thegirlsclub

[BessGoodblack]

Sooo...

I watched practice the other night for the first time. I noticed that no one was making any noise when they fought. I understood that since there were babies around and some serious war cries could lead to some serious baby cries. Buuut now I watch videos and I hear no screaming again. Coming from a Kendo background - which emphasizes loud vocalizations in order to promote breath control and assume superior presence (seme) in order to gain an advantage - the silence strikes me as odd. Do people ever yell in combat or is everyone always silent? Is screaming like a banshee unacceptable for whatever reason? Or could I - once I am in the gear and fighting heavy at last - still give my usual bloodcurdling howl should I want to give it like I do elsewhere?

- Bess Goodblack

[Cunian]

Once in a while - probably more acceptable in a war situation - especially if you're a barbarian or something or completely outnumbered and facing a suicidal situation. On the whole, it's not really our thing although there are no rules against it.

[Ariadne]

If you're new, you probably don't want to get a reputation as "that girl that makes a lot of noise and can't fight for shit". Wait a few years, until you start getting good.

[BessGoodblack]

We shall see then. I guess I will be getting started next week so I will discuss it with the locals. Mostly, was just asking whether or not it is common enough. I have been taught that a good scream shows appropriate spirit to the situation, and showing a strong spirit only encourages the opponent and compliments them as well. It also allows a combatant to build up their own presence and - at least in my current sword art - we understand that a fight can sometimes be won on presence alone. I swear when I go in against my seniors at our Kendo trainings, my shinai gains at least fifteen pounds under their presence (seme) alone.

As to how well I will fight ... I will see soon enough whether or not my experience and training in competitive swordplay crosses over into the SCA world. I know where the difference exist so I am hoping to steepen the learning curve with a few modest adjustments. Hold center at the level of the sternum rather than the throat, since hard thrusts to the throat are illegal in the SCA from what I have been told. Adjust to the fact that whipping strikes (whipping with the wrists) are acceptable, whereas in my primary sword practice they are considered inadequate. Somehow figure out how to deal with shields when all my training comes from a culture in which the shield was seen as cowardice... Not that I believe that! Not at all. But in Kendo we are taught that death is a guarantee and we should endeavor not to survive the fight but to instead take down our opponent with us when they strike. Simultaneous (obviously simulated) death between two opponents is the most honorable victory condition which can be achieved.

Of coooouuuurse ... I am the first to say that SCA heavy weapons is not Kendo and Kendo is not SCA heavy weapons. I will be keeping that mantra in mind. But I hope at least the talent will carry over well enough. Besides ... sigh ... I think I already have the reputation of being the new young man or somesuch. I left with the feeling that half the people there had not yet caught on to the fact that I am a woman.

Story of my life.



So showing up in a dress next time.
_________________
- Bess Goodblack

[Jesmond]

I am not kendoka. But from those I have seen, they usually pick up two handed sword basics very fast. There's an adjustment since draw cuts don't count in armoured combat and power must be increased, but you should have some advantages, especially footwork and comfort with being struck.

You might post to a larger forum like www.armourarchive.org and create a thread requesting fellow kendo practitioners give you additional insight into their experiences with the differences.

Do as you please, but I would not vocalize as a routine aspect of blow delivery. So much of my striking practice now emphasizes creating openings and timing the blow just as my opponent's focus wavers / energy shifts (sometimes just through their breathing) that I would not find forcible exhalation to be helpful with my own sword and shield technique. YMMV.
_________________
First authorized: 1996 - 2000
Re-authorized: 2006 - now
Last event: Coronation
Next event: Border Raids
The Misery Tour: You'll wish you had less fun.

[Cunian]

I think there would probably be some enhanced success with the yell, but the impression in the SCA would be more of a gimmick and less of presence. Believe me, presence is HUGE in our combat and very effective, but it is done more through body language.

Lots of people have issues with the shield thing. To many who are naturals or have other training, it just seems terribly awkward and like a drag rather than a prop. It is worth learning, given its primacy, but you should try a number of styles and you may well find that a small, active style is more to your liking than a larger shield. It may help if you regard the shield as a weapon, but one limited to an accessory role.

My knight came from a kendo background and found it helped him. He still, (thirty years later), has little use for shields and sighs about the haplessness of SCA greatsword, but...

[Slaine]

My mighty battle scream always sound more like a squeek. It just isn't effective.

[BessGoodblack]

[paulb]

Bess,

My style of greatsword (actually no-dachi) is based in large part on Judo. It might contain enough similarities to the basis of your training to be useful in your conversion to SCA combat.

My website is www.bellatrix.org. Look for the Great Weapons appendix.

Regards,

Paul

[audax]

The kiai is not generally used in SCA combat. Use it if you like and see how it works out for you. It may just make you seem obnoxious.

I would advise you to pretend you know nothing and enter with an open mind. Be a student. Do not assume for a second that you are prepared for SCA combat just because you've done kendo.

I've had decades of martial arts training, including hand to hand combat in the military and real live honest to god street fights. SCA combat is unique.

Remember also that the skill levels in different groups can vary wildly. There may be groups with no knights (who are masters or this form of martial art) to groups infested with them. Just because you can mop the floor with the newbies at your local practice does not mean that you can even touch a knight.

Those wrist whips you see land a hell of a lot harder than you think they will. They are called moulinets. Glancing blows do not count. I don't know where you got that. Good blows count which means if it hit you hard enough you call it. Honor is the coin of the SCA. If you get a rep for shucking blows, your reputation will suffer for it.

What you've been taught in kendo is not unique to kendo. All combat arts, including SCA fighting, are based on the same principles: timing, footwork, power, range control and presence.
_________________
Martel le Hardi
squire to Meser Lyonel Oliver Grace, fostered to Sir Gaston de Clermont
-------------------------------------------------------

The Minstrel's Champion

[BessGoodblack]

[Jesmond]

Terms vary by region.

I would not think of this as a moulinet, but this guy calls it that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX5DIZy1qdk
_________________
First authorized: 1996 - 2000
Re-authorized: 2006 - now
Last event: Coronation
Next event: Border Raids
The Misery Tour: You'll wish you had less fun.

[Jesmond]

http://www.createforum.com/thegirlsclub/viewtopic.php?t=570&mforum=thegirlsclub
_________________
First authorized: 1996 - 2000
Re-authorized: 2006 - now
Last event: Coronation
Next event: Border Raids
The Misery Tour: You'll wish you had less fun.

[Cunian]

You'll find that SCA terminology and usage can be maddeningly variable from area to area and "school" to "school".

Also - typically - a blow that is wrist-based would be unacceptable. However - what people accept as good is also maddeningly variable. Also often people will accept a blow as good from a beginner that they would not accept from a skilled fighter.

Sometimes how the power for a blow is generated is not readily apparent from body motion, and there may be more behind a blow that appears simply to come from the wrist/forearm than you know.

Adapting mentally from a rather mature and well-codified art to the functional chaos of the SCA seems to often be one of the hardest parts of that journey.

[audax]