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Honorverse ramblings and musings

Join us in talking discussing all things Honor, including (but not limited to) tactics, favorite characters, and book discussions.
Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by Rajani Isa   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:45 am

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cthia wrote:I would more than half-ass expect Pavel Young to have participated in the sport, being the quintessential well bred aristocrat that he was so fond of pointing out. But he trips over his own sword.


In... Field of Dishonor I think it is (or maybe Short Victorious War) they kind of address this. They mentioned how even in the Academy Young avoided the more physical sports.
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by cthia   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 3:10 pm

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Rajani Isa wrote:
cthia wrote:I would more than half-ass expect Pavel Young to have participated in the sport, being the quintessential well bred aristocrat that he was so fond of pointing out. But he trips over his own sword.


In... Field of Dishonor I think it is (or maybe Short Victorious War) they kind of address this. They mentioned how even in the Academy Young avoided the more physical sports.

Absolutely Rajani. Which is one reason, I assume, why fencing is the sport of cultured brainiacs. It isn't physical.

And it allows one the opportunity to show off ones "superior intellect."

Son, your mother says I have to hang you. Personally I don't think this is a capital offense. But if I don't hang you, she's gonna hang me and frankly, I'm not the one in trouble. —cthia's father. Incident in ? Axiom of Common Sense
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by Duckk   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 3:19 pm

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...What? Fencing is an incredibly demanding sport physically. I know 4 people who have all participated in fencing (college clubs for European styles mostly, though one does competitive kendo), and they talk all the time about conditioning. We've even had jokes about how toned their legs are, and how muscular their sword arm is compared to their other arm.
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by cthia   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 3:31 pm

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Duckk wrote:...What? Fencing is an incredibly demanding sport physically. I know 4 people who have all participated in fencing, and they talk all the time about conditioning. We've even had jokes about how toned their legs are, and how muscular their sword arm is compared to their other arm.

My apology Duckk, you are absolutely correct.

I might have erroneously mistaken Rajani's reference to mean "dangerous." In the Pavel Young sense.

"The more physical sports" as in "the contact sports" sense. You are highly unlikely to incur a broken femur, broken back, broken ankle, broken arm, dislocated shoulder, hyper extended knee or plain old death from a broken neck, from fencing.

I don't recall ever meeting anyone who were afraid of the pain of conditioning. No pain, no gain.

Although, I never said that fencing wasn't physically demanding. Sara, my friend's daughter who has roped me into liking the sport, has a full length inside swimming pool on their property and states how it has helped her conditioning.

Son, your mother says I have to hang you. Personally I don't think this is a capital offense. But if I don't hang you, she's gonna hang me and frankly, I'm not the one in trouble. —cthia's father. Incident in ? Axiom of Common Sense
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by PeterZ   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 3:45 pm

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cthia wrote:
Duckk wrote:...What? Fencing is an incredibly demanding sport physically. I know 4 people who have all participated in fencing, and they talk all the time about conditioning. We've even had jokes about how toned their legs are, and how muscular their sword arm is compared to their other arm.

My apology Duckk, you are absolutely correct.

I might have erroneously mistaken Rajani's reference to mean "dangerous." In the Pavel Young sense.

"The more physical sports" as in the "contact sports" sense. You are highly unlikely to incur a broken femur, broken back, broken ankle, broken arm, dislocated shoulder, hyper extended knee or plain old death from a broken neck, from fencing.

I don't recall ever meeting anyone who were afraid of the pain of conditioning. No pain, no gain.


I had a NCAA sectional bout against the Air Force Academy back in the day. I forgot to snap my vest tightly. My opponent and I attacked at the same time. His epee missed the center of my throat by half a inch. My collar was open just enough and he got in just under my facemask. Had a scar along my neck as a result. Had that epee hit center, my trachea would have been crushed.

Freak coincidence sure, but Honorable A$$hole Young is right to be leery.

As for conditioning, my left thigh was too big to fit comfortably in most jeans all through college. The forearms was also a bit of a lopsided Popeye. It was sort of odd at the beach when one leg had most of the hair rubbed off and the other was more normal.
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by cthia   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:14 pm

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cthia wrote:
Duckk wrote:...What? Fencing is an incredibly demanding sport physically. I know 4 people who have all participated in fencing, and they talk all the time about conditioning. We've even had jokes about how toned their legs are, and how muscular their sword arm is compared to their other arm.

My apology Duckk, you are absolutely correct.

I might have erroneously mistaken Rajani's reference to mean "dangerous." In the Pavel Young sense.

"The more physical sports" as in the "contact sports" sense. You are highly unlikely to incur a broken femur, broken back, broken ankle, broken arm, dislocated shoulder, hyper extended knee or plain old death from a broken neck, from fencing.

I don't recall ever meeting anyone who were afraid of the pain of conditioning. No pain, no gain.
PeterZ wrote:I had a NCAA sectional bout against the Air Force Academy back in the day. I forgot to snap my vest tightly. My opponent and I attacked at the same time. His epee missed the center of my throat by half a inch. My collar was open just enough and he got in just under my facemask. Had a scar along my neck as a result. Had that epee hit center, my trachea would have been crushed.

Freak coincidence sure, but Honorable A$$hole Young is right to be leery.

