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More of the schlaegers are good schtick?
Oct. 9th, 2003 11:34 amSo most of this is old hat...but...
A new edict came over email today or yesterday for EK fencers
Fencing Edict
( Read more... )
so I'm not sure how I feel about this. There is a movement in the East to get rid of the lighter blades (epees and foils) in part because schlaegers
are more period accurate. This obviously seems like a step towards that and to more closely unify what we are doing with other groups who are schlaeger only. I've heard arguements on both sides of the period accurate bit, and I don't feel like going into that aspect of this (Most fencers know them anyways, and the edict implies epees aren't period which isn't true).
I could also easily get into edicts and whims of kings and how the power structure is done in the sca....but that topic treads a bit too dangerously into SCA politics, and honestly it's not something I feel passionately about. Suffice to say Balfar is a decent guy and it wouldn't be a rant against him. :)
The thing I don't like about going schlaeger only is 1) I love my epee 2)schlaegers are heavier, putting more strain on wrists and arms 3) There are a lot of down sides to it for bringing in new people into the fencing fold and I think the fencing community needs to grow. Anything that might limit that is not a good thing.
Using epees and foils will often attract sport fencers and others who already have the appropriate equipment to play. Having equipment = not having to buy more loaner gear for your local group = less expense. Plus schlaegers are more expensive. Getting schlaegers for areas with a small fencing community is going to be a lot harder due to this.
I've seen, first hand, the hassle that getting new/more loaner equipment in a small group can be, and the age old problem is if you don't have a big group, getting the equipment or money for it is hard, but without the equipment you can't have a bigger group. It's a catch-22. This *will* limit our community.
I also believe that using lighter weapons attracts some people who otherwise might not come to fencing and get the fencing bug. They're a good starting "drug" if you will. Once people get hooked they will usually move on to the heavier swords but not always...but they need to be hooked first.
As for training beginners, one way or another, I just don't like the idea of giving someone a heavier weapon to learn on....I've had people hit hard with foils....i don't want the same thing with a schlaeger.
At the same time using epees comes across as a safety concern due to broken blades and puncture wounds versus the possible blunt trauma of a schlaeger. I've heard of maybe 2 incidents of this nature and lots of bruises from schlaegers. I've seen only one blade ever break and it was a flexi-dagger, not an epee. I'd just like to see more data on this before I made up my mind one way or the other on that aspect (i.e. which is better?). Breaking blades is a definite concern...but I don't know how much of one it really is.
Eh, oh well. Just going to have to wait and see.
A new edict came over email today or yesterday for EK fencers
Fencing Edict
( Read more... )
so I'm not sure how I feel about this. There is a movement in the East to get rid of the lighter blades (epees and foils) in part because schlaegers
are more period accurate. This obviously seems like a step towards that and to more closely unify what we are doing with other groups who are schlaeger only. I've heard arguements on both sides of the period accurate bit, and I don't feel like going into that aspect of this (Most fencers know them anyways, and the edict implies epees aren't period which isn't true).
I could also easily get into edicts and whims of kings and how the power structure is done in the sca....but that topic treads a bit too dangerously into SCA politics, and honestly it's not something I feel passionately about. Suffice to say Balfar is a decent guy and it wouldn't be a rant against him. :)
The thing I don't like about going schlaeger only is 1) I love my epee 2)schlaegers are heavier, putting more strain on wrists and arms 3) There are a lot of down sides to it for bringing in new people into the fencing fold and I think the fencing community needs to grow. Anything that might limit that is not a good thing.
Using epees and foils will often attract sport fencers and others who already have the appropriate equipment to play. Having equipment = not having to buy more loaner gear for your local group = less expense. Plus schlaegers are more expensive. Getting schlaegers for areas with a small fencing community is going to be a lot harder due to this.
I've seen, first hand, the hassle that getting new/more loaner equipment in a small group can be, and the age old problem is if you don't have a big group, getting the equipment or money for it is hard, but without the equipment you can't have a bigger group. It's a catch-22. This *will* limit our community.
I also believe that using lighter weapons attracts some people who otherwise might not come to fencing and get the fencing bug. They're a good starting "drug" if you will. Once people get hooked they will usually move on to the heavier swords but not always...but they need to be hooked first.
As for training beginners, one way or another, I just don't like the idea of giving someone a heavier weapon to learn on....I've had people hit hard with foils....i don't want the same thing with a schlaeger.
At the same time using epees comes across as a safety concern due to broken blades and puncture wounds versus the possible blunt trauma of a schlaeger. I've heard of maybe 2 incidents of this nature and lots of bruises from schlaegers. I've seen only one blade ever break and it was a flexi-dagger, not an epee. I'd just like to see more data on this before I made up my mind one way or the other on that aspect (i.e. which is better?). Breaking blades is a definite concern...but I don't know how much of one it really is.
Eh, oh well. Just going to have to wait and see.
