[MR] Tangent: was: Why should Atlantia care was: Re:Curiosity

[Thorgrimm at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/6/02 8:53:12 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
BWilliamson at extstay.com writes:


> don't
> knock it until you've tried it

   I have tried it. I was one of the many well meaning folks six or seven 
years ago who were pushing fencing as a good alternative for people who 
couldn't fight. I saw it as a way for small or otherwise physically 
challenged people to get a taste of what it's like for us on the field. But 
comparing it to fighting is to compare tofu to steak. 
  It never occurred to me that people would decide to do it instead of 
fighting and then try to convince people it's on the same level. The fact 
that so many people think there should be a "rapier king" or that there 
should be a special peerage created just proves that the whole thing has 
gotten out of hand. 
   The SCA structure is based on armored combat. I don't think we can 
continue to attempt the support of two martial styles. I believe it is at the 
root of a lot of our recruitment problems because it sends out vastly 
differing images to someone on the outside looking in. You have on the one 
hand the chivalry and glory of combat, the knight in armor that is at the 
base of everyone's vision of the middle ages, and on the other a game of tag 
being played with 19th and 20th Century accouterments.
   The only period duels I have been able to document were fought in armor 
with legitimate weapons. The majority of the manuals which are cited as 
proving that fencing is period use broadswords, great swords, and a technique 
that would require more armor than we use. 
    I agree that schlager is a far more reasonable replication of a period 
weapon. Unfortunately, you can't use it the way it's meant to be used with 
the current fencing armor standards. But I'll argue with you about the 
audience. Whenever I've seen fencing and fighting simultaneously occurring 
near each other, the vast majority of people in the crowd are watching the 
fighting. Regardless of how you try to convince yourself otherwise, fighting 
is more exciting to watch. It might please you to think that folks are 
watching your exploits with rapt attention, but it usually isn't the case.

Hrothgar


   
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