Fighting like a Steam Punk

[Steampunk Socialist]

Dont know if this should be in here or off topic, not sure what category it fits into.

Anyway, the victorian age, the early industrial age, those were still the age of duelling, honour and personal defence, lots of the ads and kitsch from the time advertise besides all sorts of books on manners and morals (what I think of guides to how to "have class") were all sorts of gizmos and guides on fighting.

Without TV there was a lot of diversions in the martial arts guise, stick fighting, single stick, boxing, kick boxing, hunting and the like. I was wondering if anyone was interested in any of these things or if anyone thinks they have a role in the growing steampunk mythos.

http://www.thearma.org/bookreviews.htm

I've got a whole collection of books on the different sorts of sword fighting and duelling from that era, earlier than the industrial age but still relevent I guess, it could just be my own interest in anachronism rather than steam punk but anyhow. There's no ARMA style clubs near me and I'm dead jealous, envious.

[Atterton]

There was a gentleman who used to post on here who ran clubs of some kind of victorian age martial art. I can´t remember what he called it though.

[juxtimon]

There was a gentleman who used to post on here who ran clubs of some kind of victorian age martial art. I can´t remember what he called it though.

i believe you are talking about Spring Heeled Jack and his bartitsu threads
http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/bg-forum/index.php?topic=5237.0

[Sebastian Gaunt]

I am going to starting fencing classes tomorrow evening.

[Steampunk Socialist]

I am going to starting fencing classes tomorrow evening.

I would so love to do that, I joined an archery club but it started to loose its appeal and I havent been in little under a month, I had no idea how to get a bow, were to shop for accessories, all in all I felt totally dependent upon some tatty equipment that they had which was used, abused, and largely spent when it reached us as a consequence, by the youth wing of the club.

I'd really love to learn to sword fight like Sharpe.

[von Adler]

Savate would be good choice for old-fashioned western martial art. I was somewhat interested in it and sabre fencing at one point, but the lack of activity in my area dampened my enthusiasm for both; the closest non-oriental martial art that goes on around here is krav maga, and that tends to gather scary folks for some odd reason.

[Sean Patrick O-Byrne]

http://www.craphound.com/images/robotdempsey.jpg

[akumabito]

krav maga, and that tends to gather scary folks for some odd reason.

Krav Maga is one of my favorite self defense systems. I like it because it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a way to subdue an enemy. KM is not an 'art'. There is no philosophy involved. No 'inner balance', no hocus pocus of any sort. In fact, it is based on proper science - finding pressure points, using joint locks, etc. Or, as one of my KM practicing friends would say: "Krav Maga is the art of kicking a guy in the balls" That pretty much sums it up. Screw honorable combat. The objective is to win.

It does tend to attract all sorts of dodgy types though, doesn't it?

[Master Aaron]

I'm part of a medieval reenactment group called The Adrian Empire, which is a nation wide organization in the US that has spread to Canada and parts of Europe. I know that Medieval isn't Steampunk but I like history and this I am learning sword combat from them.

[Klockwork Kobbler]

i have read an old, early Victorian book called 'the gentleman's defense' 
it covers fencing drills with a gentleman's cane, its rather awesome.

[Steampunk Socialist]

I think Krav Maga is dispicable but its more for its origins than anything else, it has nothing to offer which Jeet Kune Do doesnt offer already.

I do have a US book on western martial arts, its written by someone who was taught a combination of grappling and boxing by one of his family who fought in the second world war and its a good straight fighters book. Although I have to say that klockwork kobbler's book sounds much more interesting.

[Drun0riginal]

I do kendo, the Japanese version of fencing.  I don't stab, i CLEAVE!!!!!

[Tiny5th]

i used to take karate

ive been wanting to take up fencing, and i know a few others in my town who do too, but theres nowhere within reach

[MPsy]

In the past I've taken lessons in a couple different styles of martial arts such as your basic kempo karate, chinese kung fu, and a little aikido.  And during the time I went to private school I've taken a few lessons in fencing.  These days I'm currently learning boxing at the local gym and taken part in a few amateur tournaments.  Thankfully I'm coming home now with fewer black eyes and bruisings.

[AlexanderTheArcane]

I would have sticked with my fencing group, but for a few reasons.

+ It was run by a creepy old guy.

+ The other students were either pale, sweaty weeaboo girls, one of whom stayed behind at high school 3 years in a row unnecessarily, as she'd got all the credits, but just... Iunno why.

+ I couldn't grasp the concept of hitting lightly. I'm much too... indelicate for fencing, I guess. I'm a boffer/dagorhir kind of guy.

+ Oh, and the supplies weren't plentiful enough to go around well enough, and I was jobless at the time, so I couldn't by my own.

[Baron Verndorf]

Psha! Fighting! I practice the art of Parkour

[akumabito]

+ I couldn't grasp the concept of hitting lightly. I'm much too... indelicate for fencing, I guess. I'm a boffer/dagorhir kind of guy.

You need to try kendo, ASAP.

I do kendo, the Japanese version of fencing.  I don't stab, i CLEAVE!!!!!

Us kendokas aren't well known for the subtlety of our attacks..

[akumabito]

I think Krav Maga is dispicable but its more for its origins than anything else...

Because..?

Do you not want soldiers to possess the most effective hand to hand combat skills there are?

[von Adler]

+ I couldn't grasp the concept of hitting lightly. I'm much too... indelicate for fencing, I guess. I'm a boffer/dagorhir kind of guy.

Sounds like you had foil and not epee or sabre. In sabre, the basic idea is to hit your opponent in the head as hard as possible (that's what most sabre matches boil down to, anyway), whereas epee is not quite as aggressive, but still not as nancy-pants as foil.

[Gentleman-Adventurer]

Myself, I'm a traditionalist when it comes to combat. I favour old-school fencing, and Maquis of Queensbury rules (Have at you, sir!). I'm also looking for a good brace of flintlocks.

[Samuel]

I've always wanted to try Krav Maga. no BS sort of stuff. I did foil fencing for a year and a half, did some kenjutsu along the way, about 3 years of a Jujutsu derivative, and now? I'm polishing up on my knifework. yes, i know its suicidal. I'm also extremely interested in cane work.

I do love to see honour in a fight, but the sad truth is that you won't find it in a mugging or street brawl.

[elShoggotho]

Give me a longsword and I'll give you... well, a hilarious show if you know your way with a sword.

[Von Gast]

I'm now quite tempted to invest in the Krav Maga book. It does look to be a good approach as it appears to be based on economy of effort (dispatching attackers rapidly and then getting away). I realise it is better to learn with an instructor but I suspect learning the contents of the book by heart wouldn't do any harm.

That said, I really wish Steeds' sword umbrella were legal. There's a certain elegance to cane-based self defence that I feel to be lacking in most martial arts.

[Von Gast]

Psha! Fighting! I practice the art of Parkour

I'd guess that's probably a pretty effective way of escaping assailants if alone - they'll either bottle out or fall off while trying to follow you!
 

[GabrielCrimson]

I used to do parkour and fencing. now i only do fencing on thursdays due to my lack of free time. damnable work.