[MR] Tangents all

[Malone, Nicholas S.]

Once more into the wall;
    I have read quietly, (rare for me to be quite) all the varied and sundry
comments on fighting of various sorts. And as usual I have a few
observations:
1.    There are any number of references to Pas and challenges and tourney
matches that recount dozens or even hundreds of blows thrown by each
opponent with the fight continuing until a judged outcome was reached or one
party could not continue. If anyone is so hot for real bouts of Stamina and
strength well then we should allow fighters to flail away until one can not
or will not continue. I know my armor is up for that sort of Crown Tourney,
but since I am the sort that would enjoy fighting in such a match, I would
make a bad crown.
2.    You can learn things about your opponent if you can observe him eat,
sleep or just walk. It becomes easier if you can observe him playing chess
or teaching something. Of course not everyone can make use of this
observational knowledge of even decipher what it might be.
3.    I fight light weapons, now, because of bone and nerve damage to
various portions of my body and the armor load just makes it more likely to
reinjure myself. But some of the nobles and most honorable combat I have
seen has been in rapier combat. Not that inspirational moments are not found
on the heavy field for surely there are many. Fencers are not fighting for
crowns or peerages, they are fighting for the joy of the game.
4.    While there are a great number of rapier practitioners that do not
really have that real blood-sport killer mentality and may shy away from
heavy fighting because of their physical stature and training, there are
also any number of heavy fighters that just do it because that's what the
other "guys" are doing. They have no real lust for combat either.
5.    I would be more than willing to defend fencing and the opportunity to
pursue it in any manner required, even on the heavy list, see comment 1.
6.    Many people in the Society play their parts simply for the fun of it.
If they are enjoying themselves how does this threaten anyone else's game?
7.    If fencers, archers, equestrians, hounds men, or people that throw
weapons were to get a peerage, Would that really cheapen or devalue anyone's
previous accomplishments? 
8.    There is more than a little documentable evidence that highly
proficient sportsmen, gamesmen, and such could elevate their social status,
from Roman times on through the renn. So why not that 4th Peerage being for
people that play and compete at contests and games? A Sports award as it
were. This could include: fencers, archers, horsemen, dog coursers, chess
players etc.  Things that are NOT really covered by service or A&S awards
unlike armorers and tailors and such.
9.    Oh and as to games, someone mentioned chess: a fine endeavor that I am
anxious to learn more of. Of course I learn more from my loses than from my
victories. And I enjoy the game greatly even if I have lost 6 games in 25+
years at SCA events. So catch me at most any event and bring a board. I'm
sure we can find some small token or deed to wager on just to liven things
up and move them a little beyond the intellectual realm. I hear tell you got
some right pretty tin hats and such things lay about.
 
 
AshaHito
 
 
Nicholas S. Malone 
Nicholas.Malone at VirginiaDOT.org <mailto:Nicholas.Malone at VirginiaDOT.org>    
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