ARN - Time for Nubies....was Problems?

[Wayne Ross]

One thing that I have done to try to encourage new fighters happened at
ATYC, and also involved Jean Paul I believe. I was chosen as a captain for
the cadet sponsored melees on Saturday. Instead of choosing all of the
powerhouses and gunslingers, or cowing down and letting someone pick my team
for me, I specifically sought out the new and inexperienced fighters that I
had fenced with in the earlier tournament....the ones with the bright and
shiny still on them...and I told them that I picked them for the fight they
had given me. All of the words were true, and I feel that it did a lot to
inspire a relatively inexperienced team. I was not so wound up about winning
the tourney, so I focused on letting new fighters from different areas meet
and fight alongside each other. By the end of the tourney, I think that I
was better rewarded than the person that won the tourney (except for the
cookies...lol). This is not meant with any condesention toward my teammates.
Quite the contrary. I think some of the bright and shiny rubbed off on to
me, and I would gladly stand beside any of those gentles again in a melee,
or act as their second in a matter of honor without reservation, as I can
now attest to those gentles character'.

Sorry for the ramble.

Duncan Hepburn
The Steppes, Ansteorra
----- Original Message -----
From: <PAKALNIS.DAVID at heb.com>
To: <ansteorra-rapier at Ansteorra.ORG>
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 10:18 AM
Subject: ARN - Time for Nubies....was Problems?


>
> Someone said:
> > always fighting each other and didn't make time  for the newer fighters
> > at practices and/or during pick-up fights.  Or that maybe was that we
> > didn't make enought time, and the newer fighters didn't feel like they
> > belonged.   Do others see this as a problem?  What do you think we can
> > do to improve this?
>
> Well, I *AM* a new fighter (6 months) and I personally dont think this is
a
> "problem".  I will admit that it can be quite intimidating being new to
the
> SCA.  This is my opinion and perception, since I am sill "new" it is fresh
in
> my mind, and unfortunately many forget the days of being a nubie.  Where
was
> I? oh yes.
>
> Basically people usually fence who they know, or spend time with or who
they
> like to fight.  There are many reasons, why one would choose an opponent.
> Recently at ATYC, I fought as many opponents as I could, to get the
> experience.  I faced over 27 different opponents that morning (boy did I
pay
> for that one the next day!).  It was a tremendous experience.  I enjoyed
them
> all.  I did not "win" all of the bouts, and the more experienced fighters
did
> beat me, but I learned.  The honorable fighters I bested, once I realized
I
> had the upper hand (i.e. I was not desperately fending for my life) I was
able
> to work on more subtle elements, which I cannot always do when facing
> extremely challenging opponents.  Every bout has the potential to be a
great
> one, if we seek it.
>
> Many people have helped me feel welcome, but it is entering a new social
> circle, which can be difficult.  Some of the great people who have helped
(you
> know who you are, GROUP HUG :)   , but I also had to approach them, no one
is
> going to put more effort into my enjoyment than I am.
>
> To improve this?  Well, encourage the new people to participate, and
remember
> that EVERYONE is really a hopitaliter, especially when new people are on
the
> scene.  Recently in a bout at queens with a don, after very skillfully
taking
> me for the first time, my worthy oponnet realized that his skill was
greater
> than mine, instead of eliminating me immediatly, we had a great time much
to
> the amusment of our selves and the onlookers.  Who won the bout?  We both
did.
>  He continued on to the next round, and I had a great experince to take
home
> with me, and the queen made it safely away! ;)
>
> Just my humble nubie opinion
> Jean-Paul Louis Ghislaine
> Bjornsborg
> Ansteorra
>
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