“Fill in the Blank” Questions
SCA Name: Leah de Spencer
Survey taken on: Feb. 22nd, 2004
Year you authorized in Heavy Weapons: –
Year you actually started fighting: –
Estimated Total Years Fighting: –
How Many Years did it take for you to get Knighted? –
Kingdom that you were Knighted in? Atenveldt
Still Active in Fighting? An Occasional War
Year Retired (if applicable): –
If Retired, Why did you retire? –
Who was the most influential person to you before being knighted? Sir Robert de Spencer
In what other forms of martial arts have you participated, in what styles and what ranks did you achieve? Tae Kwan Do = Black belt
Kendo = Black belt
Do you feel that your Martial Arts Background made a difference in your fighting career? Absolutely, many of the skills are the same, and the mental “stuff” is probably even more important
What other athletic endeavors have you participated in? Prior to joining the SCA I also raced motorcycles and danced both of which impacted my fighting
Do you feel that your Athletic Background made a difference in your fighting career? YES… it demystifies it…Yes
What Books that you have read that have made a difference to you and/or your fighting career? Conan Doyle’s “Sir Nigel” & “The White Company” and Sir William the Lucky’s Headless Household Fighting Manual
What led you to start chivalric fighting? It looked like too much fun to miss out on.
Were you a member of an active fighting household, war band, squire, special trainee, etc, at the time of your training? Was a member of Loch Salann Baronial Guard, and Hold tyte both of which had active fighting war units and trained together in addition to fighter practice.
Were you able to get additional training other than that offered at regularly scheduled fighter practices? Yes
During your training years, did you attend special workshops/fighter practices etc? No special workshops, but we had lots of excellent fighters who visited and I took advantage of every opportunity… at one Crown Tourney I challenged 25 of the top fighters in the Kingdom just to learn from them. 
“Select from a List” Questions
Gender:
Female
Primary Fighting Style:
Melee
War
Practices
Training
Primary Fighting Form:
Sword & Shield
Primary Shield Handle:
Side Mount
Primary Shield Type:
Heater
Fighting Stance:
Sword Leg Back
Indescribable
Fighting Behavior:
Aggressive
Dominant Hand:
Right Handed
Fighting Calibration:
Middle
Blow Strength (Kingdom):
Middle
Blow Strength (Society):
Middle
Fighting Level:
High Level - High
Fighting Awards:
Knight
Average Fighting Performance in Tournaments:
–
Was your Significant Other a Knight/Master of Arms at the Time of your Elevation?
–
Were you a Royal Peer before you were Knighted?
Yes as Consort
Since being Knighted, Have you become a Royal Peer?
No
Greatest Impediment:
Physical
Height:
(5′11-6′2)
Weight:
(140-180)
Strongest Ability:
Speed
Agility
Accuracy
Technique
Tenacity
Dedication
Common Injuries:
–
“Open Ended” Questions
Knighthood:
Do you still feel the same about being a knight as you did before your elevation?
No, Before I was Knighted I truly thought of it as an unattainable goal or at least one that was way in the future, to be thought of at a later time. I was totally involved in the JOY of fighting, for fightings sake, the exercise of chivalry as it applied to martial arts and life, and learning everything I could from everyone who would take a minute to teach me. Challenge the best fighters I could find whenever the opportunity presented itself. I knew my weaknesses and was daily involved in overcoming them…. FUN, FUN,FUN Once knighted, people seemed to think that I was now somehow “transformed” into the perfect fighter. For a while, it took a lot of the JOY out of the fighting, because of my perceived expectations of other people. Once I realized that , I was the same person, and that Knighthood was a path not a destination, the Joy returned. There are a lot of “burdens” associated with any peerage, but as long as you do what you do because of the JOY associated with it (Service, Arts or Fighting) Peerage becomes simply an outward sign of the JOY you continue to feel. I no longer “play” at the level I once did: Baroness, for 8 yrs ./Viscountess/Officer/local/principality/kingdom etc I will tell you that at age 59, taking the field at Estrella two weeks ago was just as much a rush as when I fought at the 2nd Burrow Creek ( my first war) I REALLY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE WHAT I DO!!!
Fighting Philosophy:
Be a fighter, learn from anyone who can beat you, and those who just give you a good run for the money, do so with honor and chivalry and a joyous heart.
Training Philosophy:
Train like you fight and don’t forget to have fun!
Words of Wisdom:
If you are on the field to prove anything except that you are a dedicated and honorable fighter, get off the field.
