First Combat Session

Today was a day I've been both looking forward to all my life, and dreading for the last few weeks. Today I did my first combat training.

In all honesty, now it's over, I have no idea why I was so worried. I guess I was worried that they'd put me straight into the thick of it, and I'd have to muddle through, being constantly killed, with a wounded pride. Luckily, it was nothing like that. After all of the members who were experienced had done their fighting, which took up most of the session, and then the leader got all of the new members to go and borrow kit from the old. To be honest, it hadn't occurred to me in those paranoid weeks where I would get my combat kit from, so I feel pretty silly looking back on myself. How could I have fought with them without so much as a spoon to my name?

The thing that surprised me most was how light the shield was. Not to say that it was light-light, but being solid wood, and with a large metal boss, I had expected my shield to drop to the floor after a minute of trying to hold it up. Maybe I'm just stronger than I thought, but the shield was easy to carry, even up over myself, and fast to maneuver. The seax was surprisingly easy to fight with too, and nicely close range. I think this suits me best, really. The only bit of kit that really bothered me was the helmet - so itchy!

What we were going was going through 'The Eights', which are basically the 16 moves which can be used in combat. Not that we can use all 16 - head shots are not allowed, but we are taught to use them so that we can get good and blocking headshots that less well trained groups might try, or accidental blows from misses. This is obviously the most important block to get perfect.

You might be wondering - why call them The Eights, if there are 16/15 moves? Well, the exercise is made up of 8 movements, with one person attacking or defending. That means that each of the eight areas can be targeted or defended, hence 'The Eights'. Right now, I apparently have a good defense, but my attack isn't what it could be, but I wonder if that's because half o my brain is focusing on where to hit next, and in what order. When I am defending, I kind of let go of that more linguistic brain, look into my opponents eyes, and let my body take over with defending. I really need to remember to pull back into my guard position every time I make a blow though, but other than that, I think it has all gone so well.

I can't wait for next week.