HARNESSFECTHEN - WITHIN THE RANKS OF ARMA MEMBERS

[Rod-Thornton]

Folks:

As someone who has just recently finished assembling his harness from a study group where harnessfechten was historically a regular training regimen, I am of course curious how many other of our fellow practice partners regularly train "in" and "for" harness fighting?

(Shane, my compadre, you need NOT respond! lol, )

Please chime in for those who are, as I am trying to understand how much of it we do as an organization along with our core curricula.

Thanks!~

[Keith Culbertson]

well, when I first joined ARMA, I broke out my Sugar-loaf-ish helm, heavy Norman-esque hauberk, sometimes added leg/elbow/other plate tomake it 'platemail'-ish, and enjoyed trying to work some of the same maneuvers as unarmoured, usually failing and readjusting to the new (im)balances with mixed success, but thoroughly enjoying the endurance exercise of it along the way.
I really would like to do more, but no one else here in Columbus has armor; also using anything but metal weapons tends to ruin wasters/nylons/paddeds due to rivets/edges/whatever of the metal armor, and my full-size viking-style roundshield as well (except I fixed that by casing the metal-reinforced rim in leather)
the last time I really got to do something like it was at Origins last summer when I bouted with the one fantasy-padded group Edhellen typically dressed in full leather and metal armors and several of them actually employed closing techniques as well as fighting with good energy
so other than the one workshop at IG07 that is about it for me, but would love to hear more from others as well and get something going again

[Aaron Pynenberg]

For my training, I first began jogging in the leg armor. I figured that my legs needed to carry the rest of the load so it was a good place to start.

After progressing to the point where it was no longer difficult, I switched to wearing the torso front and back, and the gauntlets while doing our exercises.

I continued to add pieces until only my head was left, then I trained in the helm as well.

Each section added a different feel, the helm especially. But for ARMA Members you should simply do the same exercises you do for unarmored, granted the techniques change however.

[Jonathan Newhall]

Hey, Aaron, I was wondering given my eventual want of a suit of partial plate or thereabouts (money is still wanting, unfortunately, what with being a starving student and all that :p) what would you say is the most restrictive piece of armor in terms of slowing down movement? In other words, which piece of plate would you recommend removing in order to best increase movement ability while retaining the best protection?

My little experience suggests the legs, given not only their expense and complexity but also how they have the possibility to impede the mobility of the entire body, but I could be wrong.

[Brian Hunt]

I built my first suit of armour in the early 80's.

I am currently making a new suit of 14th century armour that is mostly done. Just need time to build for myself instead of others.

Have been training in and out of armour for years, though I never new the historic techniques until joining ARMA.

Brian Hunt.

ARMA senior researcher

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Hello Jon- !

Yes a Harness is a big investment- (I am currently having mine worked on at Abion by Lars. He is working to give me that custom tailored fit that the suit should have been.)- The real important part I am discovering is the garment that you wear underneath it.

This makes all the difference in the world. When you do save up enough, I highly suggest looking up Historical Enterprises, and buy the "arming garments" that they sell...It made a huge impact on how mobile and comfortable I was in mine..

As far as your question goes, I have been thinking about it for awhile, and I must say "I dunno?". None of it is really uncomfortable at all, nor does it limit my mobility at all. If I was going to leave off something, for whatever reason, I would say -out of instinct- gauntlets..it's not that they are hard to move in, it's just the one part of being covered in metal, that makes sensory tactile perception difficult. But like I said it's kind of a hard question.- AP