fighting rituals

mordreth · Post by **mordreth** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 6:20 pm

Fighting Related

My knight made arrangements for a priest to meet me on the way to my vigil, I did a good confession, was blessed, and had my sword (steel) blessed.
I didn't think about it up until now but I usually carry my sword scabbarded with the belt wrapped around the quillons rather than wearing it - it's more of a symbol than anything else to me.
On the other hand I received a nice dagger from Mr. WU (Master Elrond Shadowmaker) as a knighting preasent, It is almost never off my belt when I'm done with the days rattan combat.
Thinking about it they are both ritualistic parts of me
good luck with the paper

theodrik · Post by **theodrik** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 6:52 pm

I tighten my helm, and DON'T TELL ME WHAT ROUND IT IS. It brings out my fear of public speaking and it takes WAY TOO LONG for me to put it back into it's box. I'm not speaking, but there are all those people watching...

------------------
Sir Theodrik of Skane,
West, Mists, Blackwood Company
'Lude Fortier, Lude Juste, Nemini Damnum!'

Wyrm · Post by **Wyrm** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 2:48 am

I dont mean to detract from the topic at hand but its interesting to read that quite a few people turn to religious symbolism and ritual. I was just wondering how many of you fighters out there doing these things actually consider yourselves to be religious, that is you beleive in and follow a religion and incorporate it into your SCA/medieval lifestyle/hobby, as opposed to 'playing the part' of someone who would have done such sorts of things.

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 3:08 am

My persona is very religious and devout the Orthodox Christian church in Constantinople. As such, I've done some light research on that church that now dominates Russia. I'm baptized and confirmed Roman Catholic, although I haven't been active in my religion since childhood. The research into Orthodoxy has lately stirred me to explore my own religion more (which is very closely related to the Russian & Greek Orthodox).

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Wyrmspleen:
I was just wondering how many of you fighters out there doing these things actually consider yourselves to be religious, that is you beleive in and follow a religion and incorporate it into your SCA/medieval lifestyle/hobby, as opposed to 'playing the part' of someone who would have done such sorts of things.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[edited for grammer]

[This message has been edited by D. Sebastian (edited 12-10-2003).]

mordreth · Post by **mordreth** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 12:39 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Wyrmspleen:
I dont mean to detract from the topic at hand but its interesting to read that quite a few people turn to religious symbolism and ritual. I was just wondering how many of you fighters out there doing these things actually consider yourselves to be religious, that is you beleive in and follow a religion and incorporate it into your SCA/medieval lifestyle/hobby, as opposed to 'playing the part' of someone who would have done such sorts of things.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Practicing Roman Catholic / regular communicant
Parish of St. Bernard of Clairveaux (how cool is that?)

BdeB · Post by **BdeB** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 12:58 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Wyrmspleen:
I was just wondering how many of you fighters out there doing these things actually consider yourselves to be religious, that is you beleive in and follow a religion and incorporate it into your SCA/medieval lifestyle/hobby, as opposed to 'playing the part' of someone who would have done such sorts of things.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My faith informs my hobby, and likewise. :-)

Studying the faith traditions of the Crusaders of my period was certainly a factor in leading me to convert to the Church, tho it wasn't by any means the main reason.

In the SCA, as a Peer, I often find myself turning to Christ's message and the historical christian virtues of knighthood to help me resolve moral dilemas.

My faith is a part of who I am, no matter what clothes I am wearing. I can no more change that than I can the color of my skin, my natural southern accent, or my extreme phobia of Clowns. ;-)

Pax,
Bryce de Byram/ Duane Moore
Roman Catholic
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Richmond VA

freiman the minstrel · Wed Dec 10, 2003 1:22 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Wyrmspleen:
I dont mean to detract from the topic at hand but its interesting to read that quite a few people turn to religious symbolism and ritual. I was just wondering how many of you fighters out there doing these things actually consider yourselves to be religious, that is you beleive in and follow a religion and incorporate it into your SCA/medieval lifestyle/hobby, as opposed to 'playing the part' of someone who would have done such sorts of things.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wyrm,

Thank you for the excellent question. I am very interested in the answers that all the excellent fighters on the archive might give to the insightful and well thought out inquiry.

I am in the process of writing this paper right now, and I promise that I will stop bothering all of you about this by Tuesday of next week.

For now, however, I am still interested.

Please note that I will not be using either SCA Names or Real Names in the paper, unless you specifically request it.

Mikael, what happens if you are (for instance) rushed and cannot polish your armor before fighting?

Tarquin, how did you develop your method for truck loading? Did it happen over time, or was it the result of forethought?

Kahn Sarnac, did you develop your method as you developed your fighting? You are one of the most experienced fighters on this archive. How long did it take you to develop your "tap" and did it come before, during or after your first run at the crown?

