San Fernando Valley Battle Club

 

A free fighter practice that welcomes all forms of armed combat be it fencing, HEMA, Kendo, steel and nylon weapons as well as foam swords that are ideal for beginners. While individual sparing is encouraged, we will have an emphasis on having group fighting, team battles, and other fighting games depending upon the number of willing participations. This is not LARP but a fighting club.

 

We will meet at Reseda Park 18411 Victory Blvd, Reseda, CA 91335  (Parking is in two lots on Victory Blvd.)

 

We will meet on Thursdays at 6:30 PM till 9:30.

 

Rain cancels.

 

This a free practice that will have open sparing from beginner to advanced. Once we have enough numbers, we will break off into a group activity of some sort. Weapons utilized will be steel to steel, nylon to nylon and foam to foam. Steel and nylon fencing requires you have the appropriate HEMA style fencing equipment to practice safely. Shinais will also require Kendo gear at the minimum.  Foam weapons will require minimal protection if any, but don’t kid yourself they can still hurt!  Some loaner gear may be available depending upon who shows up. Foam weapons are a great very low cost way to try out the hobby without incurring the cost of a basic set of HEMA or Kendo gear which will be between roughly 500-1000 dollars. Interested in melee fighting but are leery of the high entry cost, this may be a way to check it out. 

 

Around 9PM we will culminate the night’s activities with a bridge battle. This battle will be a mixed weapon fight and will most likely utilize nylon weapons to facilitate the mixing of safe simulators.

 

Dueling and mass combat are different skill sets and any HEMA practitioner can look at this practice as an opportunity to round out their fighting experience.

 

Some examples of the types of activities that we may develop:

 

Circle (3 or more)

 

We all circle up and watch two people spar, the loser of the bought picks a replacement so everyone gets a chance to fight.

 

Team battles (4 or more)

 

Random teams are formed and we fight till one side is eliminated. Same or dissimilar weapons are optional based upon group consensus. HEMA practitioners will want to bring nylon counterparts to their steel simulators. We will be doing mixed weapon group fights that will utilize Montante, Spears, Hablerds and the like, only nylon versions of these weapons are safe to use in melee fighting utilizing standard HEMA protective gear.

 

Perpetuals (6 or more)

 

Solo or two man teams go out in an open melee fighting all comers. An eliminated partner will go back to a start point like a tree for example and come back new with another partner that was also taken out of the fight. Lots of change ups in who you’re fighting with and against as well as develop small unit team tactics.

 

Yo Jimbo Tag (3-6 typically)

 

For small groups of 3 to 8 or so. One person is “it” and all the rest try and take them out in a running open field battle. Whomever takes out the it person becomes the new it. If the Yo Jimbo takes out all opponents then they reset and go again. Excellent for developing fighting skills while being outnumbered.

 

Capture the Flag (best with 20 or more)

 

Only for large groups of 20 or more. There will be two “jails” where the eliminated fighters go in the opponents base. They can be “jailbroke” by a friendly touching the base before being eliminated. The flag must be ran to one’s home base to get a point. Anyone holding the flag that is eliminated must drop in on the ground. Go to a predetermined number of points.

 

Other games may be developed. We may do mini free tourneys as well. All will be figured out based upon the numbers of interested parties. Hope to see you out there!!

 

Contact rev106@yahoo.com for more information.

 

Safety Requirements

 

Let's be honest, you hitting each other with plastic or metal rods. Without proper protection you will get hurt or even killed. Some requirements:

 

Foam weapons:

 

Gloves of some sort.

 

A normal fencing mask, cheap found used all over. If you don't have this, you can still do some sparing but with no head shots allowed. Get one as soon as you can. I may have some loaners.

 

 

HEMA NYON or STEEL

 

 

 

Atheltic cup or equivalent a good idea

 

Elbow and knee protection important vs. steel. Leg protection not a bad idea either.

 

Armor to your taste. You may get hurt.