sword snobbery, etc.

[anotheranon]

I am starting to suspect I may have misjudged the nature of SCA fencing.

Disclaimer: I know that the SCA is a huge and international organization, and that different regions/groups have their own rules and levels of accuracy/enthusiasm/focus. However, I have long been under the impression that my local SCA chapter does not do real (i.e., historically informed) fencing, and that even if they did, there isn't a rapier marshall/practice local to me anyway.

Well.... [sigh]...

I admit this impression is based on old data (my lapsed SCA membership from 5 years ago) and the opinions of my fellow western martial art enthusiasts (who like many purists lurve "their way" above all others), and as such I am forced to admit I may not be being as open minded as I could be :/

Evidence: a paper presented at the Congress outlining the fact that SCA combat has enough different rules and regs to be considered a martial art in it's own right, and suggestive indications from the upcoming local University's class listing that at least some of the local SCA rapier fighters (rapierists?) are flirting with historic fencing texts. So, it looks like there's a trend towards the western martial arts style discipline that I'm accustomed to and in favor of, or, at the very least, I can't slam on the SCA for not doing real fencing - it may be different but it could be argued that it's equally valid.

Soooo.... at the upcoming university I'm going to attend some of the fencing classes and see if they're playing a game I want to join. If so - yay! Because there are a lot more different people to fence in the SCA than there are western martial artists. And if not - yay! Maybe I'll learn not to be such a snob :P

Comments

[folo1.livejournal.com]

As I've pointed out before, the SCA is unique among living-history groups for inventing a sport. Since participants are more concerned with the sports aspect than with the accuracy standpoints, it has given participants and very skewed vision of swordplay. That SCA fencing bears little resemblence to actual period fencing, then, is not surprising.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with it being a sport - hell, modern sport fencing is tag with sticks, I know this and still enjoy it :P

I think what was skewing my view of SCA fighting was my acquaintance with many seriously historically accurate costumers from the SCA, and it irked me that the attention to historic detail didn't carry to other disciplines.

Now that I understand that that's not what the majority is aiming for (plus the presence of a few individuals who might be) I think I might be able to enjoy it for what it is, instead of what I thought/expected/wanted it to be.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I used to fence with the local barrony here in AA county back when they met at Meade High School. Then 9/11 happened and it all went away. At the time most of the "light weapons" action was with "musketeer" blades (double wide epees). The schlaeger blades were also coming into use, though I think not as much as in some other parts of the country. I know my friend Eric out in Phoenix has been fencing schlaeger for longer than it's been an option around here.

The DC area barrony used to be pretty slim on rapier fighters. That may have changed now. As of 2001 they were mostly heavy weapons people, thwacking away on each other with swords made from PVC pipe wrapped in duct tape.

dedoc used to be the SCA rapier marshall. He's very good and has studied the historic texts. He lives in Florida, so he's not local, but he might be able to recommend someone to you.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

My memory is similar to yours, though I can't compare to pre-2001 because that was the year I was in the SCA. Mostly heavy, few rapier fighters, Bright Hills marshall down only once a month for maybe 3 people (??) A lot can happen in 5 6 years.

If I like what I see and in the extremely unlikely possibility that I'd be able to make a regular thing of it, I may contact you or dedoc to recommend a good marshall. As it is, my schedule is cluttered enough right now!