ES - For those interested in fighting...

[Arabella de Montacute]

     Ok I have a few cents to throw in....  "Combat" is what we ALL do 
in the SCA, even Pelicans, even Laurels.  
     Pelicans/Proteges fight the task, to see if they can do it to the 
best of their abilities.  Fighters do it to win against another person, 
pay off - they win - the bout, tourney etc...  What's the pay off for 
one of service, the end result? Knowing they helped, a person, a shire, 
a canton, a barony, a kingdom, knowing they did it because they love it.   
They practice at it.  It's a game... how much can I do for this task and 
still get all the other things accomplished which need to be done.  
Pelicans/Protege's win when things happen smoothly.  When there are 
problems/mistakes they learn what to do differently so the task goes 
smoothly next time.
     Laurels/Apprentices also fight.  They fight the knowledge and skill 
it takes to produce whatever is of interest to them.  They practice 
their skills as well.  Against others, and are judged in a competition.  
Those that loose try to figure out what to do differently next time so 
they too can win.  Laurels/Apprentices win  when their peers recognize 
their work.  
      So we all have some form of combat.  Squires watch and learn from 
other knights and fighters and strive towards the goal of Knighthood.  
Apprentices watch and learn from other artisians and strive towards the 
goal of becoming a Laurel.  Proteges watch and learn from the service of 
others toward the goal of becoming a Pelican.  
     So... what is the importance of winning in SCA combat?  It's all 
combat... just depends on how you look at it. 
     The answer....... Self Esteem!!!  How you view yourself and your 
perception of how others view you.  We do it because it makes us feel 
good about ourselves.  It's a rush when we get it right.  It's a warm 
feeling when you know you did your best and accomplished what you set 
out to do.  - Arabella

On Mon, 14 Dec 1998, Paul Mitchell wrote:

> Since (correct me if I'm wrong here) we're done with fighter 
> practice for the next month or so, I'd like to offer a
> question for discussion among those who have an opinion
> on the topic:
> 
> What is the importance of winning in SCA combat?


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