Seminar in LeedsSeminar in Leedshttp://www.resanelson.com/leeds-seminar/2009-02-18T22:58:12ZSquarespaceJoustinghttp://www.resanelson.com/leeds-seminar/2009/2/4/jousting.htmlResa Nelson2009-02-04T20:38:29Z2009-02-04T20:38:29ZI slipped out of the seminar over the weekend to catch a little jousting at the Royal Armouries.  

I had a chance to chat with one of the seminar participants, who's a jouster.  It was really interesting to hear how he got involved in jousting.  (You know you've entered a different realm when you're talking to someone who says that when he met his current jousting partner and was asked if he already purchased what he needed to get started, his answer was, "Of course, I own my own armor!").

After returning to the States, I finished my course, took some others, and finally joined a sword guild.

]]>Oakeshott's Weaponshttp://www.resanelson.com/leeds-seminar/2009/2/4/oakeshotts-weapons.htmlResa Nelson2009-02-04T20:36:51Z2009-02-04T20:36:51ZI gained a lot from attending the seminar.  (One of my favorite experiences was witnessing Glima wrestling, an Icelandic sport that looks a lot like the foxtrot except when one participant abruptly trips the other to the ground.)  I was thrilled to see and hear Mr. Oakeshott speak -- after all, if it hadn't been for him, I'd probably still hate weapons.  He brought six weapons from his collection (four pictured here) specifically for the seminar participants to handle. 

These aren't reproductions -- they're the real deal, and I got to hold them in my grubby little paws.  My favorite is a Viking sword from about the year 800.  It's the one on the right.

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