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Blayde
Free Scholar
Posts:56
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| 08/25/2006 9:52 AM |
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For those of you not acquainted with me, let me introduce myself this being my first post. I go by Blayde and my group is the "Band of the Black Tigers." You may have heard of us, you may not have, but if you go to Estrella this upcoming year, we will be there and we will welcome you at your camp. We are easily recognizable on the field, mostly dressed in black with Japanese Kanji symbols on our masks. The Black Tigers as an official organization has been around for app. a year and a half and was founded by Lord Tora Taka and myself.
I've been fencing since 1988 and fencing in the SCA since 1995. This morning I had a discussion with one of our members in the Outlands, and what he told me was nothing new. It's the same old thing. He goes to a practice where people fight with him, and later get together in their little cliques and decide he hits too hard. They got together outside channels, without proper paperwork, warnings, discussion on calibration, and were getting up the railroad steam to ban him. It's typical...but so, so sad.
This is not a new topic. It is a topic that I've dealt with, that Tora's dealt with, and that most strong, fast fighters deal with. Calibration!
Yes, the idea is to not hit hard. But, it seems that there are so many fencers in the SCA that believe that a solid hit, that rocks you a little or is firmly felt is too hard. There are many fencers in the SCA whose mechanics are unsound, who charge into lunges, and then complain that they were hit too hard. There are so many fencers in the SCA who when getting the slightest pain or bruise are ready to complain to the marshals.
I'm not talking about injuries here. I'm talking about bruises and pain.
My question to the SCA fencing community is this: Do you want to be looked at by the heavies as a bunch of whining wussies? I will tell you this. If we don't grow some skin. If we don't thicken up a bit. We will always be considered wire weenies. The term weenie fits in many cases that I've seen.
I would like the respect of the heavy community for our sport. But, I firmly believe we will never get it if we can't take a hit now and then without complaining. Can you imagine how a heavy fighter would get laughed at for complaining about being hit too hard with our calibration standards.
So, I ask you all, are you part of the problem or are you ready to take hits that don't injure you without running to the nearest rapier marshall and whining? Do we need a light and heavy rapier division so those who are adverse to pain can play with foils? If you're going to pick up a rapier and fight, understand we are recreating battle. I don't think I need to explain the nature of war here.
Lastly, I do not apologize for the pointed nature of this post. It needs to be addressed. It needs to be brought out into the open. We need to take a hard look at the nature of our game and start accepting that this is a contact sport. If we don't, we will never deserve to be raised to a level of respect equal to the heavy fighters. Those guys and gals have my utmost respect. That sport hurts...alot. Ours...well it should hurt now and then without the whining. If someone is injured, well that's another matter. Please don't confuse the two.
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Hawkyns
Novice
Posts:9
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| 08/25/2006 10:39 AM |
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Depends on what you mean by too hard a hit. If you walk off the field with a bruise or two, then no big deal. If you are covered in purple marks companied with hack and slash marks, then I would suggest you have entered the hard hitting zone. For me, I want a shot to land clean and I want to know I’ve been hit. The last thing I want to hear in a fight is “I think I felt something.” I don’t like ‘fairy touches’. Let’s face it we play with swords, we are going to get hit, and we are going to get a mark or two. Having said that, I also would suggest that it doesn’t mean a fighter should take sloppy out of control hits by some hacker that wants to prove his manhood by the strength of his shots rather than by the skill of his shots.
Sobeit.
Henry Hawkyns |
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Tora
Provost
Posts:105
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| 08/25/2006 10:50 AM |
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Spot on, Henry. And let us not forget that those who are afraid of the painful hit every now and then also have the option of upping their armor standards rather than stepping out with the minimums (i.e. hard plastic chest protection under the clothing, etc.).
