Today is my birthday, and so this post is going to serve a double purpose.
Firstly, I want to remark on how much I really don't feel a year older, and that I can't really remember how old I am, and no, I don't want any onions with my liver spots.
I drank ALL of the beer last Saturday, and had an amazing time with a few of my closest and most understanding people. They are all prepared for the faulty girl in armour, and joined us for some braai and bonfire, anyway.
I would also like to thank my husband and protector, Josh, who found a miraculously tactful way to discourage the late-night boffer fighting which Jimmy-Steve and I decided would be fun. He announced he was sober and would be in the pit first, which effectively dampened all of the potential for flame-induced damage.
Here is a photo of me with one of my birthday gifts from Dagan and Shannonne. It is a litre of Danish Viking beer. As we say here, Faxe fuckses you up. Thanks to Tinka Tepish for the photo.
It was a good evening because I already miss my fighting family from IMCF Denmark.
We made so many friendships and renewed ones already made from previous years. I got to see my favourite fighters in action, close up and in person, and to meet some of those fighters I hold in high esteem but have only spoken to online.
The event ran like clockwork, and we were grateful for the kindness and helpfulness shown to us by the Danes, and everyone else.
I have to acknowledge the absence of a few of the better-known fighters. They were not there for various reasons, some logistical and some political, and they were missed
Now, I know I'm not supposed to comment on politics of any kind because having an opinion is always dangerous, but I sincerely hope that by the time we get to Scotland next year, I'll be able to look forward to seeing them all there.
I did, however, meet and fight the Finnish 3v3 team in buhurt, which was epic. The Quebec team was also amazing, and it was fun to beat the British girls from Battle Heritage, our affiliate organisation.
Was that cheeky? Well, for a first buhurt experience, I think our team, Steph Roets, Bronwen Huysamer and I, did pretty well.
I also think that if I hadn't been injured in the second round of the first match against UK, I probably would have been able to give a better challenge, but you know what they say: coulda, shoulda, woulda...
The point is, we were there, we did the thing, we won one and we lost to the two best 3v3 teams at the tournament, in which there is no shame. I'm pleased.
Steph did really well, getting into the quarter finals in sword and shield, and I improved on my longsword performance this year, also going through to the quarter finals. There, I met a tiny Ukrainian woman who bested me in two rounds. I really wanted to fight a Ukrainian while I was at IMCF, so I got my wish. Now I know. I really need to train more. Because fighting Ukrainians is hard work.
That team entered fighters for every category in the tournament, so they were not a small bunch of fighters. However, what struck me the most was firstly the discipline and then the friendliness. I didn't really get to chat with any of the fighters except for one of the women (Kate), and one of the men (Igor - and then of course I had a bit of a fangirl moment, it was ridiculous), but their conduct was just what I would hope my team, when it is bigger and requires more order, would be.
We made some friends and received help, advice, food, mead, beer, and gifts from loads of fighters. The New Zealanders were awesome, in and out of the lists, and fighting Dayna in polearm was a pleasure. I think their new fighter, Sigrid, really impressed everyone with her medal in longsword.
(Actually, let me take a moment to mention that the sportsmanship at the IMCF tournament was really good.)
When we arrived in Billund, we were on the same flight as the Mexican team, and after about half an hour of nodding and grinning, we discovered that they all spoke English, and so (my social skills being what they are) my teammates, Bronwen and Eurika proceeded to make friends with them all. Very nice people, and exciting to watch in the buhurt.
Of course, I got to meet up with my Luxembourg family, Susanne and Laurent and Misch and their team, which was wonderful. They are genuinely nice people, and watching the team in the 5v5s was a treat.
I have to make a special mention of Misch, who brought the coat of plates I gave him in Luxembourg last year, and returned it so that I could fight safely. He wasn't using it, so I brought it back with me and now Jimmy-Steve will use it. Thanks, Misch. You are a gentleman of your word, and that beer will be on its way to you shortly.
Our teammate Eurika, who went over to marshal, also found her people. Within a few hours of us being at the tournament, she had found the herd of yellow people and been assimilated. I think she could not have been happier, and that makes me happy, too. She is a valuable part of our local sword community, and that has just been augmented by her new level up in marshalling.
And the guys. Ah, the guys. What can I say? I really am so proud of them both. Oliver fought polearm, and he gave it his very best. What more can you ask of a fighter with not even six months of polearm training? Nothing. He fought through his pool, he did not withdraw, he showed sportsmanship and gave a good account of himself. No, he did not get through to quarter finals, but not everyone can be winners all the time. He fought well, and next time, he will fight even better.
Henry fought sword and shield and he really did well. He also gave his very best, and made it through to quarter finals. Henry has been training hard and he was at the seminar we had with Marcin at the beginning of the year. He took note of the techniques, and was putting them into practice, and it paid off. For his first showing, I reckon he should be proud of himself.
And speaking of champs, it was particularly enjoyable to see Marcin fighting. That guy is so fast. I didn't get to see Denise or Melanie fighting, but I at least got to chat with them for a short time, and it was good to catch up.
I realised at one point, as I was sitting there near the lists, and people were smashing each other, and other people were cheering, and the commentator was talking about the teams, that we as fighters are living in a golden age. We can meet our heroes. Well at least, I can meet my heroes. When we have tournaments, we rub shoulders with these amazing athletes, and maybe in some countries, they are rock stars, but not in mine, and not in many others. They are accessible and (most are) humble, and they take a genuine pleasure in talking to other fighters like me about fighting. It's a privilege that we take for granted.
Years from now, when sword fighting has become much bigger, and people are making money off it, and the world recognises those top athletes in our sport as stars, we won't be able to just walk up to someone like Igor Parfentev or Marcin Waszkielis or Jose Amoeda and say, "So, can you give me some tips on..." because there will be bodyguards and press agents.
Well, at least, that's what I think it will be like in the future.
For now, I'm glad we made so many friends. The Italians, the Mexicans, the Kiwis, the Luxes, the Scots and the Irish and the Welsh and English, the Danish and Finnish and Japanese, we are friends with them all.
Even a couple of the Americans spoke to me, and that was cool.
The coolest thing was that the video is still up, and there was a lovely lady, who put by a little bit of the shopping money every week so that she could make the trip to Denmark for the event. Her husband didn't know until a couple of weeks beforehand. But that is what we do for our sport. Her name is Caroline Walsh, and she photographed it all.
Here is her page with all of the photos:
https://www.facebook.com/carolinewalsh010/media_set?set=a.10213706756369619.1073741874.1426514467&type=3
And the other album:
https://www.facebook.com/carolinewalsh010/media_set?set=a.3287546153948.168552.1426514467&type=3
And if you missed the live feed, here is the link to the videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpg5Ak2VDxE
And here is a lovely photo of me resting after fighting, just to round it off, thanks to Ivan Campero, the South African Austrian.
Firstly, I want to remark on how much I really don't feel a year older, and that I can't really remember how old I am, and no, I don't want any onions with my liver spots.
I drank ALL of the beer last Saturday, and had an amazing time with a few of my closest and most understanding people. They are all prepared for the faulty girl in armour, and joined us for some braai and bonfire, anyway.
I would also like to thank my husband and protector, Josh, who found a miraculously tactful way to discourage the late-night boffer fighting which Jimmy-Steve and I decided would be fun. He announced he was sober and would be in the pit first, which effectively dampened all of the potential for flame-induced damage.
Here is a photo of me with one of my birthday gifts from Dagan and Shannonne. It is a litre of Danish Viking beer. As we say here, Faxe fuckses you up. Thanks to Tinka Tepish for the photo.
I think we only had one clan of non-fighters at the gathering, and they are really good supporters of the sport.
It was a good evening because I already miss my fighting family from IMCF Denmark.
We made so many friendships and renewed ones already made from previous years. I got to see my favourite fighters in action, close up and in person, and to meet some of those fighters I hold in high esteem but have only spoken to online.
The event ran like clockwork, and we were grateful for the kindness and helpfulness shown to us by the Danes, and everyone else.
I have to acknowledge the absence of a few of the better-known fighters. They were not there for various reasons, some logistical and some political, and they were missed
Now, I know I'm not supposed to comment on politics of any kind because having an opinion is always dangerous, but I sincerely hope that by the time we get to Scotland next year, I'll be able to look forward to seeing them all there.
I did, however, meet and fight the Finnish 3v3 team in buhurt, which was epic. The Quebec team was also amazing, and it was fun to beat the British girls from Battle Heritage, our affiliate organisation.
Was that cheeky? Well, for a first buhurt experience, I think our team, Steph Roets, Bronwen Huysamer and I, did pretty well.
I also think that if I hadn't been injured in the second round of the first match against UK, I probably would have been able to give a better challenge, but you know what they say: coulda, shoulda, woulda...
The point is, we were there, we did the thing, we won one and we lost to the two best 3v3 teams at the tournament, in which there is no shame. I'm pleased.
Steph did really well, getting into the quarter finals in sword and shield, and I improved on my longsword performance this year, also going through to the quarter finals. There, I met a tiny Ukrainian woman who bested me in two rounds. I really wanted to fight a Ukrainian while I was at IMCF, so I got my wish. Now I know. I really need to train more. Because fighting Ukrainians is hard work.
