<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 2/6/02 8:53:12 AM Eastern Standard Time, BWilliamson@extstay.com writes:
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<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">don't
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<BR> 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.
<BR> 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.
<BR> 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.
<BR> 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.
<BR> 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.
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<BR>Hrothgar
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