Some of the fastest SCA Fighting I have seen yet. Duke Alrik is one speedy stick!

Video Courtesy of Duke Phelan

Now I have to admit that these two are some of the grooviest cats I have had the pleasure of meeting. The last time they reigned I was down with an injury so I didn’t get the pleasure of fighting next to them at Estrella. However I look forward to taking up arms with them, as The Kingdom of the Outlands hosts their new event BATTLEMOOR!!

Well done once again!!

I have my favorites,  who are yours??

The ever watching,

Squire

7-1 Thegn Sir Tristan Dragonheart- Please god let him win already! I have lost sooooooo many quatloos betting on him, and he keeps coming close, so please, please, please…

9-1 Sir Donngal Buchanan- I love Donngal, although he continues to make promises for armor and things that he doesn’t keep. I have faith in him, even if non of his friends do.

10-1 Count Morgan of the Oaks- Yeah I thinks Morgan is going to bring it. I wouldn’t bet against him, even though I routinely bet on Tristan.

11-1 Count Walrick de Blankeney- 11-1 seems right.

12-1 Sir Matthias Alexandros Casca- He is the eternal mercenary. He had better do well, or I won’t be impressed with his 2 millenia of fighting skillz.

17-1 Duke Arthur O Flaherty- Arthur! I wish I could say Arthur the way that that dude who playrf Merlin in Excalibur did. If anyone quotes the charm of making right now, I will never talk to them again. I now have to go watch Highlander again to cleanse myself of that though. Actually I will have to watch it while playing the soundtrack on repeat in the background. I hear it matches of perfect kind of like when u play dark side of the moon to the wizard of oz.

22-1 Duke Mathghamhain MacAlpine- I still can’t say his name right and he makes fun of me every time I say it wrong.

45-1 (27-1) Viscount Justin du Roc(k) If he changes his name to this cooler spelling I will make his odds better than the 45-1 they are currently at.

30-1 Sir Brian the Pious- I don’t know who is more my evil anti opposite Brian the Pious or Mr. The Holy from Meridies.

0-1 Sir Jost Von Luck- He doesn’t need odds he clearly has luck on his side…

34-1 Sir Sean South

37-1 Sir Elias Loredan- Elias was the good Sergeant in Platoon.

38-1 Viscount Sir Dmitri Kazimirov- does he know how to juggle? Weren’t the Flying Kazimirov Brothers in Jewel of the Nile?

39-1 Sir Shawn Kilkenny- Kilkennys make me nervous.

42-1 Sir Ivan Petrovich- 42 is a special number and Ivan gets it this time!

47-1 Sir Gawin Nordman- we have a Nordman and a South in this tournament. I will create a side bet on the North winning, and not just cause I am a Yankee. Odds are 5-1 on the North.

50-1 HL Vallaulfr Rurikson- This guy has been calling me twice a day for the last few weeks to get good odds and dropping all sorts of names, so I put him at 50-1, so his friends won’t beat me up.

Over 50-1
Thegn Thomas Godefroy
Lord Mallock Tay
Lord Ulrich Gotfrid
Lord Oslaf of Northumbria
Lord Crispin Del More
Lord Odde ap Tam
Lord Konrad Von Elz
Lord Thomas De’ Revelle
Lord Kazemir Valentov
Lord Michael of Kilkenny
Lord Santiago Ramirez
M’lady Mariya al-Mediniah

The answer is simple, so you can become a better fighter, thats why. I started out in the SCA fighting rapier as a result of my time fencing in college, and it tought me a few major things as a result. The first was how to fight in a 360 degree circle as opposed to linear combat. The second, short, quick, movements are always better then big sweeping strokes. The third being that I looked pretty damn good in a poofy shirt, but thats for another time. Okay so how does this translate to hardsuit aside from the obvious? Well break it down to its elements.

If you take a look at the actual style of SCA Hardsuit Combat, our main fighting style is primarily a combination of sabre and backsword. The flatsnap, the wrap and their thumbside variants, all draw from these two styles. Therefore there is alot to be gained from the proper study of guard positions, sabre technique and most importantly, footwork. Think about this the next time your at practice. Instead of muscling through your opponent, focus on how your place your feet in respect to your upper body. Let you upper body carry the power of the shot, while keeping light on your feet and moving into positon for the next shot. If you use a thrusting tip, consider point control. There have been many fights where simply knowing how to use a thrusting tip effectively and accurately have aided many to victory.

So the next time your at an event, throw on your sundays best, grap a rapier and give it a shot. You may find that alot of the motions translate well into harduit. Besides, girls love a man who can dance when hes not out clubbing.

-Yoshi