[Ansteorra-rapier] Questions for everyone....

[James Crouchet]

On 24 Apr 2002 at 13:42, kwilson wrote:

> I'm curious about everyone's opinion on something.  I've asked
> this question of a few fighters I know and have gotten vastly
> different answers.  So I'm curious what everyone's opinion is.
> I'm just trying to find out what the concensus is to these
> questions:

In soundbytes, of course. If you want a more coherent answer you should start
by spending about 100 hours talking to WS and cadets about it. There are a lot
of right answers to these questions; hopefully these point out some aspects that
I think most people fail to consider.

> 1) What is the role, purpose, duties, and responsibilites of a
> cadet?

The only duty a cadet has is to decide if they will walk the path of a Don/Dona.
Getting to a place where they can make that decision usually takes years, an
enormous amount of effort and endless struggles both internal and external.

> 2) What do you usually look for in someone to tell you that they
> might be ready for becoming a cadet?

Someone who looks to me like they have a good likelihood of choosing to walk
the path of a Don/Dona.

I acknowledge that there may be very rare times when it is necessary to make an
exception to this but I have not done so as yet.

> 3)  What is expected of one once they become a cadet in order to
> prepare them for becoming a Don?

Accept ultimate responsibility for their own advancement, decisions and training.
Accept that they make the decisions that determine who they will become.

The Dons and Donas who you see doing the work of the WS do so because it is
our nature. We have a drive to study that period technique, teach the younger
fighter or put together that tournament. Sometimes these things are hard and
parts may not be fun but overall if you are forcing yourself to do these things
then you are definitely not on the right path.

In the same way, the cadet who is forcing themselves to do things for which they
have no interest and no enthusiasm is not walking their own path but is trying to
walk someone elses. Even on the right path there will be struggles as you go but
you should be struggling because you want to get past that barrier. Go where
your heart and your drive take you and accept that if it is not toward the WS then
you will be happier for it in the end.

> 4)  Is it still possible to become a Don without being someone's
> Cadet first?

We do not look down on a non-cadet candidate so I see no barrier. Beyond that,
I'll let history speak for itself.

Don Dore