This past weekend I was in Las Vegas for my 4th Combat Con. Combat Con has a special place in my heart as it was the first event outside of my local club that I ever attended and many of my favorite people in the HEMA community come to this event.
This year I was able to ride my motorcycle down (more on that later) The ride down was warm, the weather was nice and though it took longer than driving the car, it was an awesome experience. With me was my friend, and co-instructor Jack who has done this trip several times before.
I spent evenings with some of my favorite people, took classes from some of my favorite people and even assisted in teaching a class or two. I think what stood out to me was in the classes that I took after all these years, though some of the material was new, it did not take me long to understand or pick it up. In my tournaments I made it out of pools into eliminations, and though I was frustrated at the end of my matches, a really neat thing happened.
My wife watched a match that I shared on Facebook. She normally does not watch me fight but she looked at that match. When she watched it at first, she said that she noticed how much better I had gotten over the last few years. I went back and watched a few of those and she was definitely right. My form was better, my movement was better, and though for a second I was upset about how my match went, after looking at that, I felt like I have gotten better over the years. In one way in particular this struck me. At one point in time I had many exchanges when I was not protecting myself when I attacked the opponent. In my pools of 3 matches I had 0. In my elimination match, I had 1 double. I have a long way to go, but I am proud of my progress there.
I had several fighters locally who did very well as well and I am incredibly proud of them for how they did in tournament. One of the local guys took Bronze in the advanced steel tournament, and one of our women took bronze in the women's tournament. In Salt Lake we may be 3 clubs but when we travel we are one big team and I am proud of everyone who came down, gave it their all did great. Not everyone will win everything every time, but they came down, some of them for the first time and really showed good sportsmanship and it makes me proud to call them my team.
The thing I love about Combat con is the people. Some of my favorite sword people come to this event. These people show me what it really means to be a community. There is not anyone who I have met or sparred with or taken a class with who is not willing to help you learn, or show you what they know, or help you train so that next time, you can get better.
There are clubs from all over the world, several of which are teaching historical fencing or knife work, or other things that I just do not see practiced in the community at large. I can take a class on clearing the line from a classical point of view and take that concept and use it in my fencing. Or I can take a concept taught with long sword and be shown how it applies to grappling or dagger or what have you. I am amazed at how my knowledge and comfort in these things has grown over the years and that is in large part a result of the mentor-ship, friendship and support of my peers, many of which I have met though this event.
I am alive
I rode my motorcycle down to Combat Con and it was a great experience. I have never ridden so far since learning to ride years ago so this was a very cool thing.
On the way back however as I went to stop for fuel in Cedar City, I hit the off ramp too quickly slid off the road and crashed my bike. My leathers, and helmet probably saved my life as I got some road rash on my elbows, bruised my ribs on the right side, and had to get 6 stitches in my right knee. My jeans tore, my new Chaps ripped but I walked away alive at least. My wife came down with my father in law and picked up the bike, she will need some work, but is not a total wreck. I had a very nice couple stop and take me to insta-care, then when I was discharged they let Jack and I stay at their home until my ride got there. I am broken but not dead and the last few day or so when I hurt, or have had a hard time walking (Stitches in the knee suck) I had to remind myself that I a hurting but I am not dead and that is what really matters. Parts can be replaced, I can replace the things that were messed up even if the bike had been totaled, I am alive and I am incredibly grateful for that. I am grateful that my father in law drove the 3 hours down and 3 hours back with Cindy to pick me and the bike up. I am grateful that my mother in law let me borrow her walker and cane, just so I can get around the house easier for the next few days.
I may not be sparring for a bit but I am going to spend some time making sure that my curriculum is where I want it so that in a year from now I can test and become a certified HEMAA Instructor. it has been a long time coming and I feel like it is time to do it. I may be hobbling about for a week or so, but I am alive and that is what really matters.
