More interesting Headblow?

[Stuart]

..not the SCA. Lets remind ourselves that the SCA fight with low mass ratan sticks and full visored helmets that would never pass any authenticity standard. What they do is a very good WMA, but ...
it`s not re-enactment fighting by our standard.
I do worry when an SCA agenda starts up in a steel combat thread.
The two styles are mutually incompatable.

To get back to topic, if you do a head tap and the opponent does not achnowledge it, hit him a second time...in the heat of battle it is often possible to be unaware that you have taken a hit.
--the last thing we want are people running bitching
to marshalls. we are supposed to be adults for ***** sake.

With a little bit of common sense we can make this self-policeing.
Ask your selves how the rest of the world manages limited head-taps ?


Stuart.

[Joel of Old]

I don't have an SCA agenda, never have, never will.

But I was merely stating that they have a system by where the two opponents can recognise if one has acknowledged the hit as light and will continue fighting or whether they haven't felt/seen/heard it and therefore hasn't responded.

ATM we have a system where someone will get hit, blatantly ignore it (whether they don't consider it a hit or are just cheating don't matter), and carry on without any acknowledgment. Much to the frustration of opponent and crowd.

The system is flawed.

And you're right, Stuart, we are adults, therefore safety should be the fighters' responsibility with the Marshall there as a backup, and the adjudication of kills falling into the same basket.

Again you're right however this is a discussion for another thread.


SCA helms aren't good for re-enactment, I actually think they're about the butt-ugliest thing I've seen on the field of battle...

That said I don't like full face helms, but in order to fight cut and thrust to the face (which would be historically accurate, none of this 'to the crown of the head' crap) that's what you need... with extra protection around the eyes and throat. Unless we use fencing mask/helm bastardizations (does anyone know of anything like this?).

As for those with neck injuries etc, non-headblow must be an option... maybe without shields though, cause that's just stupid otherwise.

[Carl]

[Stuart]

I agree with Joe & Carl. It`s good to see such a well-considered viewpoint.

Regards,

Stuart.

[Carl]

[Joel of Old]

cheers buddy, i get so tired...

[Colin]

[Gerard Kraay]

[nargh]

about this topic of headblow. I have been doing headblow combat my whole re-enactment life. the worst injuries that we have sustained doing vigorious combat was a broken finger, damaged hands and a thrust gone wrong when it went up a full face helm off a bevor, which has since been solved with rolled edges. Full face helms are a requirement. But this also depends upon what your aim is. If it is one on one fight or if you care about being the last one standing, then safety issues need to be raised.

Headblow combat needs to be trained. Most close calls i have seen are to do with the person taking the hit, not reacting properly. training in that style of combat is required so both parties know how to reeact. Common sense is also needed. We train extensively in strikes and combat. Each combatant is told to pull out of cambat if they are feeling unsafe. In fact that is the first requirement for taking a field with other clubs. If they feel unsafe, pull out. That is if they feel unsafe with their combat, or with anothers combat. The idea is to be safe and enjoy what you are doing. It doesn't matter if you win. but that enjoyment is had. That is my viewpoint on that.

Just so there is no confusion. We train in demonstration combat. That is putting on a good show for the public. The public doesn't want to see blood and severe injuries. But fights are not constructed. They are just as much a challenge as other fighting styles, we just don't care if we lose. We do 'crazy' stunts but only agianst those that we train with. Those that we know can handle it and are used to it. That way they know how to react to it. Everyone is told to take it very safe against unknown situations. Take the hit and lose rather than do an unsafe shot.

I have taken NAAMA combat fields before. I did not find them enjoyable and in fact it was rather dull. i do not plan on taking another one again. I do controlled charged headblow with multiple hits. With bruses being the general injury. That is my experience over the 5-6 years of headblow combat i have done.

By the way. would love to fight the Norse. Headblow that is. Always up for a good scrap.

[stephan]

[stephan]

i have done combat wearing a fencing mask for quite a while and it is really fun and safe we use controll levels equal to any namma standard in no way does ths create dangerous combat as for war figting at namma and such a controlled blow thats equal to a body standard as never in the sligtest worryed me however people who blantly ignore hits do this is a magior saftey problem as when does it stop te aurgument of hit tem ardr does not work as i ave responed with to this wit a very hard blow {witch i should not have done and feel very bad about it} tat landed in the same place {i wont name names but since tis event we ave become friends } and just results in aggravation of people TAKE YOUR HITS teir is no shame in dieing with glory after all te dead are most referewd to as heros so if you want to be hhero ten follow trough

reguards stephan

ps the key board is sit so if letters are missing ten fill in te gaps

[Carl]

[Njal]

Stuart I just feel the need to ask you question without sounding too much like a bastard which I am legally so it’s alright if I am.

You do realise that you are in New Zealand? right? yeah?

Reinactment/Living History/WMA/SCA I am sure there is as much difference between contempory groups in respective countries as there is sea between us. I really feel that you are hanging on too much to what has happened in the UK. If ANY NZ event injury count was so dire that a government agency had to step in it WOULD be the 1st story come 6 on TV1 and TV3 and probably at 17:30 on Prime because you know 'they're first'. And we would all know about it quick smart.

Also I am sorry for your injury in 87 but mate 87!!! Safety EVERYWHERE in everything has improved dramatically since then.

Also I would suggest that you should take part in some NZ combat ASAP. Both HB and non-HB. Your opinion would change overnight after this I am sure. And although you do state that you are objecting to the 'horizontal' blow and not what we do so skilfully (thank you Stuart and HA! everyone else) I just don't see how any parallels can be drawn between NZ and UK Living history.

Head blow in NZ under current engagements is SAFE.

Bles
Njal

[Carl]

[Bogue]

At which point Carl so elegantly put it