HEMA, Bohurt, etc

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

Yikes, hope it heals well for you.

Yeah the guy I was training with is going to worlds this year in the group fighting and is the same height as me but a few stone heavier so a great training partner.

The hema stuff I've been doing was useful for distance and movement, in striking it helps but there's a difference in power. I've been training technical sparring the last few years pulling my blows so that's something to work on.

It was so odd, everything we were doing, I was in my head thinking, "oh I did this in judo, oh that's like a push pull bull rush from football, this is a footwork upper body pattern from kickboxing etc etc. I'm looking forward to improving the cardio, but I was already able to go for the length of the rounds, which were only 1min.

The lack of weight classes is amazing. Lol. Also the team aspect in 5 on 5 is great. I thrive off the team dynamic and always disliked the solo aspect of many martial arts. I cannot wait to be in full harness and be able to punch someone or kick them, it's going to be exciting to see if the power I had translates to this.

The power definitely translates. It just is also that everyone is also wearing a steel helmet too, so everyone literally has an iron chin. But being already trained to have good power helps a lot.
And there are weight classes for the pro-fights/outrance. Duels there is no need, and team fights... well, its everyone lol. Team fights are a blast. The most fun easily. I'm best at the pro-fights though due to my MMA background so I enjoy them too, just more nerve wracking and harder than the team fights. Duels are fun too, I am meh at them so far but am improving.

It's good your cardio is holding up. That's the hardest part in armor. Getting used to the helmet is imo the second hardest. The weight of the armor is probably the next after that. Slowing you down, burning your arms faster, odd weight distribution, and a higher center of gravity.

 

[Phlog]

The power definitely translates. It just is also that everyone is also wearing a steel helmet too, so everyone literally has an iron chin. But being already trained to have good power helps a lot.
And there are weight classes for the pro-fights/outrance. Duels there is no need, and team fights... well, its everyone lol. Team fights are a blast. The most fun easily. I'm best at the pro-fights though due to my MMA background so I enjoy them too, just more nerve wracking and harder than the team fights. Duels are fun too, I am meh at them so far but am improving.

It's good your cardio is holding up. That's the hardest part in armor. Getting used to the helmet is imo the second hardest. The weight of the armor is probably the next after that. Slowing you down, burning your arms faster, odd weight distribution, and a higher center of gravity.

It sounds similar to how I used to succeed in kickboxing. I had power and some basic technique, good reach, but what gave me the edge was I trained with middleweights doing all my cardio and would keep up with them. Never made excuses.

Yeah I'm not interested in 1 on 1 anymore. Did a dozen or so in kickboxing and decided I didn't enjoy the buildup of nerves and it never got easier. I'm more relaxed in the team environment and it's more fun. I guess the win high is less but I'm cool with being more mid. And training you get to one on one a lot anyway.

I've recently been upping my cardio for football, looks like I might have to revisit those days again!

How did you choose what style of helm you have? What weapon are you favouring ATM?

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

It sounds similar to how I used to succeed in kickboxing. I had power and some basic technique, good reach, but what gave me the edge was I trained with middleweights doing all my cardio and would keep up with them. Never made excuses.

Yeah I'm not interested in 1 on 1 anymore. Did a dozen or so in kickboxing and decided I didn't enjoy the buildup of nerves and it never got easier. I'm more relaxed in the team environment and it's more fun. I guess the win high is less but I'm cool with being more mid. And training you get to one on one a lot anyway.

I've recently been upping my cardio for football, looks like I might have to revisit those days again!

How did you choose what style of helm you have? What weapon are you favouring ATM?

I just looked at all the different helmet style and found one I thought looked cool and was affordable. I’m getting a new helmet soon, already ordered it. My old one I will use for team melees since it will take some beatings there, and I’ll use it for sparring. The new one I think also looks cool and is more functionally sound, with better breathing and vision. I refuse to get a wolfrib because so many people wear them and I don’t think they look very good. This is the helmet that I recently ordered.


Weapons. Mace and buckler for pro-fights and team melee if my focus is on takedowns. Two handed axe if my focus is liver shots, hockey checks with the axe haft, or just pretending they are a tree.

I’ll do sword and buckler for profights if I need the extra speed. I also have a nice Longsword I got for Longsword duels.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

I have my next fight Mar 29. Ranked pro fight. It’s my last chance the year to gets points towards fighting at national qualifiers so I’m giving it a shot. Decent opponent. I’m the favorite but I am concerned how I’m going to perform since I haven’t fought since August, am coming off a knee injury, and I don’t get a lot of sparring time. I’ll give it my best.

 

[Phlog]

I have my next fight Mar 29. Ranked pro fight. It’s my last chance the year to gets points towards fighting at national qualifiers so I’m giving it a shot. Decent opponent. I’m the favorite but I am concerned how I’m going to perform since I haven’t fought since August, am coming off a knee injury, and I don’t get a lot of sparring time. I’ll give it my best.

Nice, good luck. Worth doing and you've nothing to lose. Your opponent may well be Injured etc too. The Gods will decide!