Torr, how did you decide on French Vanilla? Will any flavor of Ice Cream do, or only FV?

D. Sebastian, I love the fact that you sometimes must salute the pell to get in the proper frame of mind. It's definitely going in the paper.

Vitus, I am very, very interested in getting the information on that citation from Charney. I have already mentioned it in the paper proposal to my professor, and he has expressed an interest.

Lyonette, thank you for your response, it was, in a nutshell, everything that I know I want. Is there anything else you want to add? You are the only female person who responded to the questions, so I am particularly interested in your insights.

Theodrik, how did you find out your personal insights into knowing (or not knowing) which round it is?

Ceddie, I could kiss you! I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to type out the info. One question. Is it only Big Red, or will other gum do in a pinch?

keep that info rolling in, folks.

freiman

DrTuba · Post by **DrTuba** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 2:31 pm

I actually jump up and down a few times to "settle" my armor, then get the chi flowing a bit running the appropriate tunes in my head. When it comes down to fighting then, I try my best to go to a state of no-mind and enter the fight clear of all distraction.

As far as religious aspects, I feel my relationship with God affects everything in my life, so usually before a fighting event I offer a quick prayer of thanks and a prayer that everyone has fun, keeps it clean, and walks away uninjured.

------------------
Obsessive dilletante.

Turn on, tune in, Toob out!
The Toob

[This message has been edited by DrTuba (edited 12-10-2003).]

Ceddie · Post by **Ceddie** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 3:10 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by freiman the minstrel:

Ceddie, I could kiss you! I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to type out the info. One question. Is it only Big Red, or will other gum do in a pinch?

freiman<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm glad my O/C behavior does more than worry people! I use to chew clove or blackjack, but now big red is as good as it gets. It keeps me relaxed

------------------
Ceddie

Vitus von Atzinger · Post by **Vitus von Atzinger** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 4:34 pm

I was quoting from memory. One of my squires has my copy of Charny. Ask Duke Finnvarr de Taahe/Prof. Steve Muhlberger. he is lurking on the Archive.

[This message has been edited by Vitus (edited 12-11-2003).]

Mikael · Post by **Mikael** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 2:06 am

What, on a field in non-polished armour?

I will be ashamed of looking like peasant-scum who has just grabbed some rusty armour someplace :-)

It will probably not affect my fighting too badly - checking my kit is more like a way to get on festive, anticipatory mood before events. Just like checking my best clothes before formal parties.

(On the other hand, many items of my armour are actually rather badly made. If they at least are shiny as opposed to rusty they don't look quite that bad.)

Warcry is for me a kind of a reminder to myself that this fight is "for real". At the same time it is liminal marker for mental preparedness to aggressive action.

At the same time I remind myself and my opponent that this is my list-field.

I don't usually shout when practising. I fight just as well or sometimes better without being aggressive and prepared. Shouting seems to help avoid passive or lax fighting - after shouting I usually walk down to my opponent and start hitting. No prolonged mutual waiting at just off-range.

Mikael

Palymar · Post by **Palymar** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 4:49 pm

Vitus: Interesting bit about Carney.

To the best of my knowledge, I don't have any particular ritual to my approach to a tourney. The only thing I deliberately try to do is enter the list first.

Other than that, I spend my day as I please. I eat, drink, socialize the same as if I was at a 12th night not a tourney. Maybe for me, that is the Ritual -- to make everything the day of the tourney the same as any other day.

Tom Knighton · Post by **Tom Knighton** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 5:24 pm

My personal fighting ritual is to stay up pretty late the night before. I don't drink any more, but I still do anything else that seems right the night before a fight. At some point, however, I walk the fighting field in the dark. I get a feel for the ground beneath me, and I visualize the fights the next day. I usually see me taking on the biggest, baddest fighter present and I see that momentary opening and take the shot. Hasn't happened yet, but it does seem to boost my confidence for the tourney.

If I can't walk the field, it's ok, but the visualization is key. The next morning, I only drink OJ and eat meat of some form, usually bacon. Anything else just "feels" wrong. I armour up fairly early and fight a few warm ups to get the blood flowing.

Sorry to interject so late, but I just looked at the thread really.

Bran

------------------
Courage is not the absence of fear, it's the ability to overcome it.

Authenticity Pledge can be found at http://www.kylosa.com/Pledge

freiman the minstrel · Sat Dec 13, 2003 3:08 pm

Guys,

After eight solid hours typing, citing, and revising, the paper is done!

It was a little like passing a volkswagen. But I believe that handing in a little bit of original research will help.

I am proud of the paper. I appreciate the help.

Thank you.

freiman the minstrel