Comments on: When to Yield and Why You Cry http://swordmaiden.com A Resource for Women Fighters in the SCA Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:53:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Melisende http://swordmaiden.com/combat/yield-cry/#comment-129 Melisende Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:08:57 +0000 http://swordmaiden.com/combat/yield-cry/#comment-129 OMG, the "crying in armor" issue. I'm more afraid of crying in armor than I am of getting hit. I've cried in armor once, at a fighter practice, when I was wearing a helm that was slightly too big for me. Well, I got my bell rung by a great sword, and it rocked my world, I tell you. I had to--carefully and deliberately--set my stuff down ("You okay, Melisende?" "Yeah, it's my knee!") and go to the line of vehicles and shiver and leak. Oh, I was so frustrated and angry and shaken. The tears were actually dripping on my breastplate. I learned not to wear helmets that are a smidge too loose. I learned to block more throughly. And I learned to ramp up my aggression and take the heat to my opponent. That being said-- if she knew she was going to be killed, saw it coming, and there was no way to get her weapon free, or block, then yielding would be appropriate. Getting into the mixmaster is appropriate for new fighters (like me!) who need to learn what it feels like. On the other hand, if she has a history of yielding just so she won't have to deal with getting hit--then I feel your words are appropriate. How is she doing now? OMG, the “crying in armor” issue. I’m more afraid of crying in armor than I am of getting hit. I’ve cried in armor once, at a fighter practice, when I was wearing a helm that was slightly too big for me. Well, I got my bell rung by a great sword, and it rocked my world, I tell you. I had to–carefully and deliberately–set my stuff down (”You okay, Melisende?” “Yeah, it’s my knee!”) and go to the line of vehicles and shiver and leak. Oh, I was so frustrated and angry and shaken. The tears were actually dripping on my breastplate.

I learned not to wear helmets that are a smidge too loose. I learned to block more throughly. And I learned to ramp up my aggression and take the heat to my opponent.

That being said– if she knew she was going to be killed, saw it coming, and there was no way to get her weapon free, or block, then yielding would be appropriate. Getting into the mixmaster is appropriate for new fighters (like me!) who need to learn what it feels like.

On the other hand, if she has a history of yielding just so she won’t have to deal with getting hit–then I feel your words are appropriate.

How is she doing now?

]]> By: Wrenn http://swordmaiden.com/combat/yield-cry/#comment-127 Wrenn Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:39:33 +0000 http://swordmaiden.com/combat/yield-cry/#comment-127 I know that this is a game, but sometimes it can get intense and maybe she was frustrated, but maybe she was scared too... the feeling of being completely vulnerable to several people running you down can trigger a very strong gut reaction. I know that this is a game, but sometimes it can get intense and maybe she was frustrated, but maybe she was scared too… the feeling of being completely vulnerable to several people running you down can trigger a very strong gut reaction.

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