I have a student in Japan who went out to Pennsic with me one year--his first big event. Somewhere in the first tournament somebody truly blasted him so as to leave all sorts of pretty shades of black, blue and even some green all over his right shoulder. Understanding that the person who delivered the blow certainly hadn't meant to do it, but nevertheless not wanting to relive another such hit, he immediately went out and bought a rigid leather shoulder pauldron that he now wears as a part of his rapier gear. As he tells me, it has served him well.
Tora |
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Tora
I'm the optimist who plans for when the pessimist is right. |
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MollyModine
Provost
Posts:135
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| 08/25/2006 1:55 PM |
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I have been brutalized on the field more then once by serious percussive blows.
Those who have fought me and know me, know I'm a big, tall, solid girl and not a push over.
But I have been bruised so badly it has taken months to heal. I have had knuckles dislocated and bones bruised, I have heard stories of people being pezzed so hard they have blacked out.
Personally I have been out right hit with a baseball bat type swing that left a red horizontal mark of the blade's edge on my leg and raised impact trama and undersurface bleeding for weeks. This is too hard ... period.
And I shouldn't have to go out and armour myself up like a heavy fighter to deal with this kind of 'fencing'.
This is also not the normal, a button bruise is one thing, yes deal with it, it's a martial art. But a bruise of the size and deepness of the one attached is an example of too hard. I got that in my first real tournament.
I also know I have hit hard in the past as well, I'm not saying I am above this problem.
Accidents happen.
But we all need to remember we want to be able to drink with these people after we 'kill' them. 
So let's watch our speeds and reactions and charges and measures and simply 'play nice'.
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Molly Modine (GdS, Havoc)
Cadet to Monseignor Prospere de Montsegur
Thorn of the Sable Rose, Argent |
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Gemma~
Provost
Posts:97
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| 08/25/2006 3:14 PM |
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I invite you to speak to the heavies that you so want to impress. You can start with my husband, HE Riddhari Steinn. His email is steinn @ shaw.ca.
He'll tell you that the Boys generally have the utmost respect for us. At least they do here in Avacal. It's taken a while, and there has been a change of heart from the past, but there it is. I've had compliments from HE Sir Vik, HE Sir Gunther, HG Sven, HG Thorin and many more about my abilities. And it's not because I am a thug and hurt my friends for real on the eric. It's because I have enough skill that I don't NEED or WANT to hurt them to have them take my shots. Please take this in the spirit that I intend it, not that I am griping at you or discouraging you in your game - I would just HATE to see someone get hurt unnecessarily. It encourages respect from other communities when they *know* we are experts at what we do and therefore are not required to up our armouring standard.
So yes. This is a contact sport. To a degree. If you want to hit people hard enough to wound them for real, I invite you to take up another sport, look at fighting heavy, play lacrosse where cross checking is legit and encouraged. I also invite you to become so superior at fencing that your touches are clean, solid and undeniable - and do not break your playmates. And I am not mistaking the 'seriously injured' for the 'whiner' - I understand your delineation - I see and fear how easily one can become the other though.
And to echo Molly... I too, am solidly build, tall, and have an assertive/agressive outlook on the field. I like to brawl, I like to scrap. I have also been hurt by people who have hit me grievously hard.
2 more pence,
Gemma~ |
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Blayde
Free Scholar
Posts:56
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| 08/25/2006 3:59 PM |
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Although I appreciate both the recent replies, how many times do I have to spell out...solid hit...not injury? Please go back and read what I wrote again...try to answer the words...not the tone.
I've had ribs separated, waffles on my head, smashed fingers and huge bruises over the years...oh and a black eye last month. However, the black eye was a case where I lunged in melee at the same time the guy on the line to my right lunged at me. Sh!t happens. I waffled a guy recently, the first time I've ever waffled a guy because he lunged into my lunge. Again, Sh!t happens.
There's a huge difference between someone out of control slamming into you leaving large bruises consistantly, and someone who hits you solid or causes you pain here and there. If both of you are scrappers, fast, strong, you're gonna get your share of bruises. If you don't, you're dancing not fighting. This goes back to my first and initial question...are we a contact sport or not?
