🚀 go-pugleaf

Greetings unto the Rialto!

I'll throw in my $0.0175 while the discussion is still hot...

1) Hands:  I haven't seen that much problem with blocking with the
hands around here.  I must admit, though, that most of our guys like
basket hilts on their swords <shudder>, although they don't use them
to the degree that was mentioned earlier.  I personally don't like
baskets because it ruins the "feel" of my fighting persona (kind of
Vikingish... I haven't narrowed it down yet).

I _have_ sustained a broken pinky (at least I think it was broken)
when I attempted two-swords for the first time w/o anything 'cept
hockey gloves over my hand.  Yeah yeah, I know... it's not gonna
happen again.  :)  I _do_ instinctively block with my hands during
two-swords and any kind of pole-arm work, but I'm sure in time I could
train myself not to.

I personally wouldn't mind the option of saying that my arm was out of
action if my hand is hit.  <shrug>  It makes as much sense to me as
the groin shot: "Never EVER aim there... but if you're hit, then it's
good."

2) Shields:  Well, this kind of back on the topic of hands again, but
why does S&S work REQUIRE you to block with your hands???  I block
with my shield!  ;-)   And yes, my blade quite a bit too... but I
don't think I've ever taken more than one or two hand-shots while
fighting S&S.  And yes, I'm one of those crazies who actually _likes_
S&S, specially since I finished my first center-grip... my defense has
improved _much_.

But I also agree that it's sad that we somehow can't re-create the
dynamics of a shield against real steel.  For one, a pole-arm,
specially a maul, or a mace is gonna either smash the shield with a
couple of blows, or smash the arm underneath by the impact.  Either
way, the effects are the same. And then there's the idea that the
sword is allowed to sink into the grain of the wood and then the
shield is jerked one way or another to disarm the swordsman.

3) Taking prisoners:  Wouldn't disabling the arm be the _most_
effective way of subduing your opponent with the least risk of killing
him?  (Given that we're not allowed any grappling tactics in the SCA.)
I've also not seen the problem of people using their arm as a defense
because fighters don't aim for the arms for chivalrous reasons...
quite the opposite around here, actually.

And besides, we're all _allowed_ to be noblemen, but that doesn't mean
we've all chosen that persona... I don't think the Vikings or Celts
cared much for taking prisoners...'cept the women-folk... :)

Words from a newbie,
Gwydion

-- 
Matt Stum                    Gwydion ap Myrddin       Ball State University
00mjstum@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu   Shire of Afonlyn, MK     Muncie, IN  USA