And I’ve got the tee-shirt to prove it! 
We went out to Guy’s place last night for a little party, with the Singaporeans cooking a pot of curry (Ken’s job) and fried rice (My job) to the BBQ, and it went on a little until very late. I distinctly remember downing nine Karhus’, a sip of scotch, and a damned fine No. 2 Romeo y Julieta, lots of singing, and finally lying down at about 3 am in the morning, which made today’s seminar rather interesting. Considering the fact that we asians are genetically disadvantaged when it comes to metabolising alcohol, it comes to no surprise that matching drinks with the Finnish Horde is an exercise in futility…. but one does one’s best.
And so, armed with a bit of a hangover (some more than others), we bravely faced the last day of the Fiore Seminar. The morning was a recap of all the things we have done over the last four days, followed by a mini-tournament, and ending with a question and answer session over the treatise. Alas, our cunning plan to slew the odds in our favour to win the mini-tournament by cooking a devilish *MILD* curry so as to poison cause mild diarrhea in the opposition failed, foiled no doubt by the copious amount of beer the Finns were imbibing. Just for the record, I won two fights (both spears) and lost two (dagger and longsword), and made it to the A-list of fighters who had a shot at first place.
Bruised, winded but highly elated, I am very glad that I could make time to attend this seminar. With the knowledge still fresh in mind, I shall attempt to distill some of the things which I have learned, both about Swordsmanship, and myself:
1) Throw committed strikes. The feel and response on the blade transmitted back to the hand when the opponent counters should be able to tell you what to do next for a counter-remedy. Feinting is a good trick, but if the opponent is unfazed, it don’t do squat.
2) Attacking out of measure is bad. Straying into close measure without realising is worse ~ poke in the face, anyone? The ideal is to start the attack out of measure, and pass into measure at the end of the strike.
3) Control. Control. Control. One could try swinging wildly and hope for a hit, but we are studying from a treatise and as such, we should be executing the plays in the book ~ at least according to the principles as Fiore explains, even if not as exactly depicted in the book.
4) I’m still very much a Largo player, as was critiqued by Ken and Anthony after my bouts. I admit that I do not like to go into close quarters combat ~ why kill your opponent at hugging distance when you can do so at range? Probably the reason I won both spear events. Besides, the cleaning bill for getting blood out of the tunic is expensive…..
Flying home in 8 hours. Here’s hoping to see all my fellow swordsmen again, and a big thank you for the friendship and hospitality we’ve been shown, proving wrong that sterotype of an extroverted Finn is one who looks at your shoes when talking to you.
Kiitos!