Football is a contact sport, and guys hit each other hard, but injuries happen by accident and are not the norm. Their armor protects them from the hard hits. For someone to tell you to get thicker armor to keep you from getting the daily bruises, you should take that as good advice not insult.
What most people who complain don't do is look at themselves and ask why they are bruised. Did I start in a defensive stance and step over into a counter attack? Did I counter into an attack and miss? Did I stand there this time after retreating the two times before so my opponent adjusted his calibration anticipating a retreat? Am I standing there trading punches or am I retreating? Did I lunge at the same time as my opponent, missed, got hit, and therefore have a bruise? If a guy is inside and punches you in the gut with his blade, you have a right to be pissed. If you retreat on an attack and the guy consistantly punches you with his blade, you have a right to be pissed. But, if you are charging at people consistantly and you don't know why you are so bruised, you need help. If a guy hits you 50 times and you hit him twice, and he hit you hard several times, and you are pissed....you need to know why you are pissed, and I guarantee you it's not because he hit you hard several times. It's because he hit you 50 times and you didn't get to hit him back. That's frustrating, and it's at the root of many of the complaints.
I've been accused of hitting hard in the past, and I know where most of it comes from. It comes from me hitting fighters who are not used to getting hit so much. Yes, occasionally I hit hard, but 95 percent of the time I don't. I may have 5 hard hits out of 100, and 3 of those are due to an unexpected move by my opponent. The other two...well I'm human and I'm fast. I accept those.
RE: the bruise in the picture. That particular part of the body is very susceptable to serious bruising. The reason is that in many cases, the arm is moving forward into the opponent's lunge. It doesn't normally happen when you parry, and only occasionally when you retreat. To get a bruise like that normally, you would have tried a stop thrust with a line close or a lunge into a lunge. What I ask you for now is complete honesty. What percentage of that bruise was your fault? What could you have done differently in the pass to avoid it? What was your opponent's attack? Was it to the arm or did the arm get in the way?
I fight with very fast, hard hitting fighters three days a week, and honestly, I can't remember the last time I got a bruise in that region. Where I get bruised is in my ribs when my opponent parries my attack with his dagger and comes underneath with the sword into an area my dagger can't easily defend. Most other bruises I get are in melee because hey, it gets crazy.
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MollyModine
Provost
Posts:135
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| 08/25/2006 4:11 PM |
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Actually the bruise came as I was closing measure on my opponent, but at the last moment he dropped to one knee and braced his elbow on his bent knee and the rapier then became like a rod of unflexible steel, there was no 'breaking' in the wrist or elbow on his part, it was a fully baced move he did. And it would have either been my torso or my arm, thankfully my arm.
Side note, I was saying I'm a big, tall and strong girl doesn't make me a 'scraper', I'm a duellist and pride myself in delivering a light to firm touch where I want it to be, when I want it to be. It's not a game of force, it's a game of skill and speed.
We don't allow body on body attacks, we're not a contact sport like football, we're a competitive martial art.
My opinion. |
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Molly Modine (GdS, Havoc)
Cadet to Monseignor Prospere de Montsegur
Thorn of the Sable Rose, Argent |
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Gemma~
Provost
Posts:97
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| 08/25/2006 4:37 PM |
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We will not be respected more for hitting each other harder. Our game is one of skill, technique, speed, accuracy and more and more - period recreation.
Yes, I agree that our sport is contact. We have blades contacting, incidental contact, and grappling was period. You win one on that point.
If you are challenging us all to look at ownership of our own injuries, I applaud you. We are all responsible and liable for the risks we take. It should be up to the individual to armour accordingly. That being said - do you hit a 100lb girl with the same force that you hit a 250lb man? Is your dial ramped to 10 all the time or do you adjust to the situation? How does someone else know before armouring up that you fight with a higher velocity because you feel the community is populated with weenies? Are you taking ownership of the three times out a hundred when you do hit someone too hard, and what are the ramifications of that action for you?
