This was a big informal survey for people who do SCA fencing.
It officially ran from 1 August through 30 September, 2003.
 |
Yves' big SCA rapier survey #1 |
| Updated: Jul 13, 2004 |
Status
The survey is closed. The form has been deactivated.
I promise that some day not TOO far away I will have gone through all the e-mail responses - and there will be MANY pages of comments and stats for your reading pleasure.
Privacy
Comments that I post from people who took the survey
will NOT identify the author without their
permission.
Response statistics
AEthelmearc = 34/235 Ansteorra = 36/240 An Tir = 56/347 Artemisia = 12/124 Atenveldt = 27/460 Atlantia = 60/425 Caid = 49/400 Drachenwald = 21/76 Ealdormere = 12/77 East = 46/480 Lochac = 22/120 Meridies = 27/140 Middle = 52/640 Northshield = 25/164 Outlands = 26/214 Trimaris = 46/237 West = 14/70 No answer = 2. (sigh)
The numbers above are based on the answer to Question 8 below.
For each kingdom, the first number is the number of people in that area currently or the
last area they fenced in as a resident.
Then after the slash, the second number is the recorded/approximate number of authorized
— not
necessarily active — fencers in that area according to the kingdom-level marshallate
there as of the time of the survey (Aug/Sep 2003).
Total of authorized fencers from stats above: 4,449.
Looks like my off-hand guess of 3,000 fencers in the SCA was a bit low.
However, if 75% of the
authorized fencers are actually "active", that's about 3,337.
Another interesting stat — total years of SCA fencing experience from the survey: over
3,200.
Well, is anything else from the survey on here?
Actually, yes. The index page for the survey analysis and comments and the responses for the first question.
Below this point, the survey appearance is basically unchanged
Please . . . spread the word if you like this survey.
I'd really, really like a good representation from ALL areas of the SCA.
Fair warning — There are about a dozen screens on this page and no way to save your answers if you have to stop before you're finished. Also, please be careful with the Enter key — depending on where the cursor is (or isn't) it can trigger the button to submit the form.
All questions are optional. There are no "required" fields in the form.
OK, let's begin.
1. Why do you like to fence?
Check all that apply.
I'm withdrawing this question because I goofed on the coding. (drat) The code was set to record only the last box checked, not all of them. (drat drat drat) ... I'll revisit this topic again on a future survey.
| X | competition |
| X | health benefits |
| X | improving my skill |
| X | looking for dates/etc. |
| X | camaraderie and friends |
| X | peer pressure * |
* This is tongue-in-cheek. Peer has a double meaning.
Someone with a lot of influence on you really wants you to keep fencing.
At least one responder has asked where the Because it's fun option
was.
Well, I feel it's redundant. If it weren't fun, we wouldn't be doing it, right folks? (Not everyone agrees
with this, but your idea of fun isn't necessarily someone else's. For example "competition" is "fun" for
some folks, but not for others.)
2. "Let's just fence"
What do you prefer to keep out of your own fencing experience in the SCA?
Check all that apply, if any.
A scenario is a melee with certain goals and rules above that of merely eliminating one's opponents.
| Silly scenarios | |
| Theatrics (death throes, boasts) | |
| Silly parrying items (puppets, stuffed animals) | |
| Extraneous talking during combat | |
| Special rules for a bout (random weapons, limited targets) | |
| Rubber band guns | |
| Tactical scenarios |
More comments?
Note: You don't need to put ALL your comments here.
There are many more comment windows for your input below.
3. "Let's do more than just fence"
What do you really like to add to SCA fencing? Check all that apply, if any.
A scenario is a melee with certain goals and rules above that of merely eliminating one's opponents.
| Silly scenarios | |
| Theatrics (death throes, boasts) | |
| Silly parrying items (puppets, stuffed animals) | |
| Extraneous talking during combat | |
| Special rules for a bout (random weapons, limited targets) | |
| Rubber band guns | |
| Tactical scenarios |
More comments?
Numbers
4. What modern calendar year did you start fencing in the SCA (ex. 2003)?
5. How many years of activity have you been fencing in the SCA overall?
(Fractions are encouraged, ex. 14.75)
6. Over the past year, about how many days per quarter (three months) have you done fencing at SCA gatherings? Include events, multiple-person fencing practices (regional, group, household, etc.), demos, but not solo practices (i.e., by yourself). ... We cover solo practices later.
