Are there events that happen which are like a martial boot camp events? I am pretty sure this is an old idea and I am certain people have done this, I was thinking it would be really cool to attend an event that focuses soley on the martial aspects of the SCA. I was thinking there would be sword drills, shield work and different types of shields, foot work, classes on tactics, training on various weapons, armor aquiring and repairing, mass combat, single combat and so forth. Then at the last bit of the event have something like an endurance fight to push your limits. After all that Fighters sit down around the fire and tell good deeds they saw during the day and use whatever that is on hand to reduce the pain of the past two days Most events have various activities that are available and I think that is great. I was thinking it would be different to have one event exclusivley for the fighters to concentrate on martial skills and teach, train and exchange ideas in the name of the game that we all so enjoy. Also when you leave the event you have perhaps a better understanding of yourself and knowledge to help improve your fighting skills.
I think this is a great idea and I know that Lyonel, Sir Corwin, Duke Heogaarden, Sir Gaston and some others here in Bryn Gwlad are very interested in getting some more focused and structured training going on. Talk to them at PIP about your idea sometime. I'm all for it.
Regards,
audax
Martel le Hardi
black for the darkness of the path
red for a fiery passion
white for the blinding illumination
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Ursus, verily thou rocketh.
Alternatively, at any really big event there is enough fighting to keep you busy 24/7 anyway.
/adam lawrence /athestan of wortham /sca drachenwald /thebusinesscomedian.com
"REGINA NOS VIDET"
"What we do is not a sporting event, but a celebration of prowess, art, and culture": after Jehan de Pelham
When I was a kid, I took traditional Tae Kwon Do. I was extremely energetic to the point I probably had ADD before that word was invented. My first intstructor was from Seol Korea and he would walk around with a shinai smacking us on the forehead. The first two months I spent doing push ups in the corner and being smacked on the head and yelled at in broken english. I hated going. My mom pushed me to go and after awhile I simply loved to go. After 6 years years I was 12 years old and was pretty good for my age. We would go to the Dojo on Saturday and after practice we would have a sleep over. We would watch cheesy martial art flicks all night long and drink sodas and bad food. At one of these get togethers, we were suddenly awoken on Sunday morning at 4 am. We were dead tired and ran to get our uniforms on and get in formation at attention. For three hours we went through every basic punch, kick and stance over and over. After our ordeal was up we were allowed to drink some water and rest for 15 minutes. Our instructor now said since we were warmed up we would begin practicing our forms. I have never in my life been so exhuasted mentally and physicaly in my life. After that day I felt like I truly accomplished something and gained great confidence and discipline that even today I carry with me.
I used this as an example of having a SCA event that pushes the mind and body too better oursleves in ways we haven't considered. I am not saying having a marathon fighting that will make people pass out and become sick, but to push the experience of fighting within safety parameters to help fighters better themselves in many ways. I know everyone that fights becomes comfortable in how we fight, practice and who we fight against which sometimes plateaus our level of skill and we become stagnant. I would like an event that would improve our fighters not only in fighting, but in the pursuit of chivalry as well as themsleves. Perhaps I am not making sense or trying to strive for something that is not possible....
Calontir has a number of these events throughout the year:
1. War College - one day of classes and drills focusing on many if not all aspects of fighting within melee. Classes range from:
introduction to shieldwall - a beginners class to being the in the shieldwall
Polearm use in the sheildwall - how to protect your shields and kill the enemy
spear work 101 - working in pairs and correct spear work in melee
advanced battle tactics - learning the good the bad and ugly of command
Intro to charging - what are the different charges, how to do them and when to use them
Also, we do army drills putting what we learn into application in scrimage scenarios.
2. War Manuvers - we have 2 on in spring one in winter. Both designed to polish up the army for war and to give everyone an idea of what they are going to face from other kingdoms at war.
We also currently have 2 to 3 different "unofficial" programs running
1. Sir Kristofer Kensor's CAAMA classes:
a set of classes focusing on individual fighting, fighting and leading in a group, and the path of Chivalry within the SCA.
2. Sir Martino (I forget his last name) has an open training class that he hosts focusing specifically on individual martial and melee martial aspects of SCA fighting.
3. Baron Trevor (Trevor here on the AA) has his "newbie" training classes open to anyone but focusing more on the fighting and improving ones self within the SCA.
So far these programs have been pretty successful and I hope to see more of them.
Insane Irish
Quote: "Nissan Maxima"
(on Pennsic) I know that movie. It is the 13th warrior. A bunch of guys in armour that doesn't match itself or anybody elses, go on a trip and argue and get drunk and get laid and then fight Tuchux.
Winterfell wrote:Lucky Irish. Wish we had a war college here.
Not only have we had events called "War College" (though the last one's been a few years), but these things are available at many other events as well.
For instance, the melee classes at University are all about this.
And, at King's Assessment this summer, King Michael, Prince Ragnarr, Duke Logan and Duke Cuan ran war training breakout sessions for various types of fighters (spear/polearm, cavalry, shieldmen) and then we reconvened as mixed units to practice what we learned in our small groups. There were lots of additional knights on hand for individual questions, pickups or training. Among them were Count Valharic, Sir Corby, Sir Andrew and Sir Bryce. The difference in the morning melees and the afternoon (after-session) melees was obvious.
They tear you down and tell you this is the way you will act. Hands down. The ensure this by repeated enforcement of various stupid rules. BUT, it gets you used to following as ordered. Once you are in line and following orders, you are then trained in the proper ways (per the current understanding of warfare, which continouly changes) and then you are released into the general miliatary population and trained in your job.
For the SCA, about the best you can expect is the last part. Trained in your job. Boot Camp might not be the best way to describe what your suggesting.
