Pell Q&A
May 28, 2000 at 10:53:14  Swordforum
I was just wondering if any of you had set "routines" you used with your pell?
For instance, if im trying practice a new combo, i will go through it slowly until it feels smooth, and then slowly work up the speed. My favorite exercise however, is doing five and ten strike "sets" with ten second breaks in between. this keeps the blood pumping and helps with conditioning. Ill vary between throwing all horizontals, fighting combos ore any odd combos i can think of. Ill also vary between adding defensive movements and thrust and just throwing cuts.
Anyone else want to share?
May 28, 2000 at 14:58:13  Swordforum
Iv'e been trying to slow down a bit and concentrate on footwork. Usually my routine is just going from guards to cuts/cuts to guards and so forth. I have also started trying some half sword techniques as well. Sometimes I'll go through about 5 or six moves and then stop to take a moment to think about how it felt. was it smooth ? did I recover well ? how is my timing and distance ? Well you get the picture. Really what I need more than anything is a practice partner
May 16, 2000 at 04:59:03 Swordfourm
You know, here and on the general forum, I keep hearing folks mention using their unsharpened swords for "pell practice."

Actually, this isn't a very good idea. A sword is not meant to repeatedly thump into a wooden post, rubber tire, etc. You'll find that you are constantly stressing your weapon, needlessly.

For pellwork, stick with the wasters, as is recommended in the 15th century "Poem of the Pell." (of double weight, btw)

"Of fight the disciplyne and exercise,
Was this. To have a pale or pile upright (pell)
Of mannys light, thus writeth old and wise, (man's height)
Therewith a bacheler, or a yong knyght,
Shal first be taught to stonde and lerne to fight
And fanne of double wight tak him his shelde, (practice shield)
Of double wight a mace of tre to welde. (wood)"

Poem of the Pell Cotton Library: Titus A, xxiii fol 6 and 7 (early 15th century)

The whole poem can be found on line at the following SCA website:

Poem of the Pell
May 20, 2000 at 03:40:18 Swordfourm

I'm kind of curious, why would thunking into a rubber hanging tire be any more stressfull on a sword than thunking into shields, swords, and bodies? Didn't they sometimes use old swords as well as batons on pells?
Now, I'm going to keep on using the wasters, don't worry on that, but I was just curious.
May 22, 2000 at 05:25:47 Swordfourm
A tire? Not necessarily, but again, do you want to constantly subject your sword to hitting an unyielding surface? Also, if the sword does start to bite, the rubber is likely to hold onto the sword, and you have a great chance of taking a set in the blade.

And remember, a Medieval pell is really a "post" of wood. Not the ideal thing to be whacking again and again.

All that aside though, there really isn't any evidence of real swords being used at the pell, only cudgels and wasters. This is the advice from Vegetius in the late Imperial era all the way through the Renaissance.
May 10, 2000 at 15:33:14 Swordfourm
Dear all: what do you do for a pell if you don't like the idea of a swinging tire because you're not lucky enough to have a large tree on your property to suspend the tire from and you don't have access to the tire or the rope or what the tire will do to a good waster?I live in a split-level tract house with no attic,cellar,no sub-flooring,and no significant living space except the garage.Should I shoot myself now or wait?I have a tiny excuse for a back yard because the foundation was put in facing the wrong direction by unscrupulous builders.There are no trees.The ceiling of the garage would probably collapse if anything was suspended from it.My dad would have appaplexy if anything was sunk into the ground not to mention the fact he would probably run into it with the lawn mower.Even for people who do have ideal conditions;if you live in a northern clime you could only work outdoors during daylight,in the summer,during fair weather.Not good for any significant amount of pell work.Hey,Pittsburghers;help me out.Do any of you have an old-fashioned multi-level brick home with a huge,uncluttered basement where a good old boxing ring type punching bag could be suspended from the ceiling?And could something be smeared on it so you could see where the blade strikes?That's the only way I can see ever practicing or meeting up with you guys.Run this through your heads,Mike and Greg.A couple of other points.Should you wear armour while using the pell? If so,what type?Should I have a throw away waster for pell work?Should I keep the good waster for sparring?(Not that I'll ever do any fencing with all my personal problems.Mike,you know what I'm talking about.)Can any of you guys make me an extra waster and targe or two just to bash about?Thanks,
May 11, 2000 at 03:12:29 Swordfourm
You could pell in the garage.

Make a portable pell.

Easy quick design. Old tire, wood 6 by 6. Some spare scrap lumber. Concrete. Make a form to hold the 6x6 (4 sided box). Drill the 6x6, and then make a platform that you can nail or bolt into the 6x6. Put the form into the old tire & place on an old discarded box that is broken down. Fill with concrete.

Now you can take this pell down into its component parts and transport if you wish. You can decorate with padding or arms or whatever. If the 6x6 dies, put in another one.