[MR] Proposal for the Study and Education of Historical Combat Techniques within the SCA

[Karen]

Received from Don Aeron Harper, the (acting) Deputy Society Minister of
A&S for Historical Combat Studies, who further notes: "This
proposal/office is NOT meant to get around the Sidesword issue."

Karen







Proposal for the Study and Education of
Historical Combat Techniques within the SCA.
>From the Office of the Society Minister for Arts and Sciences

The purpose for this proposal and the subsequent rule set is to create
a place in the SCA where the study, teaching, and (controlled)
demonstration of historical combat techniques and practices have a home
society-wide. There has been some question whether historical combat
classes and demonstrations belong under the purview of the Marshallate
or of the Ministry of Arts and Sciences, and this document strives to
define where the responsibility of the Office of Arts and Sciences
shall begin and end. 

The study of the historical combat arts under the Office of Arts and
Sciences is meant to allow for the teaching and demonstration of
historical martial arts that may otherwise be prohibited by or beyond
the scope of the set of rules as set forth by the Office of the
Marshallate. This is in no way to be construed as an impediment or
replacement to the use (current or future) of historical combat
techniques in the combat forms allowed by the Society Marshal’s Office,
so long as said techniques do not violate the standing rules at the
time in which they are implemented. All ‘competitive’ sport combat is
under the direct control of the Office of the Marshallate.

1.	The ‘Non-Competitive’ study and demonstration of historical martial
arts, systems, and principles shall be regulated as and if necessary by
the Ministry of Arts and Sciences. 

a.	The Society Minister of Arts and Sciences intends to appoint a
knowledgeable deputy to coordinate and oversee this activity. 

b.	The Kingdoms of the SCA may choose to appoint a knowledgeable deputy
to coordinate and oversee the activity on the kingdom level. This
deputy will serve under the Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences, and
will report to this Minister as if they were a senior officer
(Baronial) and should be warranted where appointed.

2.	Theatrical performances: 
All theatrical performances involving stage combat will choreograph,
rehearse and perform such stage combats in a manner consistent with the
safety guidelines set forth by such professional organizations as the
American, Canadian and British societies of fight directors, as is
appropriate for the locale in question. These include, but are not
limited to, plays and performances - the primary purpose of which is
for the entertainment of an audience. No free combat play will take
place within any theatrical performance conducted as a part of the
activities of the SCA, inc. 

3.	Historical Combat Studies (non-theatrical) that fall under the
purview of the Ministry of Arts and Sciences:
Must be supported by (at a minimum) research and documentation
appropriate to the activity in   question, consistent with that
expected for any other A&S entry as appropriate to the kingdom in which
the activity will occur. Any combat study or demonstration that falls
outside this guideline does not fall under the purview of the Ministry
of Arts and Sciences and will default to the Marshallate in the Kingdom
in which the activity occurs.

a.	In presenting, demonstrating, and teaching the historical combat
arts neither the teachers, students, or any other participants shall
engage in free-assault, sparring, or any form of competitive use of the
arts or practice weapons.

i.	In the demonstration of movements and techniques, whether as an A&S
demonstration/presentation or as part of a historical combat class,
teachers and their assistants may employ only such drills, plays, and
exercise patterns as are indicative of the art being demonstrated or
taught, at only such speed that is prudent, safe and necessary for the
drill, play or exercise to be properly and safely employed as
determined by the instructor, primary presenter, and/or the Ministry
for Arts and Sciences.

ii.	In historical combat classes, teachers may allow students to work
with one another in drills, plays, and exercises, conducted in
accordance with safety practices followed by the art being taught, at
only such speed as is prudent, safe and necessary for the drill, play
or exercise to be properly and safely employed, as determined by the
instructor and/or the Ministry for Arts and Sciences. The class
participants will at all times act and respond in a manner deemed safe
and controlled by the class instructor and/or the Minister for Arts and
Sciences or their appointed deputy or immediately forfeit their right
to participate in said class.

b.	All presentations and demonstrations must consist only of plays,
drills, or techniques predefined and agreed upon by all participants
before the action in question occurs. Participants will at all times
act and respond in a manner deemed safe and controlled by each other
and the Ministry for Arts and Sciences.

c.	When the participants of a class, presentation, or demonstration
enact a drill, play, or technique with practice weapons or simulators
at a distance close enough to strike one another, eye protection is
suggested and encouraged. Such protection might consist of
polycarbonate sports goggles, a 12kg 3-weapons mask, or their
equivalent in protective quality. Exceptions to this might include
classes where the mask or protective equipment would hinder the
instructor’s ability to demonstrate a particular technique or theory.
Participants in a class, presentation, or demonstration should wear
such other safety equipment as they deem appropriate. Use of any
protective clothing and/or equipment may be required at any time at the
discretion of the class instructor, the primary presenter/ demonstrator
or by Kingdom Law or Policy.

d.	For performances and demonstrations, a delineated area will be
required. The office of Arts and Sciences suggests a minimum 10-foot
distance between the performers and the judges and audience.
Instructors/demonstrators and participants should consider the nature
of the demonstration or performance and maintain an appropriate
distance between the combat activity and any observers.

e.	At this time, no more that two participants may interact at a time
in any play, simulation, or drill used for historical combat training
while studying or demonstrating the historical combat arts. This does
not preclude group warm-ups, physical exercise training, or multiple
pairs of participants working through a play, simulation, or drill at
the same time.

f.	Under the circumstances laid out above, acceptable
simulators/practice weapons include, but are not limited to, rebated
steel, aluminum, wood, and rattan. 

4.	Final Note: Where Study becomes Combat:
Where the study of Historical Combat in a Kingdom leads to the use of a
competitive weapons form, there may be crossover between the office of
the A&S and the Marshallate, in terms of jurisdiction. It is not the
intention of the Society A&S office to ever include any competitive
combat art in its purview. Therefore, while study, practice and
demonstration of historical techniques may fall under this office, any
sparring and/or competition in the form may only be allowed where the
Marshallate of the Kingdom agrees and provides rules for such. E.G: The
rules and regulations covering Caid’s historical combat studies with
padded weapons are outlined in the document RULES FOR UNARMORED COMBAT
(Kingdom of Caid Unarmored Combat Rules) and might easily encompass
both offices, but any actual combat, including sparring, authorization,
etc, shall remain under and default to the office of the Marshallate.
The simple rule is, if it's free-assault, sparring, or any form of
competitive use of the arts or practice weapons, or the Kingdom
requires you to authorize in it, then it does not fall under the
Ministry of Arts and Sciences.