In November I began studying at Nashville school of historical fencing to learn the German Longsword. My prior post has a 2 month update, here's a follow up.

I've just finished the Beginners part II course, which lasted 2 months, and am moving on to their Beginners part III course. In part I, aside from intense physical fitness (i.e crossfit/swordfit) we had learned the four openings, guards, and Meyers drills, but no sparring.

In part II we've continued a physical crossfit style approach, and now they've taught us guarding, parry techniques, riposte, and we've had several contact drills with partners. So far, other than light sparring with a dussack, we still really haven't been let loose to spar freely. The instructors are very responsive to our errors and constantly watch us to make sure our form, footwork, everything looks correct and efficient and timely.

Yes, I'd love to have more full on contact sparring since I've had zero, but I truly don't mind this slower approach either. They're honing in the fundamentals, they're teaching us safety, and I know that I'm in this for the long run so I'll be sparring plenty some day.

With all of that context out of the way, I'm still very much in love with the sport, if not more so now than before. In the first update I explained how I was taken back by the physicality of this particular school and their endurance training, some of you mentioned that not every school takes that approach, but after 4 months im used to it and can complete the entire workout without missing a beat. Our classes are on Thursdays for nearly 2 hours, and all week it's all I can think about. The last two months I've ordered all of my gear, I'm still waiting for some parts to come in, and I've ordered my Sigi Feder which I was given a 5-6 month wait time for. They didnt expect us or tell us to buy so much gear upfront, I only did this because im excited and can afford to do so. However they have loaner gear for students who can't afford to buy their own, they try to give the students plenty of time to get what they need.

After the final 2 months of Beginners part III which starts thursday, we are to move on to an intermediate class, that's Tuesdays and Thursdays for another 2 hours each day. In those classes we'll be expected to spar with each other, and I'm looking forward to more engagement and more training. This sport is quickly becoming an obsession for me as I watch competitions all day, as well as HEMA youtubers, and I've even picked up books "HEMA in its Context" by Richard Marsden and The Art of Combat by Joachim Meyer.

I'm very excited to be apart of this community, and to look back at this post a year from now to reflect on the progress I've made.