Am considering the axe myself. Partly to aid in grappling having a free off hand when I need it. One handed weapons feel weak and axes are cool, but it's probably the off balanced boffers that are putting me off.

 

[Phlog]

That lid is Hella sick btw.

 

[shunyata]

Nice, good luck. Worth doing and you've nothing to lose. Your opponent may well be Injured etc too. The Gods will decide!

Am considering the axe myself. Partly to aid in grappling having a free off hand when I need it. One handed weapons feel weak and axes are cool, but it's probably the off balanced boffers that are putting me off.

Are two handed maces a thing in these competitions?

I would understand if they're not used due to safety reasons but it seems like they'd be more effective practically against the heavy armor.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

Are two handed maces a thing in these competitions?

I would understand if they're not used due to safety reasons but it seems like they'd be more effective practically against the heavy armor.

They are, but the same weight limit applies, which weakens it too much for be as useful as an axe in my opinion.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

Well, I had to pull out of my fight due to strep throat. Got it on Tuesday and went to the doctors on Friday and got antibiotics. Felt like crap all week.

The guy I was supposed to fight fought another guy who is I would say pretty comparable to me. The guy I was supposed to fight gassed at the end of the first round and got tkod about 45 seconds into round 2. That would have been a nice win for me. Oh well. Gotta heal up and decide the next step.

 

[Phlog]

Well, I had to pull out of my fight due to strep throat. Got it on Tuesday and went to the doctors on Friday and got antibiotics. Felt like crap all week.

The guy I was supposed to fight fought another guy who is I would say pretty comparable to me. The guy I was supposed to fight gassed him at the end of the first round and got tkod about 45 seconds into round 2. That would have been a nice win for me. Oh well. Gotta heal up and decide the next step.

That sucks, but shit happens. You never know how it's going to go.

I've paused training buhurt as I hurt my neck/back. Doing buhurt sat nights and D line on Sunday morning is probably a bridge to far when in the football season, at least when I have games within a couple weeks. Age 45 I gotta pick my battles and I'm over 10yrs into the football project.

But I want to do plenty of buhurt before I can't so I need to be careful to balance my desires.

Was wondering what you think re kit buying order. Am kinda coming down on it's best to get all at same time so as to have the pieces more contiguous. Currently am thinking about ordering from Ukraine as we get to avoid tax that way but it's a bit of a way to fly to pick up, and there are obviously risks specific to that country if there's a year or two lead time. It's a pain how difficult it is to arrange and there aren't many easy options here in the UK.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

That sucks, but shit happens. You never know how it's going to go.

I've paused training buhurt as I hurt my neck/back. Doing buhurt sat nights and D line on Sunday morning is probably a bridge to far when in the football season, at least when I have games within a couple weeks. Age 45 I gotta pick my battles and I'm over 10yrs into the football project.

But I want to do plenty of buhurt before I can't so I need to be careful to balance my desires.

Was wondering what you think re kit buying order. Am kinda coming down on it's best to get all at same time so as to have the pieces more contiguous. Currently am thinking about ordering from Ukraine as we get to avoid tax that way but it's a bit of a way to fly to pick up, and there are obviously risks specific to that country if there's a year or two lead time. It's a pain how difficult it is to arrange and there aren't many easy options here in the UK.

I mean, that's up to you. Depends on the kit and what you want. I got my arms and legs from GS studios out of Poland. My helmet from Pavlo Kozak in Ukraine, my brig from Pavel Burlakov from Russia. All of them were great, well priced, and hold up well. Plus I have teardrop titanium dueling shoulders and titanium jack chains for rebraces, mainly for duels and pro-fights with swords. So I got my pieces from different people. It comes down to what you want really. As long as you know each piece you can do it either way. I prefer it the way I did it because some armorers only make certain things.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

I am fighting at Nationals this Saturday. They had a few open spots that they opened for unranked fighters to fill. I decided to drop a weight class and fight at middleweight 85kgs/187lbs. The top fighters there are decent, but winnable. Light heavy has the current world champion in two leagues as well as the number 1 contender he just beat not long ago. I would prefer to fight at my natural weight, but since I recovered from my injury I'm 199 now at lightheavyweight. So fight slightly undersized in a class with a larger bracket and the current world champ, or cut 12 lbs and fight in the class with less fighters in the bracket and the top 2 guys being a close fight for me. (for some reason the top like 8 middleweights in the country did not register, I understand why the #1, #4, and #7 didn't, but not the rest)

So my weight cut began today. Haven't cut weight for a fight since 2008 when I was 24.

