Backlash?

[handslikeclouds]

Wow, what a rant!

http://swordmaiden.com/combat/toughlove/

The article is VERY harsh.

The rest of the site is worth perusing, too, for women and men fighters both.

I'd be interested to hear all your views--especially you women who fight.

What about applying this type of "toughlove" to other areas of the SCA besides fighting?

Comments

[parlor_games]

I was thinking the exact same thing - Thorin and I have conversations about women *and* men who would fit the description in the article perfectly. I feel it is more about the athletic vs. non-athletic mind. People who are athletes - who maybe grew up doing sports, enjoy competition, and have the discipline to practice - probably have a better time wrapping their brains around the fighter mentality. Yes, that is a generalization, yes there are exceptions, but I think about the female fighters I know who do really well, and they are generally people who enjoy being physical.

Why would you start fighting if you don't enjoy the pain and the suffering and the *very* gradual improvement that is a huge part of that game? If you are just looking for a place to belong, or if you just enjoy hanging out with guys, learn to mix drinks.

As for whether or not this tough love mentality should carry over into other things we do in the SCA, I am already there. Jesus people - this is not the special olympics. Harsh? yes. But how would you like knowing you got a medal (an award, a peerage) just for participating?

[handslikeclouds]

Interesting thing about "enjoy the pain and suffering".... Part of what I like about fighting is getting battered around. I mean, there's something really satisfying about taking a really good head shot. There's something even more satisfying about blocking the shot, and feeling the force charge through your shield and into your head, knowing it was really damaging, and that it doesn't count because you blocked it with skill.

I just mean to say, enjoying the physicality of the hitting, getting hit and struggling helps sustain me through the dark valleys of non-improvement.

(Also, I think getting hit is a good training tool. I've been working with a young woman at Wednesday practise who doesn't have armor yet. I let her chase me down and hit me, and yell "good" or "no" when appropriate, so she can learn how to throw good blows while moving. Nothing like hitting a pell, actually).