10-06-2008, 10:56 PM
Relating to Josh's statement about using wooden weapons. The swords we use are of carved red oak and allow for fast, hard hitting with minimal injury (bruising only so far) since we principally thrust with them (as seems to have been the practice in the arena due to the small, light nature of the weapons). The only weapons not made of carved wood are the trident and hasta. Both of the ones we use are made of needle-felt, for hard hitting (but safe) action. So far, the worst injuries we've sustained are a broken finger (when grappling, not by a weapon), sliced open fingers (cut on a metal manica), and traumatised "mountain oysters" (impacted with a trident).