 

[Phlog]

I am fighting at Nationals this Saturday. They had a few open spots that they opened for unranked fighters to fill. I decided to drop a weight class and fight at middleweight 85kgs/187lbs. The top fighters there are decent, but winnable. Light heavy has the current world champion in two leagues as well as the number 1 contender he just beat not long ago. I would prefer to fight at my natural weight, but since I recovered from my injury I'm 199 now at lightheavyweight. So fight slightly undersized in a class with a larger bracket and the current world champ, or cut 12 lbs and fight in the class with less fighters in the bracket and the top 2 guys being a close fight for me. (for some reason the top like 8 middleweights in the country did not register, I understand why the #1, #4, and #7 didn't, but not the rest)

So my weight cut began today. Haven't cut weight for a fight since 2008 when I was 24.

Well, bon chance! That's a great opportunity, I look forward to the breakdown.

I've had a couple of goes in borrowed full harness now doing 5x1min rounds and fuck me the cardio demand is surprising. Shouldn't be, but I was able to tread water sparring and fighting, this was like drowning. But I have given a good account of myself and 'won' my exchanges.

I'll be fighting at the end of the month at a local event.

I really look forward to getting my cardio up to the point where I'm going full speed in fights. It's going to be fucking wild sitting on that kind of machine (heart and lungs).

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

Well, bon chance! That's a great opportunity, I look forward to the breakdown.

I've had a couple of goes in borrowed full harness now doing 5x1min rounds and fuck me the cardio demand is surprising. Shouldn't be, but I was able to tread water sparring and fighting, this was like drowning. But I have given a good account of myself and 'won' my exchanges.

I'll be fighting at the end of the month at a local event.

I really look forward to getting my cardio up to the point where I'm going full speed in fights. It's going to be fucking wild sitting on that kind of machine (heart and lungs).

Awesome! Fill us in how your progress goes. And yeah, the cardio is brutal. A lot of fights are won purely on who has the better conditioning.

 

[Hotora86]

Anyone here partake?

I partake in Hematoma and Butthurt.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

Welp, I lost lol.

So, I got bronze and had to pull out of the match for silver due to it being unsafe. (My arms were still shakey like a hour after my previous fight, the cut messed me up a bit too much) Basically, I lost to the guy who got gold. Won the first round, lost the second after starting to gas halfway through the round. Spent all round three just staying on my feet and swinging back just enough to prevent the marshal(ref) from stopping the match.

My cut really messed me up. Mainly because the weigh in was 11:30 and I fought at 1:15. So I was drained. I did what I could to rehydrate but it took its toll. I didn’t perform at the level I usually do and was just kinda flat. A number of people told me I just didn’t look myself out there. It was worth a shot though. Watching what the LHW champ did to the other guys almost made me feel like I made the right choice lol. I’ll fight him someday when I’m more ready and not rusty.

 

[Phlog]

Welp, I lost lol.

So, I got bronze and had to pull out of the match for silver due to it being unsafe. (My arms were still shakey like a hour after my previous fight, the cut messed me up a bit too much) Basically, I lost to the guy who got gold. Won the first round, lost the second after starting to gas halfway through the round. Spent all round three just staying on my feet and swinging back just enough to prevent the marshal(ref) from stopping the match.

My cut really messed me up. Mainly because the weigh in was 11:30 and I fought at 1:15. So I was drained. I did what I could to rehydrate but it took its toll. I didn’t perform at the level I usually do and was just kinda flat. A number of people told me I just didn’t look myself out there. It was worth a shot though. Watching what the LHW champ did to the other guys almost made me feel like I made the right choice lol. I’ll fight him someday when I’m more ready and not rusty.

That sucks man but it's all good experience, you wouldn't know how it went without getting in there and trying the cut.

I've always been against the idea of cutting myself, but I understand the use cases and why people choose to do it. One of my friends used to quote George Foreman "a lion doesn't cut weight to fight house cats" or something like that.

At least you know what's necessary going forward now and your courage is unquestioned.

 

[Phlog]

Ok.

So had my first proper go this weekend at a inter organisation friendly exhibition involving 4 teams. I did a halberd duel against a guy who is on the UK longsword team, first time I'd used a halberd in anger or in plate. We got about 60 seconds before mine broke in the middle and had to stop, but up until that point I got about 3-4 strikes for everyone of his and he tapped out. Used a long axe in another and spear in another.

Then I had a few rounds of 3x3 buhurt and had some success. Learned valuable lessons about picking when to bull rush and when to not, also how I need to change my drive from football where pancakes is the effort to avoid just going down with the 1-3 people I took down with me . Our team won overall but a painful number of lessons learned personally. Decent bruise on the back of my knee. Managed to not die of suffocation but it was close!

I know more what I want kit wise now.

@BB in Crazy!!!!

 

[Phlog]

I decided on an armourer, after seeing examples of their work and their prices being really competitive. Also wait times are low and customer service is excellent with weekly progress videos.

Steelskinfamily master, UKR. I'm buying their legs, arms and a helmet for $2500. Although it might go up a bit as the size of my legs has surprised them . Here's an example of the full set, I'm going with a brigandine and a colander style lid, full calfs and 3 quarter thigh cover. I have some very solid mitten style gauntlets.


@BB in Crazy!!!!

 

[Stoic1]

I'd last about 5 minutes in that suit before I died of heat exhaustion.