The first lecture session was an excellent introduction to the science of paleopathology by Kirsty McCarrison of the Durham chapter, in particular to the detective process involved in looking at bones and working out the sort of injuries that had been caused by weapons. Some lovely gruesome photos of bones displaying what must have horrific wounds, and some audience participation where we examined the pattern of injures on a 7th century skeleton and concluding that the poor unfortunate was probably part of a shield wall and unable to get out of the way of a descending axe cut to his shoulder and hip, before being finished off by a spear thrust to the chest. Lovely.
The next lecture was an analysis of various accounts of duels, both in fact and fiction, with the obligatory clips from the Duellists and the Princess Bride. It is well worth reading this account of a duel fought by the Italian Olympic fencing champion Aldo Nadi, which gives a good idea of the range of feelings experienced, both fear and anger.
After lunch, it was time for some action, so I joined the workshop for German Langes Messer (falchion) by Alex Kiermayer. A lovely, effective weapon with elements of sabre and backsword coming into play along with the typically Germanic methods of attack. From the long knife of the German middle ages, it was then time for the more visceral skills of the Bowie knife. Knife fights are up close and personal, lightning fast and full of dirty tricks. Excellent fun, and I was a particularly sweaty bunny by the end of the lesson.
After a much needed shower, and a well deserved cold beer, we headed back to the Armouries for the drinks reception and formal dinner. As a special treat, the museum interpreters had arranged a displayed of armoured foot combat in full plate. It was astonishing to see just how much mobility and speed that the combatants had whilst wearing 120 pounds of armour. Stunning to see.
The first lecture on Sunday morning dealt with the quirky German Dussack - a weapon that I knew very little about. Lots of slides of pictures of German chaps from the middle ages with enormous trousers. Fascinating and informative.
The next two workshop sessions were without doubt the absolute highlight of the weekend for me, covering the weapons and tactics for Naval boarding actions. The first session dealt with basic cutlass techniques and also the use of the tomahawk as a useful weapon for both disarming and eviscerating an opponent. After lunch we expanded on the cutlass and then brought in the use of the bayonet, pike and boarding axe, before finishing with the slung shot - a chunk of lead shot attached to a short piece of rope. Even using a balled up sock in place of the lead shot was enough to make my ears ring when caught round the side of the head at full extension. It would certainly have been very effective at laying an opponent out cold with very little trouble. What larks!
The final session of the day, and the weekend, was an introduction to Cunningham's techniques for walking stick and cane, where a casual stroll with a stick can instantly become a very aggressive and effective defensive stance. Hurrah!
What an excellent weekend, and I now have a fine collection of bruises to show for it!
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