[MR] Why we fight

[Garth G. Groff]

xel,

You raise an interesting question, and one worthy of discussion.

It's a sport, pure and simple. And it's also a hobby. I like your 
explanation of studying medieval and renaissance skills by actually 
doing, but that is a bit complicated for some "mundane" minds to grasp. 
Maybe if you had said, "We're re-enactors, sorta like the Civil War the 
guys," it might have been clearer. Whether that have helped, I don't 
know. Maybe the city fathers have had bad experiences with Civil War 
groups.

So far in my two years playing with the SCA, I haven't been asked that 
particular question. I'm a target archer, and that is pretty much 
understandable to most people. However, I do wear real swords for 
demonstrations. The most frequent question I've been asked (by kids) is, 
"How many people have you killed with your sword?" I have to to drop out 
of character then, and tell them that I haven't killed anybody, and that 
it's just a costume piece. They usually seem pretty disappointed.

Kind regards,


Mungo Napier, Archer of Mallard Lodge
(mka Garth G. Groff)

Wayne Remes wrote:
> Yesterday the Salesberie Glen Seneschal and I attended a meeting of 
> the Granite Quarry NC Town Board to get the approval for Canton use of 
> a Granite Quarry Park for our weekly fight practice. At the end of our 
> presentation one of the board members asked us "What is the goal of 
> this fight practice you wish to hold."  We, of course, had already 
> said at the beginning of our presentation that that the SCA was a 
> group that studied the Medieval and Rennassance era skills and crafts 
> by actually doing them, and that we were looking for a park to hold 
> our medieval combat training sessions in. We had also passed around a 
> photo album showing them pictures of SCA events. Additionally all the 
> board members had received a email I had sent to the Town Manager with 
> extensive info on the SCA and links to online photos showing what we 
> do. Still most of them seemed to have trouble getting their head 
> around what we wanted to do, or why. I said well, the goal is to 
> practice so we can win tourname
>  nts. Upon reflection I do not think I gave my best answer to the 
> question. I have had this question asked me in various forms 
> throughout the 25+ years I have been fighting in the SCA, usually by 
> people who have a problem with the apparent violence of what we do 
> when fighting. It might be a good idea to think about how best to 
> respond to this kind of question now, before we are asked, and are 
> fumbling for an appropriate explanation. I think individually, we do 
> it for the joy of competition, and to test ourselves against other 
> people in a skill that we find fun and rewarding. Fighting wise I 
> think our organization provides a set of rules and structure not 
> unlike YMCA, Churches, or Parks and Recreation Departments do with 
> organized adult flag football, vollyball and basketball, softball and 
> baseball leagues. Everyone particpating in activities supported by 
> these groups are basically doing it for the same reason we are.  We do 
> it for recreation and enjoyment ....exactly like peo
>  ple who play golf, basketball, baseball and flag or tackle football. 
> Axel
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