There will always be another side to each story, another point of view that we don't see, an incident that doesn't get reported to the general populace but gets reported to the marshallate. This is why the rules are set for the masses - they cover the lowest and the highest denominator equally. So if you want to continue fighting and hitting hard enough to leave waffle marks, you may indeed have to do that with your friends and the people that are willing to assume that risk. Not everyone is going to want to be part of that, and that's okay too. There's room here for all of us. |
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Cordell
Scholar
Posts:19
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| 08/25/2006 4:55 PM |
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Okay.. I am sure I am totally missing your point.. "Blayde"..
Last time I checked "SCA Rapier" was to the touch.. you do remember that right? I've been hit "hard" (also subjective, cause I've been railroaded as well), and I deal with it directly with my opponent.. I don't see where 'forceful' blows are necessary.. or that "ramping" up armor is necessary.
If we play by the rules.. this shouldn't be an issue..
Once again it breaks down to training.. either you have control or you don't.. I prefer control.
Now.. if I get pezzed because of a double lunge.. well, I obviously didn't do my job right.. I don't complain about that.. I usually shake my head and laugh.. cause well, Oops.. I screwed that up.
So.. I agree.. if you wanna hit harder, get some armor and a stick and go heavy..
I personally think the funniest thing in our game is when your opponent says.. I felt that, but it was too light......."TO THE TOUCH!!!"..*GIGGLE UNCONTROLLABLY*
But hey.. let's keep this game fun. |
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Kristophe
Provost
Posts:82
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| 08/25/2006 6:03 PM |
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I've talked with several fighters over the years who dislike accepting any hit at maximum extension that lands very softly. Namely, the person attacking is at their max range and just barely manages to tag a very light hit. Their argument is that had it been a 'real' blade it wouldn't have penetrated deep enough to inflict any injury and thusly it shouldn't be taken as a valid.
The counterpoint of course is that the person landing the hit has been trained and learned to gauge measure at this maximum range because that's the game we play. In period, they'd have trained to land the blade 3-6+ inches INTO their target. Of course, if we trained for that here we'd be arguing all day long about the overhitting and safety issues.
The concern for me of course is upon hearing this complaint about the light hit is the realization that if this fighter blows off shots that are valid then people will begin to step up the impacts. Eventually, this new impact will become the standard and then the cycle repeats because the new hit 'only went in an inch, not 3 . . "
No disrespect intended but this line amazes me: "If we don't, we will never deserve to be raised to a level of respect
equal to the heavy fighters. Those guys and gals have my utmost
respect. That sport hurts...alot. Ours...well it should hurt now and
then without the whining." (Emphasis added to show the text in question)
We win by use of strategy, technique, etc. I wasn't aware the ability to dish hurt was on the criteria. I've never been accused of hitting light (and reprimanded a few times for hitting too stiff) but I've always viewed that as a failure on my part to do my job right. At it's ultimate end, with perfect control, my tip should press lightly onto my opponents head/shirt. That's winning with style. Of course, even better is if I still have range left and broke the shot to avoid any hurt. That way I COULD have stuck it 3-6+ inches in. That'd be stylistic AND period too . . .
My 2 bits, no offence meant to anyone.
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MollyModine
Provost
Posts:135
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| 08/25/2006 7:09 PM |
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Kristophe said: The counterpoint of course is that the person landing the hit has been trained and learned to gauge measure at this maximum range because that's the game we play. In period, they'd have trained to land the blade 3-6+ inches INTO their target. Of course, if we trained for that here we'd be arguing all day long about the overhitting and safety issues.
Finally! Way to go Kristophe! Every once and a while I run into an opponent who says that was too light and I've never had the thought in my mind at the time to go over what you just explained. Kudos!
