Follow the Battle of Nations Team

[Theodore]

ZZTop, AC/DC and Bee-Gees playing for the joust? And I thought this event was to be very historical. The SCA is looking more like LH...

Well, maybe they got a bootleg copy of A Knight's Tale to use as their primary documentation.

[Said ibn-Ali]

ZZTop, AC/DC and Bee-Gees playing for the joust? And I thought this event was to be very historical. The SCA is looking more like LH...

Well, maybe they got a bootleg copy of A Knight's Tale to use as their primary documentation.

I do like last nights Scottish/Celtic music after all was said and done... I had that running for about a hour till the feed died after all the fighting was done.

[LeeC]

The BotN has had a small taste of whats coming next year.

My shoulder surgery is next week after 4 years waiting. Getting my harness back together I hope so I can at least be a training dummy for any of the team out this way.

[Thothrekr]

Drat. I don't do Facebook. Could you post the "more" comments or PM them to me, please? Please?

With thanks,

-Aaron

Here's the entire quote from Duke Ice

Well, the fighting for the US team is officially over. There will be some group melee and some may fight in this but for the most part, our fighters have given their all. The greatest observation made by both the team and our friends here at the battle is how fast we have learned. Our tactics have advanced in just the short time we were here. Our 5 man team did the country proud, advancing very f...ar into the day yesterday. Our champions all made it to the final 16 with 2 making it to the final 8. Our 21 on 21 team actually defeated one of the best teams here in one fight. The weather changed yesterday, with the temps dropping below 100 with a bit of an afternoon shower. Today will be a day of merchanting, relaxing and sharing more time with team mates. I feel thoroughly satisfied with the performance of the team and look forward towards working on our team for 2013. (I will start on this next week). There were a few more injuries on the last day as your team showed the world their stubborn strength and constitution. I am hunbled to be standing in the company of these men and the women who came along to support and work on the behalf of this team. THANK YOU TEAM AND SUPPORT STAFF!!!!

He also had a post advising people interested in the 2013 team to contact him. As he mentioned in the above quote he's starting work next week.

[Kilkenny]

Who was tilting for the USA? anyone have any idea how that went? I have been watching, but between the feed and the unfamiliarity with the rules for these particular competitions, I have no idea how any of the tilters did

[Kilkenny]

Whole lot of standing around waiting for things to get started. looks familiar

[Count Johnathan]

I thought we still had one fighter scheduled for the pro fights...

[Aaron]

The Russians were cheering for us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz29GnagsdM

[Aaron]

Team USA taught the Russians something! They taught the Russians the "Mexican Standoff" and "SCA Duke Wait for the Other Guy to Make a Move."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suTiP9Q- ... ure=relmfu

-Aaron

[Aaron]

Team USA won best debut prize at the Battle of Nations.

[Aaron]

And Team USA won most beautiful armour too.

[muttman]

Aaron beat me to it!

John/Drefan

[Aaron]

OK, I'll admit it....the entire time I really wanted to be there fighting. I will be working with Ice Falcon and others to make a good BoTN suit that can double as a CoTT suit.

I noticed the medics breathing a sigh of relief....


-Aaron

[Syrfinn]

Sweet, very nicely done.

[Aaron]

The announcer is mentioning "Americani" a lot. Someday a translation would be nice, but right now I'd like to get a DVD with the fighter's comments.

-Aaron

[muttman]

I posted this on FB but it bears repeating here

"To think I would live to see the day when Russian warrior athletes would chant USA! USA! at the arrival of United States opponents and salute our presence. When Poles, Germans, Russians, Israelis Americans, Ukrainians, Italians and others would after days of hard and brutal competition all collect on the same field they fought and bled and sweated on and trade hugs and handshakes, smiles and well wishes all around with no attitude in sight.
Today I'm not just proud to be an American but also of Russian and Polish descent and I'm proud to be a medievalist

I literally got tears in my eyes at the sight. Twenty years ago you could never have convinced me this was possible. Truly amazing"

John/Drefan

[Aaron]

Pick up bouts!

[Aaron]

I posted this on FB but it bears repeating here

"To think I would live to see the day when Russian warrior athletes would chant USA! USA! at the arrival of United States opponents and salute our presence. When Poles, Germans, Russians, Israelis Americans, Ukrainians, Italians and others would after days of hard and brutal competition all collect on the same field they fought and bled and sweated on and trade hugs and handshakes, smiles and well wishes all around with no attitude in sight.
Today I'm not just proud to be an American but also of Russian and Polish descent and I'm proud to be a medievalist

I literally got tears in my eyes at the sight. Twenty years ago you could never have convinced me this was possible. Truly amazing"

John/Drefan

A violent sport bringing peaceful friendship.

[Aaron]

Double kill, both on the ground.

[LeeC]

The world we be a lot more peaceful if we fought more often.
That was Bam,Bam in a pro bout with the Ukranian.

[Ingvarr]

4 Ms, no comma.

[Aaron]

From watching quite a few of the videos, I think that these are important factors in the BotN combat:

1. Numbers matter. If you can peel off or knock down a fighter, the number game means the other fighters are now outnumbered (and things go quickly).