7. How about during your peak quarter ever?
8a. What kingdom do you live in and how much SCA fencing have you done there?
(number of years, fractions are encouraged)
If the area you lived in changed names (such as Atenveldt to Artemisia), give the NEWER
name.
(Also, treat Northshield as a kingdom though it is still a principality.)
8b. What other kingdoms have you lived in where you did SCA fencing and how much SCA fencing did you do there? (same rules as above)
Weapon forms
9. How well do you like using these for SCA fencing?
If you haven't used it, just skip that line.
Hate it |
Don't like it |
Whatever |
Like it |
Love it |
|
| Dagger only | |||||
| Double dagger | |||||
| Dagger and cape/cloak | |||||
| Dagger and soft (other) | |||||
| Dagger and baton (also stick, scabbard) |
|||||
| Dagger and shield | |||||
| Dagger and rigid (other) | |||||
| Rapier only | |||||
| Two rapiers ("case") | |||||
| Rapier and cape/cloak | |||||
| Rapier and soft (other) | |||||
| Rapier and baton (also stick, scabbard) |
|||||
| Rapier and shield | |||||
| Rapier and rigid (other) | |||||
| Rapier and dagger |
More comments?
Blade experience
10. How long have you used these weapons in SCA fencing?
(number of years, fractions are encouraged, ex. 6.25)
| Fiberglass | |
| Foil | |
| Epee | |
| Schläger | |
| Del Tin | |
| Zamorano | |
| Hanwei |
11. Of the blades you've used, which ones do you like, dislike, and why?
12. Anchorage
Check all that apply to you, if any.
| If rapier combat became outlawed in my kingdom, I'd quit playing SCA. | |
| If I had to move to a kingdom where I didn't like the fencing, I'd quit playing SCA. | |
| If in the future, my physical condition doesn't allow me to fence well enough to have fun, I'll quit playing SCA. |
|
| If fencing became outlawed in my kingdom, I'd move to a kingdom that has fencing. | |
| I'm here for the fencing, but I wouldn't quit the SCA if I couldn't have fun with it. I'd find something else to get into. |
|
| I do a few things in the SCA that aren't related to fencing. | |
| I do more than a few things in the SCA that aren't related to fencing. |
More comments?
Merchants and suppliers
13. What are some of your favorite equipment suppliers for SCA fencing and why?
14. What suppliers have you had a bad experience with and won't go back to - and why?
(Note: If they're now out of business, there's *really* no need to list them here.)
15. Authenticity and research
Check all that apply to you, if any.
| I wear authentic-looking attire on the field | |
| I use authentic-looking equipment on the field | |
| I use authentic speech on the field | |
| I've skimmed a Period manual or two | |
| ... or I study the manuals regularly | |
| I have translated a few pages | |
| ... or I have translated half of a manual (or more) | |
| I think I have some authentic-looking movements | |
| ... or I have a repertoire of authentic movements |
More comments?
16. Mind set
How do you prefer to play? Check all that apply, if any.
| The blades are sharp, someone could die. | |
| The blades are blunt or blunted, no one is going to die. | |
| No quarter is given or expected, we're here to win. | |
| I frequently give up the use of my own arm/leg after disabling that of my opponent (sometimes called an "act of chivalry" or "act of courtesy"). |
|
| This is a spectacle to amuse the gallery, I make an effort to be entertaining. |
More comments?
Teaching
Please answer either Question 17 or Question 18.
17. If you do not teach SCA fencing, which of these apply to you, if any?
| I'm not experienced enough to teach | |
| I have no interest in teaching |
18. If you do teach SCA fencing, does this apply to you?
| I teach (only) when or because there's no else around who will | |
Rate your success as a teacher of SCA fencing: |
|
| I get by with teaching | |
| I get compliments on my teaching | |
| I get invitations to come teach | |
| I get invitations from other kingdoms | |
| People gladly pay me (and/or cover my expenses) to come teach them | |
More comments?
19. More about you
Your gender is: Female
.. or .. Male
Your e-mail address:
Your SCA name:
(Why? In case you would allow me to contact you with QUESTIONS about your answers or ANSWERS to the questions
you might ask me in the comments. Your contact information will not be posted, nor will it be shared
with anyone without your permission.)
Alphabet soup
20. What kingdom-level awards have you received that were given for your contributions
in SCA rapier? (Meaning, the award is listed in your kingdom law.)
21. What is the highest ranking award you have received in the SCA?
| None | |
| Non-armigerous kingdom-level award | |
| AoA | |
| Something that comes with an AoA (such as CB) | |
| Grant (or something that comes with it) | |
| Patent |
Practices
22. Over the past year, how many solo fencing practices have you done per quarter (three months)?
Solo practices are BY YOURSELF and can be done at home (mine usually are) or somewhere else. Let's say the minimum amount of time for one unit of solo practice is 15 minutes. If you do five minutes of rapier-related exercise (footwork, point control, sparring with an imaginary opponent, etc.) on your own three days a week, let's call that one practice.
However, even if you practice for SEVERAL HOURS on a given day, that's still one practice.
[ When this topic is covered again in a future survey that I run, it'll be done better. ]
23. How about during your peak quarter ever?
- "Slow sparring" is like fast sparring, but at 1/3 the speed ... or even slower. Benefits: it's not as tiring, you have time to notice more and work on form.
- A "total novice" is someone who comes in cold - they have no related background experience.
- An "experienced novice" picks up the basics quickly, or they have related experience in their background (such as another form of martial art).
24. In your opinion, how much of the time on the field (0-100%, no ranges please) should be spent on drillwork and slow sparring (rather than fast sparring) for the first four practices overall?
| total novice | |
| experienced novice |
25. In your opinion, for a typical practice, how much of the time on the field (0-100%, no ranges please) should be used for drillwork and slow sparring rather than fast sparring?
| your personal preference | |
| authorized fencers in general |
26. For each place you've done SCA fencing, what was/is a typical practice like for you?
If your answer is really long, you could send a separate e-mail message.
27. Describe your ideal local SCA practice or training program.
If your answer is really long, you could send a separate e-mail message.
28. Rank
OK, almost done. Modesty aside, based on how well you do against other fencers, how good are you at fencing? Using your favorite form, on a pretty good day, select the rank that describes you best.
| Velocity-challenged. Well, it's no secret... I'm pretty slow, I don't win many bouts and I don't last long in a melee. Against someone who's a little faster or more skilled than me, I might get one touch out of ten - if I'm lucky! | |
| Fair. I'm not slow, and I can sometimes win against someone who is faster or more skilled than I am. Sometimes I'll take an opponent out at a melee. Against a typical fencer in the kingdom, I get about one touch out of three. | |
| Median. I'm a typical fencer in the kingdom. I usually go about 2-2 in a big double-elimination list, or about 50-50 in a round robin list. I'll take out one or two in a melee. I get about one out of three touches against someone who's a little faster or more skilled than me. | |
| Good. People say I'm pretty good. I usually go about 4-2 in a big double-elimination list or about 2 wins out of three in a round robin list, and I've won a list or two. I take out several opponents in a typical melee. I can get about one out of three touches against the best fencers in the kingdom. | |
| Excellent. I've won a few "important" lists or scored highly in large prestigious lists. I do well in melees either on my own or leading a group. I'm considered one of the best in the kingdom and people say I'm fast (or really good), but there are people out there even faster and/or more skilled than I am. I might be able to get one out of three touches on them. | |
| Superb. Modesty aside, I'm one of the best in the SCA. At large multi-kingdom events with fencing (wars, KWAR, etc.), I go at least 50-50 with the top fencers. I can clear the field at smaller events - unless it's a melee with RBGs and then I'm a primary target! On a good day, I see it all in slow-motion, my muscles know what to do, and it all just clicks into place. (I just wish I didn't feel so old afterward!) |
Some older/former fencers have commented that they used to rank higher.
My apologies for not having included a follow-up "peak" question for this one.
More comments?
29. Any comments on the survey itself?
[ *Click here to send your survey responses* ]
This will launch a program that takes your input, mails it to me, and loads the "thanks for taking the survey" page.
There are no fancy databases or programming on this site (yet?)... I typed the responses into a spreadsheet by hand.
So, if I don't get back to you for some reason, just send me a reminder. The button below
has a small feedback form that will do the job. If you use the feedback form and you don't get an answer
from me in a day or two, please try again via regular e-mail. Thanks!
My nifty email form stopped working ... but you can still send me email if you would like to.
Original page posted: August 1, 2003. Last tweaked:
July 1, 2006.
The address for this page is [ www.therotunda.net/rapier/survey-1.html
]
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