My first training injury

[Brian Hunt]

Hi Joachim,

due to interest and demand most of the gear I develop for myself ends up also being for sale. The problem I have is keeping a set of the good stuff for myself instead of selling it. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

My fencing helmets are a good example of that. I attended a seminar in Denver and by coincidence Jake Norwood had also attended. I had my helmet in the back seat as Jake and I were headed for lunch when he exclaimed "What's that!" and dived head first into the back seat of my car to retrieve my helmet. Whereupon examining it he insisted that I had to make one for him. Thus I make a few a year now for various ARMA folks. In the middle of finishing up one as we speak.

Don't know what the shipping costs will be like outside of the USA. Would be a first for me there.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Jaron Bernstein]

http://www.galls.com/style.html?style=TE383&amp;assort=general_catalog

I have had very good luck with these.

[Joachim Nilsson]

Well, there is a first time for everything isn't there? <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though: I think that what you are doing, making items for protection -even if it's just a few each year- is a great thing, not to mention an asset to this community. For one we need them. And second, who better to make them than another practitioner?

A friend and colleague of mine, Björn Sollander, have started his own small time company, importing wasters and what not for the RMA communityhere in Sweden. Maybe you could set something up with him?

[TimSheetz]

HI Jaron,

I ike these too, but there is a gap in the padding on the index finger, right after the second joint fomrthe tip of the finger. I think they have a gap in padding so that the trigger finger can fold back...

I have been meaning to sew mine shut and add a bit to that location.. maybe I'll cover it all in leather... just another project to add to my list.

I think I actually prefer the mylec street hockey gloves... less forarm protection but they are about the same in padding.

One plus withthe galls gloves is the kevlar onthe palm for those wanting to do half sword with a sharp without slitting your hand open...

Tim

[TimSheetz]

Speaking of training injuries, I recently recieved a minor one and I have no other recourse than to blame you, Joachim.

I think t was you who had said you spar with wooden training daggers at full speed... and I thought it such a good idea that my training partner and I tried it.

Actually it really worked great and upped the intensity/stress level substantially.

My incident was knocking aside his attack from above and having the last joint of my pinky caught between his hilt and my grip, sandwhiching it between two pieces of hickory.

Never have a given a pinky joint so much of my attention so quickly before! I couldnt stop thinking about it for then next 5 minutes after.

But just a sore joint, no breaks or anything. I just thought it was funny.


TIm

[Jaron Bernstein]

That gap is so you can use your trigger finger. I like them because you get (IMO) an acceptable level of hand mobility while not getting your hands smashed up every time. I was thinking of maybe putting some form of hard shell piece over the individual foam blocks.

[Joachim Nilsson]

Hehe, I'm happy to oblige, Tim. <img src="/forum/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" />

It does up the intensity and stress levels tremendously though. Not to mention it makes all those locks where the dagger is utilized possible. I wouldn't have it any other way than with wooden daggers. It does up the possibility for injury somewhat. But over here we have never experienced anything worse than a couple of bruises.

But I hear you on the sandwiched finger though. That has happened more than once. Not to mention when you, in the heat of the moment, misjudge the distance when trying to lock his dagger arm with your off-hand and as a result of that get a good stab directly on one of the fingers. But hey, no pain, no gain. <img src="/forum/images/icons/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Best,
Joachim

[Byron Doyle]

I am currently about 5 weeks into healing a broken left little finger thanks to Stew. <img src="/forum/images/icons/laugh.gif" alt="" /> It sucks sometimes, but I get to study single sword because of it so it's really not so bad.

I am in the middle of trying to develop a decent pair of ABS plastic finger gauntlets modeled upon one of the Wisby guantlets. It should give good mobility, and decent protection while remaining light.

I've had the opportunity to handle some of the prototypes for some mitten gauntlets that Brian made, and they're very nice – light but still protective, and they don't restrict movement much at all. I'm excited for when the final product is done.

[Joachim Nilsson]

Byron wrote:

light but still protective, and they don't restrict movement much at all.

Sounds great. That's exactly what I'm looking for.

[Mike_McGurk]

I'm sorry to hear you got hurt. Personally, I actually think that the injuries are just as important as the training, because they force you reexamine your techniques and ponder the logic behind them. After I stepped into my friend's bokken during crosstraining, which hit my glasses, nose and split my lip open, I was much more careful to block with my sword and not with my head!
Well, as the ever insight germans put it best 'what hurts, teaches'.