The Armour Archive

What is the best way to teach new people sca combat. These are people that have been coming to practice now for a couple weeks and would like to try the fighting out. Also how do you get them into other aspects of the sca, i don't want to bring a load of stick jocks in
-T

dont push them too hard....
as much as you may dislike it...its the actual fighting that is bringing them in...
When they start to ask about making or getting their own armour, point them towards period alternatives...show them that period can be effective too...

other than that..go slow...repitition, repitition, repitition.
The more they do a movement or shot the less likely they will be to develop bad habits.

Think about what you know. Think about what is important. Think about the order that knowledge needs to be learned in.

Then work out how to explain that to someone. Assume that they know absolutely nothing about heavy fighting. Go through the motions and pretend to teach someone.

The Bellatrix article in the Knowne World Handbook is a good example. So is the online Bellatrix fighting manual.

Some specific suggestions:
1) Plan on spending most of a practice explaining what each piece of armor is, what it does, and how to put it on. Walk them through the process and then have them remove the gear and store it (people who failed to put the loaner gear away properly didn't get to wear it again when I was knight marshal). Then have them put it on again all by themself. When they are done, inspect them. Explain each step of the inspection as you are doing it. Tell them what you are looking for and why.
I find that learning to put the armor on is a significant hurdle. Most people have no idea how to do it. This also serves to aquaint them with the rules, the primacy of safety (themselves and others), and the importance of taking care of the equipment.

2) Before they ever get in armor teach them proper stance, the proper way to generate power for a forward blow, the concept of striking into the target, and the proper return. A blow isn't finished until you're back in a position from which you can defend and/or attack.

3) Before they get in armor go over the legal target areas and conventions of combat. Give them the opportunity to attack those target areas against someone in armor. Get their attention. I did this by giving them a sword with a thrusting tip. In the Outlands you are required to make your opponent aware that you are using weapons with thrusting tips. I would square them up and tell them to lay on. As soon as the first blow was thrown I would yell "Hold" (in and of itself a learning experience) and ask them what they had done wrong (yes, thrusting tip announcing was information provided earlier in the lesson).

4) Have them inspect another fighter.

5) When you get them in armor, take it slow. The biggest stumbling block is the shield. It suddenly looks like all the targets they practiced hitting are protected by that shield. Introduce the idea of combinations and manuever.

6) Pair them up with an experienced teacher.

I never taught beyond the basics. I didn't have the time, inclination, or the experience/skill to do anything other than the basics. I also didn't worry about trying to teach them anything other than fighting. One thing at a time.

If you have books that show period armour and illustrations and get them going through those books for things that look cool and talk about persona as much as armour, it's easier to get them to do more for armour than to buy the Ashcraft Baker starter set.

As a graduate of Durus Mallus (our local rattan schola), I must say I really enjoyed the way I was brought in to the game. It's primarily slow work, movement exercises, practicing hitting someone in armour and various lectures on the rules and dealing with issues that come up when fighting.

By the time I armoured up all the basic shots were natural and I understood the rules and so on. I think it cut down most of the frustration I would have delt with except the height issue which still dogs me

As for the new people, we're doing an intro to the SCA this weekend Torr. We'll be offering the following:

- General SCA info
- Tunic/garb making
- Heraldry basics
- Food and cooking
- Dishing elbows (Delightfully they're pretty keen on making real armour. It probably helps that most those of us at practice wear good armour!)
- More practice on slow work

If you'd like to coordinate with Yesunnge on more activities I'm sure he'd be delighted to get balls rolling. I don't think you have to worry too much on them turning out as thugs

Bartok
SCA: Gilbert the Short

As far as the fighting goes
stance / footwork / stance / footwork
next week
stance / footwork / shield drill / stance footwork / shield drill
introduction to the pell
flat snap / leg attack (making sure that the blow lands above the knee)
then as a change of pace stance / footwork and shield drill.
two sessions of basics will do more for a new fighter than several sessions of having the crap beaten out of them while desperately trying to avoid being hit

coming from more of a martial arts background i can offer advice on how i teach people... the principles might be good for a transfer...

1. stance
2. blocking
3. movement
4. movement/blocking
5. Basic strikes (either side)
6. combo stikes (at least one)
7. free combat (let them fight you. don't beat the crap out of them)


When i teach people anything from guitar playing to kickboxing i try to help them enjoy themselves... Numerous lectures and drills are fine and they teach alot but most importantly the person must fall in love with fighting...

every kid has at one point in his/her life has picked up a stick and "sword" fought another kid... let them be a kid again...