Johno wrote:Leo Medii wrote:I love the pot calling the kettle black in these threads.
I am still waiting to discuss the amazing percision.
Before we get to that Leo why don't you explain to us how any untrained fighter of any style is simply naturally precise in their actions? Is it the weapon that creates precision or the man who wields it?
It is a fact that some people are naturally gifted with dexterity and strength. There are naturals at combat, and that can not be denied. It is possible that an untrained "natural" can best a well trained "common" (and I mean common by saying someone of normal to less than normal dexterity and other martial factors), heck...it isn't "possible" I've seen it myself on several different occasions. I've faced black belts at schools where I can't believe they have achieved a black belt and black belts who are deadly artists in the SAME SCHOOL. So...it IS possible to be a natually gifted artisan in the realm of combat. I've seen it, and I know others have in the realm of SCA combat. I've seen combat naturals who pick up a sword and in a month are giving SCA knights runs for thier money. I've seen people who have been fighting YEARS and simply can not fight thier way out of a wet paper sack.
Now, on to the meat of the discussion. It isn't a weapon that makes a true warrior. The warrior makes the weapon a part of
himself. A deadly extension of his will and art. A real warrior can pick up any item and make it into a instrument of death. They can immedietly guage range, speed, distance, weight and power of an item in seconds from the honing of thier body and mind into a predatory processor. There is NO weapon or instrument, JUST the intent and means. Precision is the preadatory instinct honed by natural selection and knowledge. Some have it, some can be taught it, most will never have it.
Johno wrote:Frankly you are just being a jackass about it. I have given you my respects brother Leo but you seem to be the most anti SCA rattan fighting KSCA that has ever been lucky enough to have someone strap a white belt around your hips. Maybe they should have thought harder on it before doing that or better yet you should have thought harder on it before accepting it. Perhaps you are knightly in appearance but you seem to have very little respect for fellow practitioners of the combat style you were knighted for.
There are many interesting tales of my being given the accolade of knighthood. Many rumors and such I have been privy to over the years. Some are insulting, some funny, some dead serious and some Aurthurian in nature. I will NOT lie however and say it was not a goal or desire to be amoung those I saw as hard and brave men, those who came when called by thier crown, who took an oath that was both lovely and powerful to hear that brought pride to my chest and tears to my eyes since I first heard it in 1993 when I came to my first SCA event. If one has never seen the oath of a Midrealm knight it is a thing to behold, and one that is ever so hard to upkeep due to its harsh and relentless whip to make one a better and honorable person, to make one a first amoung equals. I will never forget the day I took that oath to every subject, every person of my Kingdom. Because of that oath, I am bound to them all, and they are to have my love and protection all the days I walk the earth. Perhaps I am wrong in my understanding of the oath I took to my Kingdom, but I did not take it to protect only one portion of my kingdoms populace, but all of them, and most especially the weak and those who can not speak for or defend themselves. I am not anti-rattan. All those who know me know that I LOVE the rattan lists, and the rattan battlefield. I own a fine array of garb, and bring a garb bag as big as an armor trunk to events, yet I usually attend court in my armor because I am drug off the listfield by my king. I LOVE the comraderie that is rattan. The smell of it burning in the air from a dance that only those in the helms can understand. The brothers and sisters that are created by the bonds of martial life that are beyond what people outside of said creation simply can never understand. Oh no Sir, by no means am I anti-rattan.
However, I will speak the truth as I see it. I could do no less and consider myself both a man of honour or knight of my kingdom. I can not turn a blind eye to the plight of other combatants in my land and see them debased and called lesser. To see students of arts of war considered as nothing more than distractions from the egos of vain men reeks of disdainful pride to the detriment of the growth and vibrance of the kingdoms as a whole. I stand not aside and let these goodly practitioners of the arts of war and combat be cast in such a rude and base disdain that is not only underserved but unwarranted.
A goodly freind and man whom I respect beyond bounds for his knowledge and insight on knighthood once put up a picture of me on a site of his with the caption on it "The Real Deal". It was one of the most touching and remembered things I have ever seen considering my elevation to the rank of KSCA. I work every day to be worthy of the oath I took to my Kingdom. Perhaps it was luck, perhaps it was something else. If my crown ever found me unworthy, they need only ask for my belt and as I am thier servant it is thier's.
However. I do not need a belt, or crown, or titles of any kind to be a knight. I need not these things for men to listen to my words, to follow my commands, or join with me in great deeds for my kingdom. Men follow me because I have earned thier respect and because I have earned thier love. It is not something that can be demanded by title, belt, crown or birthright. Respect is something that is earned when wanted and can be easily tossed and spent with base and crass action. I respect a great many of the knights I have met in the SCA, for thier service, for thier knowledge, thier devotion to kingdom, devotion to grow the society, and then for thier fighting. There are some however, who have lost my repsect as well, as there is in all social things.
If you believe that SCA Knighthood is simply about who is the most kick ass rattan swinger you are correct. You and I do not see SCA Order of the Chivalry in the same way. At all.
Lion of Irnham - Martial undertaking should never be a lowest common denominator endeavor.