To quote Cordell ... "to the touch!" ... LOL |
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Molly Modine (GdS, Havoc)
Cadet to Monseignor Prospere de Montsegur
Thorn of the Sable Rose, Argent |
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Sevrin
FALSE
Free Scholar
Posts:39
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| 08/26/2006 1:54 AM |
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Posted By Kristophe on 08-25-2006 6:03 PM
I've talked with several fighters over the years who dislike accepting any hit at maximum extension that lands very softly. Namely, the person attacking is at their max range and just barely manages to tag a very light hit. Their argument is that had it been a 'real' blade it wouldn't have penetrated deep enough to inflict any injury and thusly it shouldn't be taken as a valid.
As a counterpoint to this, I always call back any shot I land "soft" at my maximum extension for the very same reason. Oddly enough, and more often than not, I get arguements when I do. I have to explain that if it were a real sword, it would only have scratched the skin, and I refuse to take a victory with a shot like that.
As for occassional hard hits and the accompanying bruises ... for me it's no big deal. Usually it's a matter of bodies in motion. The hard shots I am concerned with are when fighters are so desperate to win that they lunge or move in excess of their safe speed.
Mind you, I do this because it is fun and I love the sound of clashing steel. Winning is secondary. |
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Yours in Service,
Sevrin de Savage
Cadet to Don Enoch Jacobsz. van Zuidland
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jgreywolf
Hai Gioco?
Posts:685
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| 08/26/2006 8:02 AM |
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How many people in this thread have ever done live steel cutting/thrusting? You do not have to hit hard to be effective in reality, so why hit hard to be effective in SCA Rapier?
If you want to hit hard and injure people because you think it makes you look good, then go somewhere else. If you want to fight in an effective manner, than show a measure of control, and only do what is neccessary. Do the heavy fighters hit harder than we do in rapier? Yes. Do they do this because it is more realistic? No. They do this because that is the way the game has evolved - and in order to effect the same dynamic of an "effective" blow with a simulator that has no edge, over one that does have an edge, they hit harder. WIth a real sword, hitting harder is highly ineffective.
To me, this also means acknowledgeing when your blow would not be effective (soft touch at full extension), and choosing to call it back. |
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Justin Greywolf (SCA: Ramon Diaz de la Vega)
Director
Old World Martial Arts - Teaching Historical Italian Swordplay in the Pacific Northwest |
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Romeo13
Free Scholar
Posts:36
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| 08/26/2006 8:35 AM |
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I think a large part of the problem here is that most of the people answering the OPs post, are not part of the problem. You understand the difference between a "good" hit... and dangerous fighting.... and understand that a good Pezz means you're fighting hard....
That bruise was wrong... seperated ribs are wrong... black eye through the mask something went wrong... everyone agrees with this...
What the OP was talking about was the FACT that there are some SCA groups out there, where what is considered a normal hit by most, or just part of the game, suddenly becomes an issue when practicing or fighting with members of that group.
It amazes me that I can fight with some members and be complimented on my measure and calibration, and yet in the SAME PRACTICE session, with another fighter, be constantly told I'm hitting "stout". When that happens, you have to start analyzing why.... did you change technique? no.... speed? no... measure... no.... opponent??? yes... opponents technique??? yes.... now.... how do they interact... or is it simply that THEIR idea of what is stout is different?
OK... now... when fighting this person or group... how do you fix it??? Slow down... not take that shot that is a certain good score, but they tend to step into it (and yes, this is a real situation)... so in other words... give up a part of your game and technique?
I was at a practice in the West, where I watched a fighter constantly complain about hard hits from 4 people (including me), and yet there was not a single complaint from anyone else..... problem was She/He (being politically correct here ) was a Martial and AFTER the fact raised a stink...
There ARE valid complaints... I guess the question is, with the Code of Chivalry of the SCA, and the fact that "Stout" is codified as being in the eye of the beholder... how do you maintain a reasonable level of competition, when some want a "lighter" game?
