More Role Models

You know, I made what I thought was a really mature decision a couple weeks ago. I told myself to just quit worrying about being a squire and fight. Just keep going to fighter practice, learn from all sorts of people, and start entering tournaments so that I get not only the experience, but also the exposure to so many different people, fighters, and fighting styles. Good thing, too!

This past Wednesday, I went to fighter practice, and that wasn't so bad. Experimented with a different style of shield (center grip) than I normally use (strap heater). Thought about doing a bit of single-sword and florentine stuff, but I never got around to that, but that's ok. I picked up a lot of practice and a lot of lessons. Now, this past Saturday was even better! War practice!

This was not a day to polish up personal skills. Saturday was a day to forge brotherhoods with the men and women we would stand shoulder to shoulder with in battle. We practiced forming the shield wall, advancing and maneuvering, and different tactics for different terrains and scenarios. I learned that in a wall, the bigger the shield, the better. I learned that swordsmen are not swordsmen, per se. More like shieldmen. Swordsmen are not the ones who do the killing in a shield wall. They are the ones who protect the real killers of enemies, the spearmen.

It was great fun! But then, fighting always is, even in Summer. After the war practice, a few of us had some one on one bouts going, and I stepped in for it, too. One of the knights, Sir Michael, wanted to fight with me specifically. I have no idea why he wanted to fight with me, but I was both delighted and honored. He used a spear, which meant me having to get close to him, which he wouldn't let me do. I chased him around for what felt like a half hour, during which time he must have killed me at least six times. After that, a few other fighters got out and started a little Round Robin type thing. Again, I was given much advice throughout the day, and I oved every bit of it. They're all so helpful. Sir Michael comes from a martial arts background like me, so a lot of what he said made a lot of sense...that and he's short, like me, too, so a lot of what he said applied to me, too. He's a great guy.

::sigh:: Originally, I wondered if there was any knight in the SCA I would want to be squired to, and since I hadn't met many, the list was extremely short. Now that I've met more, I can't seem to make up my mind. They all seem so cool! Uther von Ziemer, his brother Luther, Thomas of Aylesbury, Tar Radu, Michael of the Mace, King William, Caillin Macleod, Padruig, John the Bearkiller...the list goes on. These are all men I've met that I would love nothing more than to be counted among. They are modern, yet ancient...that is, their code, their lifestyle, passed out of popularity centuries ago. Or has it?

Chivalry in and of itself is found more often than people might think. It's just not called the same thing anymore. These men I listed still live with this ideal every day. Yes, valor is part of chivalry, and courage and discretion are the better parts of valor...but the other aspects of chivalry...courtesy and teaching...these are what are seen most often by students like me, and when students like me see men like them doing things like these...it makes us want to be them even more.

A lot of fighters get distracted with the thought of knighthood. They make prowess their top priority, ahead of things like generosity, or humility. They sometimes forget the fact that a good stick is just that. What makes a great warrior into a knight is something no skill with a sword can influence. Heart.