For example, it was an even fight UNTIL Nissan knocked one fighter down, then two fighters were knocked down within seconds, and Team USA won:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQM9ncXv-_c


2. While situational awareness would be great, someone needs to cover your back. In this clip, I can't see where anything less than 360 vision would have helped. A bargrilled helm would have been as effective as a great helm in regards to vision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQmeg2Wt ... ature=plcp

Or worse, this video (amazing, beautiful chaos...but even "stop fight" five times or so couldn't stop it for the second fight):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4P-xRW ... ature=plcp

3. Good armour works, and will get you awards.

-Aaron

[Theodore]

Whole lot of standing around waiting for things to get started. looks familiar

Didn't you invent that, Your Grace!

[Aaron]

Whole lot of standing around waiting for things to get started. looks familiar

Didn't you invent that, Your Grace!

How do you know? Duke Gavin has documentation that the "standing around waiting for things to get started" is something he started back under Queen Elisabeth...and he royal seal on the documentation was presented at his A&S project, "Standing Around Waiting for Things to Get Started," which won awards.

[Kilkenny]

From watching quite a few of the videos, I think that these are important factors in the BotN combat:

1. Numbers matter. If you can peel off or knock down a fighter, the number game means the other fighters are now outnumbered (and things go quickly).

For example, it was an even fight UNTIL Nissan knocked one fighter down, then two fighters were knocked down within seconds, and Team USA won:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQM9ncXv-_c


2. While situational awareness would be great, someone needs to cover your back. In this clip, I can't see where anything less than 360 vision would have helped. A bargrilled helm would have been as effective as a great helm in regards to vision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQmeg2Wt ... ature=plcp

Or worse, this video (amazing, beautiful chaos...but even "stop fight" five times or so couldn't stop it for the second fight):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4P-xRW ... ature=plcp

3. Good armour works, and will get you awards.

-Aaron

Numbers game is nothing new to SCA melee fighters, we at least try to drive it into their heads from early on that you always want to be fighting with numerical superiority at the point of attack.

Applying the principle when working under unfamiliar rules with teammates not experienced working with one another - our guys really did pretty darn well

[Skutai]

It appears that the biggest challenge is the SCA mindset. I saw folks throwing off-side head shots with their swords, and standing tall in order to get a shot at an opponent's helm. Trips, throws, getting low, and not being so weighed down by steel and gambeson that you can't move seem to be the name of the game. Shields are for punching, and swords are for... punching!

I'm going to try out for 2013. We'll see if I've got the physical ability to match my desire to participate.

[Aaron]

Our guys did REALLY well.

[Aaron]

I'll be working on my armour for 2014. I figure at $200 a month I'll have a good BotN, CotT suit by then, if I start carefully and work with Dave Rylak, Ice Falcon, Gaston and others. One lesson I got was that quality armour takes time, money and a trustworthy armourer. My current suit (however nice) is outdated and too heavy for this game. There was a 40 lb or something limit, right?

-Aaron

[Ingvarr]

I think the only weight limits were from the airlines but I could be wrong.

[Aaron]

I could be wrong too. I could have sworn there was a upper weight limit that they were desperately trying to achieve.

[Lloyd]

Who was tilting for the USA? anyone have any idea how that went? I have been watching, but between the feed and the unfamiliarity with the rules for these particular competitions, I have no idea how any of the tilters did

From what I understand, it was all Polish jousters putting on a demonstration. Hey, if they add Full Contact Jousting to BoTN - I'm There!

[Tengushin]

Battle of the Nations 2012 - All vs All (1 May)
2 min. 30 seс. in the foreground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4P-xRW ... re=related

Battle of the Nations all vs. all 01.05.2012
1 min. 35 sec. - With the right of center.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkc7KjR8 ... re=related

[Kilkenny]

Who was tilting for the USA? anyone have any idea how that went? I have been watching, but between the feed and the unfamiliarity with the rules for these particular competitions, I have no idea how any of the tilters did

From what I understand, it was all Polish jousters putting on a demonstration. Hey, if they add Full Contact Jousting to BoTN - I'm There!

Someone had their horse caparisoned in the USA surcoat pattern...would not expect that to be a polish rider.

[Odd]

Battle of the Nations 2012 - All vs All (1 May)
2 min. 30 seс. in the foreground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4P-xRW ... re=related

Battle of the Nations all vs. all 01.05.2012
1 min. 35 sec. - With the right of center.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkc7KjR8 ... re=related

Yeah, the first could be heat of the moment.. The second.. Well.. You'd think he would have noticed the marshall banner obscuring his view

[Swamp Stick]

I wonder if it would not be better if the judges/marshals had yellow bags on their staffs like butterfly nets that they could drop over the head of a fighter In fact they could/should attach a yellow card to it as a parting gift. The fighter gets the bag stuffed in front of their face first and then over the head if they don't react. I have to admit that is something the SCA is good at, we normally react to someone yelling "HOLD!".

Bjorn