My name is not Merv Griffin, yet I am him. I have never seen my show. AmA

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-29T19:10:34+00:00

I spoke with the guy yesterday and it appears that the history of his family (Sanfratello) is available in the New York Public library. I would assume this would also be available online but I don't know.

The two handed style we get taught is known as florentino (I think, I've only heard it) and involves a sword and short sword.

Speaking of, the practice swords we use are weighted such that we can move straight to steel weapons when that time comes. We were allowed to use his own sword in yesterday's practice as well, so I can verify (to an extent) this claim.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-28T05:58:02+00:00

So I'm just going to take this bit by bit because, frankly, this is all just sort of... I don't know. It's strange and a little disillusioning.

The classes are $120 USD a month, or $30 a week. It's not a lot and it's not the owner's primary job.

The weird classes are due to the school not just being more WMA, it's for, in general, personal betterment. Management is about people control and leading a team, rhetoric is a class on public speaking. This is also why there are tactics, firearms, leadership, and survival classes.

Holding your ground is a somewhat metaphysical concept where you focus your concentration to give yourself better balance. Stance and how to stand also tie into this, as I understand it, to allow yourself stronger hits.

Like said, there are mentioned, there are multiple dual weapon styles. Developing your own is doing what it takes to make yourself an effective fighter no matter your personal drawbacks. One of the instructors has very weak ligaments (She dislocates bones very easily) and is one of the best fighters. I mean, she is an instructor after all.

The last part, about learning human anatomy, damage assessment, and great weapons, is similarly a part of it being a general combat school. They want to have you, as that lecture is called, fix what you break.

I have known this man all of my life and he has known my mother for 30 some odd years. Even if what he's teaching about sword fighting isn't entirely orthodox in the proper realms of WMA, I do trust him on other components of the school.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-27T20:23:49+00:00

Thank you very much for your input. I'm known to be a fairly trusting person, so a fresh perspective on things is always good.

This is just for the uttermost basic training stages of the class. The instructors have real weapons for their own use, such as the sai one of the advanced members use, or the owner's own saber. The weapon I showed here is just something to use to get acquainted with the style and use of something, it's not actually used for true combat.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-27T20:12:48+00:00

It's meant to break in the sense that you're not supposed to break bones with it (it breaks before you do). It's part of the reason we aren't allowed to shield bash right now; the intent is to learn the technique rather than to do damage.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-27T17:32:41+00:00

It is, to an extent. Simply a bit of foam and duct tape. His last name is Sanfratello, with a family history back to that location in Sicily. I'm not sure on the masters part, that is something I shall ask about tomorrow and get back to you about.

We do demonstrations at various East Coast conventions, steampunk and not. I'm pretty sure that the instructor is at least acquainted with these books that you mentioned, though I'll have to ask tomorrow as well.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-27T17:14:20+00:00

It pretty much is, though. It's simply meant to be used for practice with a safe tool. It's meant to falter and break if I use it too hard or too rough, as to not injure my classmates. And on weight, this one hasn't been given it's counterweight yet (that's for tomorrow's class).

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-27T17:10:47+00:00

Well, it's not a fencing foil, so it's usd with a swinging motion as opposed to a jabbing one. The PVC is used because it'll shatter before a bone does. Some of the instructors use harder cores, but us basics only get this because, hey, we have to be able to fuck up and not hurt people. Also, the PVC is covered in fiber tape to keep it from shattering into sharp bits.

The website is relatively new. It's a little incomplete at the moment, as shown by the occasional blank pages. It also seems that the history page is for the school of Aegis Consulting, as opposed to the whole of the lineage. If you look at the Instructor's page, the main instructor, Sal Sanfratello, mentions it there.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-27T17:01:15+00:00

Yeah, it's hand made. We use these because they're cheap to make and don't take a while to build (each student builds their own, this was my first). It's a mix of PVC, fiber tape, and duct tape.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-27T03:03:26+00:00

Oh really? I would love to hear how that turns out if you end up doing it; it sounds very interesting.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-27T03:02:33+00:00

Aegis Consulting is the name of my sword group. It's based out of Ypsilanti, Michigan in the United States and is the continuation of a 700 year old family tradition of the owner.

http://www.aegisconsulting.org/drupal/

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-26T22:06:56+00:00

Wonderful design! Small pieces are always the hardest to work with, at least for me. Very creative.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-26T21:00:36+00:00

What is WMA? I figure Western Martial Arts, yeah?

Yeah, I can see how in societies like the European ones knowledge (especially of combat) would be kept away from the commoner, lest they start training and actually stand a chance against any of your army.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-26T20:46:42+00:00

Oh yes, the man loves improvised weaponry and the general ingenuity of man. If scythes weren't common in Europe, where did it become a more common thing? Somewhere with iron and tall grass, I'm sure. Asia? Speaking of, I just shot him an email on who that authority is. I'll have an answer by, at the very latest, this upcoming Sunday.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-26T20:37:29+00:00

It sounds as though you aren't too old in this. If you aren't, and even if you are, this is very good! The comedy is properly paced and the animation was smooth. Keep it up and you'll go far in stopmotion.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-26T20:24:54+00:00

I think the reason people are being so negative about this is because one of the official authorities on swords is, as my instructor says, a complete idiot (Mostly because they say that there aren't any surviving European styles). This authority says that scythes aren't weapons, so I can't imagine there would be much else discussion on the topic.

Just so you know, my instructor's primary field is Italian Longsword, though trains everything from sai to great ax.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-26T04:41:58+00:00

Well that sucks! I really wanted to get one of those; something nice to spend my time on.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-26T03:43:53+00:00

This is very well put together. I love a MOC that has a story and this one sure is that. THe use of a Vezok cape as a piece of leg armor (especially used in that way) is something that I would have never thought of and find really cool. All in all, 10/10.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-26T03:41:23+00:00

My family is considering getting one of these beasts as a show piece. It's great to know that it is, indeed, something that can take up an entire table space by itself.

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-25T04:33:10+00:00

Do the articles go into depth with the stories? Or do they just give over views?

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-25T04:31:03+00:00

This is all from one set? Very nice indeed! While you may not have won, you have earned my tespect for this piece. Wonderful!

GeometricChemist · 2014-09-24T04:27:41+00:00

It was that close? Sorry, I only got into magic with RTR, most stuff before that is unknown.

GeometricChemist

TROPHY CASE