[MR] Why we fight

[Sandi Rust]

Axel, 
That's pretty much what I did.
 
When I was seneschale in Aethelmearc, I went to the Watertown City council and asked for the use of the hill in their city park. I brought with them examples of the armor and weapons the fighters would be using, decribed the basics of what our sport entailled, and invited them to an unofficial fighter practice. I descibed that this sport is one where the person getting hit is the one who determines if the blow given is a "killing" or "maiming" blow and that it is on that person's honor that they be truthful. I even invited the chief of police to consider coming out to watch us with a future eye to showing his troopers techniques in crowd control and riot control - but this was after the council gave their assent.
As far as I know, Watertown Park is still be used by the Shire of Wyntersett during the spring and summer months and that it is as major a draw on Sundays as is was when Wilhelm and I were there.
 
Lady Marie Hélène of the New Forest (San)

--- On Tue, 7/7/09, Garth G. Groff <ggg9y at virginia.edu> wrote:


From: Garth G. Groff <ggg9y at virginia.edu>
Subject: [MR] Why we fight
To: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 2:38 PM


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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