As for conditioning, my left thigh was too big to fit comfortably in most jeans all through college. The forearms was also a bit of a lopsided Popeye. It was sort of odd at the beach when one leg had most of the hair rubbed off and the other was more normal.


Peter, thanks for the interesting story, and the fact that you have fencing skills!

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that one can die from simply walking, if one is careless. As many are finding out the hard way, walking while texting.

****** *

Something I forgot to bring up. Is the Mess dress sword simply decoration? I always wondered if everyone actually had to know how to use it. Akin to the army bayonets.

Son, your mother says I have to hang you. Personally I don't think this is a capital offense. But if I don't hang you, she's gonna hang me and frankly, I'm not the one in trouble. —cthia's father. Incident in ? Axiom of Common Sense
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by saber964   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:58 pm

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cthia wrote:
cthia" quote="Duckk wrote:...What? Fencing is an incredibly demanding sport physically. I know 4 people who have all participated in fencing, and they talk all the time about conditioning. We've even had jokes about how toned their legs are, and how muscular their sword arm is compared to their other arm.

My apology Duckk, you are absolutely correct.

I might have erroneously mistaken Rajani's reference to mean "dangerous." In the Pavel Young sense.

"The more physical sports" as in the "contact sports" sense. You are highly unlikely to incur a broken femur, broken back, broken ankle, broken arm, dislocated shoulder, hyper extended knee or plain old death from a broken neck, from fencing.

I don't recall ever meeting anyone who were afraid of the pain of conditioning. No pain, no gain.
PeterZ wrote:I had a NCAA sectional bout against the Air Force Academy back in the day. I forgot to snap my vest tightly. My opponent and I attacked at the same time. His epee missed the center of my throat by half a inch. My collar was open just enough and he got in just under my facemask. Had a scar along my neck as a result. Had that epee hit center, my trachea would have been crushed.

Freak coincidence sure, but Honorable A$$hole Young is right to be leery.

As for conditioning, my left thigh was too big to fit comfortably in most jeans all through college. The forearms was also a bit of a lopsided Popeye. It was sort of odd at the beach when one leg had most of the hair rubbed off and the other was more normal.


Peter, thanks for the interesting story, and the fact that you have fencing skills!

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that one can die from simply walking, if one is careless. As many are finding out the hard way, walking while texting.

****** *

Something I forgot to bring up. Is the Mess dress sword simply decoration? I always wondered if everyone actually had to know how to use it. Akin to the army bayonets.[/quote]


Yes, the mess dress sword is for show. Except for the Harrington sword which was the Burdett sword until he lost his head both figuratively and literally.
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by saber964   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:04 pm

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IIRC Young was not much into working out or keeping in any kind of shape. He is described as having a beard to hide his double chin and skillful tailoring to hide his thickening middle. Remember dear old dad was described has morbidly obese and suffering the effects of a lifetime of excess and self abuse.
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by ldwechsler   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:15 pm

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saber964 wrote:IIRC Young was not much into working out or keeping in any kind of shape. He is described as having a beard to hide his double chin and skillful tailoring to hide his thickening middle. Remember dear old dad was described has morbidly obese and suffering the effects of a lifetime of excess and self abuse.



He was the kind of man who had to feel superior. He probably cared fairly little about how high his grades were at the Academy since connections always won out.

Honor Harrington already had quite a record before getting her ship for Basilisk Station. He was higher ranking and had done nothing.

Why take part in sports where you would be defeated often? My guess is that he participated in things like that as little as possible. It was far more satisfying to sit back with buddies who kissed his behind and talk about his upcoming career.
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Re: Honorverse ramblings and musings
Post by lyonheart   » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:15 pm

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Hello PeterZ,

Fascinating!

NTM personally impressive!

This has been a great series of posts on fencing and swordsmanship, I'm beginning to feel lonely for just reading a book about it. ;)

One question, how long did you keep up the conditioning?

All the very best wishes,

L


PeterZ wrote:
cthia wrote:quote="Duckk"...What? Fencing is an incredibly demanding sport physically. I know 4 people who have all participated in fencing, and they talk all the time about conditioning. We've even had jokes about how toned their legs are, and how muscular their sword arm is compared to their other arm.quote
My apology Duckk, you are absolutely correct.

I might have erroneously mistaken Rajani's reference to mean "dangerous." In the Pavel Young sense.

"The more physical sports" as in the "contact sports" sense. You are highly unlikely to incur a broken femur, broken back, broken ankle, broken arm, dislocated shoulder, hyper extended knee or plain old death from a broken neck, from fencing.

I don't recall ever meeting anyone who were afraid of the pain of conditioning. No pain, no gain.


I had a NCAA sectional bout against the Air Force Academy back in the day. I forgot to snap my vest tightly. My opponent and I attacked at the same time. His epee missed the center of my throat by half a inch. My collar was open just enough and he got in just under my facemask. Had a scar along my neck as a result. Had that epee hit center, my trachea would have been crushed.

Freak coincidence sure, but Honorable A$$hole Young is right to be leery.

As for conditioning, my left thigh was too big to fit comfortably in most jeans all through college. The forearms was also a bit of a lopsided Popeye. It was sort of odd at the beach when one leg had most of the hair rubbed off and the other was more normal.
Any snippet or post from RFC is good if not great!
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