That team entered fighters for every category in the tournament, so they were not a small bunch of fighters. However, what struck me the most was firstly the discipline and then the friendliness. I didn't really get to chat with any of the fighters except for one of the women (Kate), and one of the men (Igor - and then of course I had a bit of a fangirl moment, it was ridiculous), but their conduct was just what I would hope my team, when it is bigger and requires more order, would be.
We made some friends and received help, advice, food, mead, beer, and gifts from loads of fighters. The New Zealanders were awesome, in and out of the lists, and fighting Dayna in polearm was a pleasure. I think their new fighter, Sigrid, really impressed everyone with her medal in longsword.
(Actually, let me take a moment to mention that the sportsmanship at the IMCF tournament was really good.)
When we arrived in Billund, we were on the same flight as the Mexican team, and after about half an hour of nodding and grinning, we discovered that they all spoke English, and so (my social skills being what they are) my teammates, Bronwen and Eurika proceeded to make friends with them all. Very nice people, and exciting to watch in the buhurt.
Of course, I got to meet up with my Luxembourg family, Susanne and Laurent and Misch and their team, which was wonderful. They are genuinely nice people, and watching the team in the 5v5s was a treat.
I have to make a special mention of Misch, who brought the coat of plates I gave him in Luxembourg last year, and returned it so that I could fight safely. He wasn't using it, so I brought it back with me and now Jimmy-Steve will use it. Thanks, Misch. You are a gentleman of your word, and that beer will be on its way to you shortly.
Our teammate Eurika, who went over to marshal, also found her people. Within a few hours of us being at the tournament, she had found the herd of yellow people and been assimilated. I think she could not have been happier, and that makes me happy, too. She is a valuable part of our local sword community, and that has just been augmented by her new level up in marshalling.
And the guys. Ah, the guys. What can I say? I really am so proud of them both. Oliver fought polearm, and he gave it his very best. What more can you ask of a fighter with not even six months of polearm training? Nothing. He fought through his pool, he did not withdraw, he showed sportsmanship and gave a good account of himself. No, he did not get through to quarter finals, but not everyone can be winners all the time. He fought well, and next time, he will fight even better.
Henry fought sword and shield and he really did well. He also gave his very best, and made it through to quarter finals. Henry has been training hard and he was at the seminar we had with Marcin at the beginning of the year. He took note of the techniques, and was putting them into practice, and it paid off. For his first showing, I reckon he should be proud of himself.
And speaking of champs, it was particularly enjoyable to see Marcin fighting. That guy is so fast. I didn't get to see Denise or Melanie fighting, but I at least got to chat with them for a short time, and it was good to catch up.
I realised at one point, as I was sitting there near the lists, and people were smashing each other, and other people were cheering, and the commentator was talking about the teams, that we as fighters are living in a golden age. We can meet our heroes. Well at least, I can meet my heroes. When we have tournaments, we rub shoulders with these amazing athletes, and maybe in some countries, they are rock stars, but not in mine, and not in many others. They are accessible and (most are) humble, and they take a genuine pleasure in talking to other fighters like me about fighting. It's a privilege that we take for granted.
Years from now, when sword fighting has become much bigger, and people are making money off it, and the world recognises those top athletes in our sport as stars, we won't be able to just walk up to someone like Igor Parfentev or Marcin Waszkielis or Jose Amoeda and say, "So, can you give me some tips on..." because there will be bodyguards and press agents.
Well, at least, that's what I think it will be like in the future.
For now, I'm glad we made so many friends. The Italians, the Mexicans, the Kiwis, the Luxes, the Scots and the Irish and the Welsh and English, the Danish and Finnish and Japanese, we are friends with them all.
Even a couple of the Americans spoke to me, and that was cool.
The coolest thing was that the video is still up, and there was a lovely lady, who put by a little bit of the shopping money every week so that she could make the trip to Denmark for the event. Her husband didn't know until a couple of weeks beforehand. But that is what we do for our sport. Her name is Caroline Walsh, and she photographed it all.
Here is her page with all of the photos:
https://www.facebook.com/carolinewalsh010/media_set?set=a.10213706756369619.1073741874.1426514467&type=3
And the other album:
https://www.facebook.com/carolinewalsh010/media_set?set=a.3287546153948.168552.1426514467&type=3
And if you missed the live feed, here is the link to the videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpg5Ak2VDxE
And here is a lovely photo of me resting after fighting, just to round it off, thanks to Ivan Campero, the South African Austrian.
Thanks for being there.
Best bloody time ever!! My Yellow Marshal people are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI know. And you made us proud, too!
ReplyDelete