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Blayde
Free Scholar
Posts:56
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| 08/26/2006 10:26 AM |
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Molly Wrote:
but at the last moment he dropped to one knee and braced his elbow on his bent knee and the rapier then became like a rod of unflexible steel,
So, what you're saying, is you were lunging into him and his sword arm wasn't moving forward. From your words, it could not have been if it was braced against his bent knee. My lady, you can't expect your opponent to flex a stop thrust that you run yourself upon. In this case, your bruise is due to you thrusting your arm into his braced blade. I'm not saying his mechanics were sound...obviously, they were very lacking. But, I ask you again, how much of the blame is yours? What could you do differently in your approach, lunge, attack, and mechanics to have prevented that bruise?
In response to the lightest touch response, I challenge anyone here to hit me with only a lightest touch more than 5 out of 10 times. I guarantee you, there's no one on this thread that could do it. No, it's not because I'm some stellar fighter. It's because I'm not going to stand still for you. Yes, maybe you could hit the wall 9 out of ten times with what could be considered a lightest touch, but when your opponent moves and moves fast, it's not going to happen.
I've said it in several places, but I guess I have to go over it again. Nowhere in anything I've written here have I condoned injurious behavior. So, why are we talking about injuries and major hematomas? If you haven't actually read my first post, please go back and read it...maybe twice prior to responding.
What we're dealing with here are people who cannot and will not take the slightest hard hit without whining. I'm not even talking about a bruise. I'm talking about a shot to the mask that rocks them a little when they were charging. I'm talking about a firm shot that may leave a small bruise when two people are closing. I'm talking about fighting with someone for ten minutes, and a couple shots land a little hard, and then they go back to their buddies and complain that you are a hard hitter. It's these people who bring the sport to a level of "panzy play."
To answer someone elses response in regards to what I do the couple of times out of a hundred that I actually cause someone undue pain....well duh....I apologize. I encourage all of my students to apologize and I work daily with my students to not hit hard. However, when two very good, strong, fast fighters are going at it, hard hits happen. What I'd like to see is an understanding of that. I DONT SEE IT in many SCA fighters.
There's a culture of whining about hits that don't cause injury or even serious bruising. That's the problem. That culture perpetuates whining instead of better mechanics. People are still using defensive stance, and cross stepping at their opponent and expecting that person to be the better fighter and pull a shot as they charge into them. When they get hit hard, they whine. It's incredible.
If you're not part of the problem, I'm not addressing you. Do I condone hard hitting....of course not. I do my best to not hit hard. But there are fighters out there that I hit hard more than others, and they happen to be the fastest, most unpredictable types. A good friend of mine, Lord Nytshaed (Guild Master of Fence), West Kingdom, is a very difficult target for me, and I hit him hard much more often than other people. The reason being, now you see him, now he's lunged. Many times, one or the other of us lunges within a fraction of a second of the other one, and you have the "Two Bulls Charging" situation. What do you do? Well, it's just part of the game, and when it happens, take your knocks.
Again, what I'm asking you folks who've read this, and the rest of the community who are buying into the culture of whining is to take your knocks when you are partly responsible for the hard hits. I ask you to take a look at yourself and understand that hard hits happen, and if you don't like a little pain and bruising now and then to try a different sport, or only fight with people who play easy.
That's about it. |
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Cordell
Scholar
Posts:19
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| 08/26/2006 11:31 AM |
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Now.. call me stupid if ya want, but that last post was waaaaaaaay more clear..
I too have been laced in the cross lunge motion, I totally understand how I could accept that, except for one thing..
9 times out of 10 I don't hurt the other guy.. Why? cause I am paranoid, I hate hurting someone, so when I feel contact, my arm "breaks".. it's what I do naturally..
Now.. while learning, measure and tempo, etc I have made some learning mistakes..(mostly with cuts) and I apologize profusely, only to be told it wasn't that bad....
I don't experience too much of the .."I can't believe he hits to hard" mentality..
