From: doug@celia.UUCP (Doug Nichols)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: Fencing
Date: 4 Sep 92 23:18:32 GMT
Reply-To: celia!doug@usc.edu (Doug Nichols)
Organization: Rhythm & Hues, Inc., Hollywood

In article <1992Sep1.145217.9176@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> pmw2c@csissun8.ee.Virginia.EDU (Paul Michael Wayner) writes:
>
>PRO for fencing -vs- SCA:
>-------------------------
>Greater recognition as a "real" sport.

	I don't see the need for the quotes here. It IS a real sport.

>Training is "relatively" easy to find.

	Good training is not relatively easy to find. Call me picky...:)

>CON for fencing -vs- SCA:
>-------------------------
>Fencing limits you to moving along a line, SCA fighting has no
>such limitation.

	A matter of degrees, really. Certainly you're not fencing in a
	circle, but you are within a two meter wide rectangle. It's up
	to the individual's ability and imagination to use the space
	available to the maximum extent. It is not a strictly linear
	game, however.

>Fencing limits your weapon selection, SCA fighting allows for 
>almost any historically accurate weapons, including two rapiers,
>rapier and main-gauche, buckler, cloaks, etc.

	I'm curious about two rapiers being historically accurate.
	One of the big problems I have about SCA, is that you can't
	really argue the "historically accurate" question. Two rapiers
	as a weapons choice sounds astonishingly stupid to me, as two
	of these at once would be very unweildy due to their weight and
	length, totally defeating the originally intended advantages of
	mobility and speed in defense. I don't believe you could ever
	convince me that using two would be "historically accurate,"
	but what the hell do I know? I wasn't there. I think there is
	too much room for the overimaginative and underexposed to make
	their own decisions as to what is or is not historically
	accurate in SCA. How defined are the rules? Are there any?
	Can you do whatever you want, as long as nobody bothers to question
	you?

>Fencing is done in tournaments only, SCA fighting is done in melees and
>tournaments.

	Well, not really. Most fencing in this country is done in clubs
	and colleges, and most fencers are recreational fencers and
	never go near tournaments.

>Fencing only allows certain target points, in SCA fighting the entire
>body is a legal target.

	Someone already corrected you on this.

>Fencing only allows thrusts, in SCA fighting draw-cuts are also
>allowed.

	Ditto.

	Here's the thing; I guess I most want to know how training in
	SCA works. How do you find a reputable coach? How do you know
	he/she is reputable? Is there a governing board of any kind (and
	I know that governing boards aren't by any means the best fall
	back position, given that they are most often political institutions,
	which in my mind seriously dilutes their affectiveness)?

	Ok, so I'm basically a fencing snob, because that's where I'm from,
	and I wonder about whether what SCA folks are doing is really to
	be considered anything more than good clean fun, for the sake of
	dressing up and getting together with friends and having a good time.

	Please flame me on the net....:)

	Doug Nichols
	Rhythm & Hues
	Hollywood, CA
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts