Rapier survey: Typical practice

Results and comments from the Aug/Sep 2003 survey.

	Ýves’ big SCA rapier survey #1 ~ Typical practices
	Updated: May 24, 2005

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Policy blurb

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» This survey was conducted during August-September 2003. Things change over time. «

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# of Responses
by Kingdom
 
AEth.  = 34/235
Anst.  = 36/240
An Tir = 56/347
Art.   = 12/124
Aten.  = 27/460
Atl.   = 60/425
Caid   = 49/400
Drach. = 21/76
Eald.  = 12/77
East   = 46/480
Loch.  = 22/120
Mer.   = 27/140
Mid.   = 52/640
Nor.   = 25/164
Out.   = 26/214
Tri.   = 46/237
West   = 14/70
Unk.   = 2

The gist

SCA fencing practices are NOT the same all over. There are big differences in training style and substance even within a given kingdom.

Question 26

For each place you've done SCA fencing, what was/is a typical practice like for you?

I should have left off either "for you" or added "in general" because I received both kinds of answers.

The comments

Note: Any remarks in the comments below from Yves look like this.

More comments on this topic are on separate pages.
See the links at the bottom of this page.

Slow work first(?)

Φ _____'s (An Tir) practice is very structured with a good mix of slow work and sparring.

Φ An Tir ~ Start with slow work and work on a specific vunerability and work through the phrase seeing what can go right and what can go wrong and how to guard myself properly. Then a few minutes of sparing that test it out. ``Cormac

Φ Art. ~ 20% Slow/Drillwork, 80% Fast.

Φ East ~ About 50% slow work, 50% fast. ``Staffan

Φ Mid. ~ Show up. gossip. put on armor. slow-work (some sparring) with the new folk. sparring (some slow-work) with the more experienced folk. take off armor. gossip. go out to the pub for a pint.

Φ Nor. ~ Mill aroud, get in armour, slowwork for 15 minutes, spare fast with 4-5 people, go home.

Φ Nor. ~ We have 3 practices every two weeks, one of which is devoted to drillwork and slow sparring and the other two are slow and fast sparring.

Φ Scola Metallorum, Out. ~ About 66.6% slow work, 33.3% fast. ``Staffan

Φ Tri. ~ Warmups/slow sparring, then increasing speed with different fighters, sometimse teaching, sometimes learning, but always varied depending on our attendance at practice.

Φ West (BART practice) ~ About 25% slow work, 75% fast. ``Staffan

Spar first

Φ Drach. ~ Typically: Fence 1 hour. Learning/teaching 1 hour, drills etc. Fence, melees etc. 1-2 hours. ``Cernac

Φ Nor. ~ Pick up fights to warm up, 3 point drills, more fighting, drillwork, slow sparring, then more fighting.

Φ Out. ~ Get there, warm-up bout, drills pick-up fights. ``Ildiko

Φ Outlands (Schola) ~ Arrival - individual sparring. About a half hour later - Drills. A half hour later - Continued specific drills for beginners. Sparring for everyone else. Last hour - Melee practice. ``Christian

Φ Out. ~ Schola Metalorum (a few years ago): about a dozen fencers, sparring or melées for about an hour, then 30 minutes or so of drills, then melées (lots of melées). Too many melées for a regular practice, but great as a supplement. ``Guillaume

Up to index

Main page - typical practices

Other practice formats:
• Prep first
• Drill first
• Most or all sparring

Personal observations

Typical = Ideal

Questions 22-25
Slow work

Question 27
Ideal Practices

Your feedback is most welcome!

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