AT the same time.. I've been hit "too hard" on many occaisons by more experienced, better "trained" fighters..
Why? Cause that's how they play the game where they come from..
What do I do about it.. Deal with it.. LOL
L8R |
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Raoul
Has a lot to say...
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| 08/27/2006 4:48 PM |
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Is that an echo? I'm sure we've had this discussion before.
Blayde, you have dressed your opinion in terms that are pretty much guaranteed to make people not listen to it. Nobody likes being called a whiner.
That said, here's what I think. We play that the lightest touch is all that is required for a valid touch. Nowhere does it say that anything harder than that is invalid. Rapier is a contact sport and bruises should not be unexpected. We should aim to land with the least force required but accept the fact that there will be harder hits. Especially if you are someone who tends to 'advance agressively'.
Raoul |
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"So let us go and get killed where we are told to go. Is life worth the trouble of so many questions?" -Athos |
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Cordell
Scholar
Posts:19
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| 08/27/2006 9:20 PM |
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I have to do this Raoul
*clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap,*
Thankyou. |
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MollyModine
Provost
Posts:135
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| 08/27/2006 10:15 PM |
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Greetings Ramon
I wasn't lunging forward as I recall, I was in Misura Stretta and reaching out in Seconda to tag him in the left shoulder. The fighter was left handed and as I went for Seconda, he dropped to one knee, it was the front knee that he then braced his sword elbow on. Yes it was my momentum, but do to the position of his body and sword there was no give on his end. Stop thrust or not.
Regardless of this example, which maybe wasn't the best example to share, it was settled on the field, I was simply outlining the incident and including a photo to say that serious bruises and impact can occur from the smallest things, so we all have to be careful with each other ... so that we can all drink together afterwards. |
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Molly Modine (GdS, Havoc)
Cadet to Monseignor Prospere de Montsegur
Thorn of the Sable Rose, Argent |
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Blayde
Free Scholar
Posts:56
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| 08/28/2006 8:41 AM |
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Thank you Raoul. I'm sure those who whine will certainly not want to hear my request...an opinion as you called it. However, whether or not they like what I said, believe what I said, or feel they are part of the problem, this message had one purpose: To cause those who whine to take a look at themselves. If I did that, then I am satisfied. As far as calling an individual a whiner...I did not. Did I say the community and culture has a problem...why yes I did. Either the shoe fits or it doesn't. If you're part of the problem, then be offended. If not, join in fixing it.
As far as having a discussion or previous posts dealing with the same subject matter goes. Well I'm sure you have only unique thoughts and are different from the rest of us. I congratulate your on your stellar ability. Bravo man, bravo! Sarcasm as a response to my directness is your call. But, expect it back, and my pen is only slightly less deadly than my sword.
Lastly Raoul, if you could share your description of the rules with the rest of the rapier community and get everyone to understand it, there would be no need for these kinds of discussions. Unfortunately, there's a huge gap in understanding that circumstances play a huge part in every hard hit. Many fighters prefer to complain than look at themselves as part of the problem. Many fighters also "ONLY" like to be hit to the lightest touch and are the first to line up to run someone out of the fencing group because they are hitting too hard. It still goes back to respect, and we won't get it if we whine.
Oh, and Cordell, those who lack the courage to do the deed themselves are often found clapping when someone braver than themselves steps up. If you have something to say...say it. Don't chime in like a cronie. Poor form...very poor form.
Molly, thank you for your respone. So, in conclusion it was a combination of the speed of your arm movement with the solidness of his blade resting on his knee that caused your bruise. The only thing I can tell you is this. Never attack in seconda on a lefty. I am one, i know. It rarely works. Attack them under their arm to the inside. As a lefty, I had to break myself of attacking righties on the outside. All it does is leave your arm and chest exposed. The only exception to that is if you already have their blade bound by your dagger or other sword in case. I applaud you for settling it on the field. Good for you. |
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