Swords Not Words. Well, ok, probably some Words.
posted August 22, 2013 12:21 PM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Sat August 24 at 1:00 PM, Forteza Fitness
4437 North Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA (Map & Directions)
Come watch me get hit with swords. Yes, more than one.
Hey guys, I know I basically dropped off the map when I started doing this Chicago Swordplay Guild thing (ok, if I'm honest, I was already sliding off of it before I joined), but all that hard work paid off last Saturday when I passed my test for scholar.
Here's how it works: you join as a novice and take classes for a while (usually 1.5 to 2.5 years) until they think you're ready to take a test on a big chunk of what you've learned so far, blah, blah, whatever. The point is, if you pass your test, you get to "play the prize".
The prize play is a public event, so anyone can come. I thought some people might find it interesting. There will be a ceremony where the dean of the guild talks about guild history, probably, and about the process of becoming a scholar (a full-fledged member of the guild), I'm sure, but the important bit will be when I (and my fellow scholar candidates) face off against three current scholars for three minutes each.
Anyone who is interested in medieval swordplay, nearly-forgotten martial arts and/or minor injuries should probably come and check it out. I am not sure how long it will last, but I would guess 3+ hours all told. I am also not sure what will happen with me afterward (there may be some guild thing, plus my girlfriend's father is in town), but there are plenty of nice places in the neighborhood if folks want to amble off for a beer or dinner following. That's pretty much it!
Here's how it works: you join as a novice and take classes for a while (usually 1.5 to 2.5 years) until they think you're ready to take a test on a big chunk of what you've learned so far, blah, blah, whatever. The point is, if you pass your test, you get to "play the prize".
The prize play is a public event, so anyone can come. I thought some people might find it interesting. There will be a ceremony where the dean of the guild talks about guild history, probably, and about the process of becoming a scholar (a full-fledged member of the guild), I'm sure, but the important bit will be when I (and my fellow scholar candidates) face off against three current scholars for three minutes each.
Anyone who is interested in medieval swordplay, nearly-forgotten martial arts and/or minor injuries should probably come and check it out. I am not sure how long it will last, but I would guess 3+ hours all told. I am also not sure what will happen with me afterward (there may be some guild thing, plus my girlfriend's father is in town), but there are plenty of nice places in the neighborhood if folks want to amble off for a beer or dinner following. That's pretty much it!
All four of us are longsword students, so there will probably be no rapier on display, alas. In my opinion, however, longsword fights tend to be much more dynamic and visually interesting.
I should probably mark myself as attending.
posted by adamdschneider at 12:59 PM on August 22, 2013
I should probably mark myself as attending.
posted by adamdschneider at 12:59 PM on August 22, 2013
Best IRL tags ever.
I also like how between this and the recent Half Acre meetup, things are happening on IRL where I live on the map but with the little pin is getting closer. Soon the meetup will be calling... from inside the house.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:12 PM on August 22, 2013
I also like how between this and the recent Half Acre meetup, things are happening on IRL where I live on the map but with the little pin is getting closer. Soon the meetup will be calling... from inside the house.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:12 PM on August 22, 2013
If I was going to be in town I would totally come! One of these days I'll sit you down and grill you about the Guild because I still want to take classes.
(also GO YOU. I know how much work that took and YOU. ARE. AWESOME.)
posted by bibliogrrl at 6:41 AM on August 23, 2013
(also GO YOU. I know how much work that took and YOU. ARE. AWESOME.)
posted by bibliogrrl at 6:41 AM on August 23, 2013
Oh my goodness! This is so easy for me to get to but I'm going to a linux user group meetup that day. Is there going to be another event like this? I would love to see this kind of swordplay.
posted by bleary at 8:48 AM on August 23, 2013
posted by bleary at 8:48 AM on August 23, 2013
also GO YOU. I know how much work that took
Thank you! It was a tremendous amount of work, especially in the weeks leading up to the test. I am so relieved it is basically over so I can go back to doing things besides training (not that training isn't great).
Is there going to be another event like this?
The last prize play was in April of 2012. I am not sure when the next will be (depends on the students, really!), but it probably won't be terribly soon.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:49 AM on August 23, 2013
Thank you! It was a tremendous amount of work, especially in the weeks leading up to the test. I am so relieved it is basically over so I can go back to doing things besides training (not that training isn't great).
Is there going to be another event like this?
The last prize play was in April of 2012. I am not sure when the next will be (depends on the students, really!), but it probably won't be terribly soon.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:49 AM on August 23, 2013
Will you look at that? The Guild's been on the Blue before.
posted by Iridic at 8:22 AM on August 27, 2013
posted by Iridic at 8:22 AM on August 27, 2013
Congrats!
Thank you! Now that it's all over...I can't say I feel any different. xD
The Guild's been on the Blue before.
Ha! I've mentioned MetaFilter to Davis; I'll have to show him this. I wonder how I missed that post.
posted by adamdschneider at 8:13 AM on September 2, 2013
Thank you! Now that it's all over...I can't say I feel any different. xD
The Guild's been on the Blue before.
Ha! I've mentioned MetaFilter to Davis; I'll have to show him this. I wonder how I missed that post.
posted by adamdschneider at 8:13 AM on September 2, 2013
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Iridic at 12:43 PM on August 22, 2013