to be many opportunities for this because of his age and liability, and frankly, I don't know if I'm ready to be a parent of a sword-weilding 10 year old unless he can do it with a skilled mentor in a controlled environment. It's especially hard because the few other interests he's asked my help with have been especially hard for me to make happen. He'd really like to learn hypnotism, but most resources out there tend to be for people or professionals to help themselves or others through behavior modification, or on the other end stuff about stage hypnotism which was more on the trickery side of things. Neither met his needs and it was all geared toward an adult audience. I tried to explain that the topic is a hard one because there is no consensus whether or not hypnotism is actually real.
I need some suggestions as to options for him as well as help for myself to get
past my issues with the danger aspect in all this.
Robin M.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deb Lewis
The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts offers seminars and workshops. Look here: www.thearma.org
Deb Lewis
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deb Lewis
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
Boffer swords and easy armor (not metal, but plastic or leather or
made of padded material, like moving pads or quilted cloth or
something) could be fun. Not little-kid boffers, but foam on PVC, as
long as real swords, but PAD THE END well, really well.
You could search google for "boffer armor" because some SCA areas are
requiring kid-armor.
Another idea is to buy a sword for him to have, and find things he
could stab at. Bales of hay. Cardboard boxes (with other cardboard
in them for weight, maybe.
Cutting milk gallons with water in them can be a ton of fun with a
real sword (not too sharp; doesn't need to be sharp to work). Here
are some pictures and videos of people doing that:
http://sandradodd.blogspot.com/2008/03/water-my-yard-with-swords.html
http://monkeyplatterfestival.blogspot.com/2009/11/cutting-water-ongoing.html
Put it on a stump or something that won't destroy the sword and that
the sword won't destroy. We've used the top of a small step-ladder,
too.
Sandra
made of padded material, like moving pads or quilted cloth or
something) could be fun. Not little-kid boffers, but foam on PVC, as
long as real swords, but PAD THE END well, really well.
You could search google for "boffer armor" because some SCA areas are
requiring kid-armor.
Another idea is to buy a sword for him to have, and find things he
could stab at. Bales of hay. Cardboard boxes (with other cardboard
in them for weight, maybe.
Cutting milk gallons with water in them can be a ton of fun with a
real sword (not too sharp; doesn't need to be sharp to work). Here
are some pictures and videos of people doing that:
http://sandradodd.blogspot.com/2008/03/water-my-yard-with-swords.html
http://monkeyplatterfestival.blogspot.com/2009/11/cutting-water-ongoing.html
Put it on a stump or something that won't destroy the sword and that
the sword won't destroy. We've used the top of a small step-ladder,
too.
Sandra
Kelly Halldorson
>> Not little-kid boffers, but foam on PVC, aslong as real swords, but PAD THE END well, really well.<<
This is *exactly* what Jeff and the kids have been making this past week. Like I said we are working on a tutorial video that we'll post in a few days so you can see exactly how they are made...and make your own if you like
Here is one photo:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4690261&l=c497f37e91&id=609722061
peace,
Kelly
MARKETPLACE
Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get great advice about dogs and cats. Visit the Dog & Cat Answers Center.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hobbies & Activities Zone: Find others who share your passions! Explore new interests.
Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest . Unsubscribe . Terms of Use.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
lifeislearning
I wonder if he'd be interested in stage combat - it's not "real" but the goal is to make it look as real as possible. Maybe a local theater might offer classes or know of someplace that did. I've seen it offered in theater workshops and also in dance workshops (because the combat is basically choreographed, perhaps, and requires a lot of skill with body awareness, I guess).
Barb
Barb
Sandra Dodd
-=-
I wonder if he'd be interested in stage combat - it's not "real" but
the goal is to make it look as real as possible.-=-
My niece and a friend of hers (both unschoolers) started there, in a
stage combat group by a fencing teacher. He went stage combat first,
and fencing secondarily. One of them was an artist and used what she
learned to know more about body positions (for one of many things),
and the other went on to SCA combat, first rapier and then "heavy
weapons" (real armor, rattan swords).
They're both in their mid-20's now. For further update, one is an
increasingly professional photographer (she's been to two conferences
in the past year) and is making money with that; also still doing
graphics with pen/ink/photoshop). The other just got a biology degree,
is at the moment in Mongolia on a field-research trip, and plans to
become a veterinarian.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I wonder if he'd be interested in stage combat - it's not "real" but
the goal is to make it look as real as possible.-=-
My niece and a friend of hers (both unschoolers) started there, in a
stage combat group by a fencing teacher. He went stage combat first,
and fencing secondarily. One of them was an artist and used what she
learned to know more about body positions (for one of many things),
and the other went on to SCA combat, first rapier and then "heavy
weapons" (real armor, rattan swords).
They're both in their mid-20's now. For further update, one is an
increasingly professional photographer (she's been to two conferences
in the past year) and is making money with that; also still doing
graphics with pen/ink/photoshop). The other just got a biology degree,
is at the moment in Mongolia on a field-research trip, and plans to
become a veterinarian.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
AllisonR
What is you location?
There is a FANTASTIC medeival martial arts studio based in Turlock, California that sounds right up his alley.
You could research it and contact Sir Gemini to see if he has any ideas or connections in other parts of the country. My 10 yr old son is involved in this program and it is really amazing,
Degrendelus Medieval Martial Arts
It may be a starting point.
There is a FANTASTIC medeival martial arts studio based in Turlock, California that sounds right up his alley.
You could research it and contact Sir Gemini to see if he has any ideas or connections in other parts of the country. My 10 yr old son is involved in this program and it is really amazing,
Degrendelus Medieval Martial Arts
It may be a starting point.