a discussion about all tournament injuries - please read

[ChronicD]

Friends,

I have spent the last week post Harcourt driving around the north island playing tour guide and so every now and then had some free time to contemplate what had happened to Seamus and Jeremy. (Who both have my best wishes to a speedy recovery)

Late in the evening a couple of days ago i was mulling things over while bathing at pacific spa - a hell of place to contemplate i must add!

I wandered at what all my friends however they be affiliated would be writing on the internet or saying to one another at there next training. What sprung to mind was quickly shouting what they advocate and how they do things and what they think things should be in the future. As Robbo put it in one post; reality (what they do) vs dreaming (what they think everyone should do).

There is much to be admired in the dream of a unified group we can all be a part of and i would say that it has been a long time coming. Anyone whoever they be who is skeptical about this or a nay sayer or as some people say has an "ego" that blinds them has no business in this discussion and should move aside and let productive steps be made.

The idea of this thread was easily understood - a place for ideas. There have been many and always come paired with the authors little speech, which i suppose means i am no different.

I concluded similar to others that there has been a communication failure that has come about as the various groups across the country start diverging into there own styles. This has happened rapidly and as we are all doing this as a hobby caught us a bit by surprise. When NAAMA was created it was a standard for anyone to come to and participate in if the they met its criteria. It was a hell of an achievement all things considered and i would say an example of how we can all pull together.

To clarify a lack of communication i mean there has been a communication breakdown from our community as a whole to individuals as to what is expected of them as members of this community and vice versa. (basically if you come to ANY event, are a member of ANY club that participates in events or are even just a regular on GD you are a part of this community whether you like it or not)

Now as people having pointed out the members get confused when there are not standards they can expect from events to event - this is particularly true for safety and marshaling safety.

I will take myself as an example - I have marshaled before at several events. but can i prove it? i would hesitate to say yes. If i asked myself to write down what i think constitutes rules of safe conduct for fighting in a medieval period style i would write a list and then if asked basically say its common sense - a word that should not ever be used, common is to loose a term.

As pointed out earlier (Chantelle?) the SCA have been doing this a lot longer then us plus other sources must be available, it would take an immense amount of work to produce a set of regulations that would encompass all groups and would have to have different divisions and also perhaps different periods, including display fighting and public safety at events.

This is not about making everyone where heavy plate but setting minimum requirements for various styles of fighting. I would agree with another post (cant remember who sorry) that bringing every clubs grading requirements together would be a step in the right direction. These grading requirements in a way form the back bone for how each respective club fights and could be a first step towards looking at an agreed upon set of safety and marshaling regulations and training requirements.

That is what we need people, more communication and GD is a great starting point but this time it must go a lot further.... our health depends on it.

To all my friends good night,
Thinking of you Jeremy and Seamus

Daniel

PS i almost forgot - I believe marshals should also be waring at least face protection so they can intercede in Tournaments. I had a couple of bloody close calls at Harcourt

[Chantelle]

can i just say at this stage how bloody proud i am of everyone for posting helpful and respectful posts - well done, just so cool x

not meant to sound patronising....just telling you how i feel..warm squishy delight...or something....

thats all for now - back to on topic stuff ...

[Inigo]

G'day gentlemen (and ladies),

When I was 10 or so, I started playing with sticks for swords. It was lots of fun.

When i was 12 or so, i discovered rubber swords, so I played with them, It was lots of fun.

Then, when I was about 18, I discovered steel swords. It was lots of fun. But my friends kept going to hospital, for stitches.

Then, when I was about 25, I discovered the SCA, I played with rattan. It was harder to get on the field, but I do not regret the thousands of dollars I have spent on helmets.

Who I am is inside my head. Brain damage is forever.

I don't give a fuck about my knees or elbows. I don't give a fuck about my hands and feet. But I do care about my brain. Because I have a family that I want to support and to do that, I need my brain.

If you can learn ONE THING from the SCA, it is how to protect the head: Minimum 1.6mm steel with a minimum of 13mm of padding + full face and neck coverage. You will never regret enforcing this standard; but you may regret not enforcing it.

[Fungus]

I was at the first NAAMA captains meeting and it was like going to the dentist
But if there is going to be any change it needs to come from there as most captains are votted in and they speak for their members as elected officals (mostly)and have the mandate for change if its in the best interest of their groups

[Anyad]

[ChronicD]

Good Morning all,

In reply to Fungus

[Robbo]

I've opened a new thread for marshals that will, hopefully, get the ball rolling. Perhaps someone would begin the process for captains/trainers?

Likewise said convo on standardized safety gear would be a great one to see started up solo.

[Chantelle]

yip

think it is getting to the stage where we need different threads now so, if you give me till monday i will collate all that has been said about the different threads and do the separate posts so that things can start off sensibly and properly on them

great that you have started the marshalls idea robbo - so so proud of you xx

and - i ask again - a lot of people think that GD is not worth coming onto -or dont have access as has been pointed out, if we can make them aware and get them on here - even just for this it will be better for all of us.....so

tell your clubs, post on facebook and email people if you can - we need EVERYONE on board for this - i don't care in what way, because we are all entitled to our opinions - but we need to be aware at least.

and yes - all our thoughts to our SCA and sword brothers and sisters down south, and our friends and family not associated but also in our hearts ....keep telling them you love them, they are telling me that is keeping them sane x

x

[Robbo]

[Patch]

Stronger equipment will never be sufficient to protect you from full strength blows. Particularly not against weapons designed to destroy the fighter through their armour.

Bureaucracy always needs to be examined with great care and understanding.

Necessary bureaucracy is absolutely vital. For example - The Marshal must be in control. The competitors need to understand the rules to which they are fighting.
Unnecessary bureaucracy is absolutely hindering. It destroys the soul and the very passion and the joy of our vocation that brings us together. It aught to be hunted vigilantly and purged without compassion.

Never rush into the instigation of unnecessary bureaucracy.
Always thoughtfully apply necessary bureaucracy.
New rules of play must be carefully considered and tested in a live environment.
-Patch

[Patch]

[Patch]

Hi Nic, Great post. I wholeheartedly agree with your points (P.S. I have a new two handed sword, I can’t wait to try it against your beautiful blade).

Thank all the gods that Seamus was wearing both padding and mail on the back of his head under the fencing mask.

[Patch]

[susan]

Being that I'm non-combatant, my contribution to the marshalling regs etc., quite correctly will be non-existant

I have read all posts as requested, and am enjoying the respectful discussion.

The majority of injuries at Harcourt occured on the second afternoon of a very hot weekend. Even as a non-com, I was hot, dehydrated and exausted by the end of the weekend, and consider myself reasonably fit.

I would like to raise the effect of fitness (or lack of it), exaustion and dehydration on muscle control and concentration, and trust the above experts will factor this in to their considerations.

Susan

[Silver]