Hey
John,
really interesting article. It's remarkable how much of the same things I have run into with my own small group. In the last year I got about 3 women and one adolescent girl involved in some sparring. In the old days we never had any girls get on the field but we were much more 'safety - last' in those days.
My most enthusiastic female recruit so far has been my girlfriend Marjorie. I used to get her to just go out and beat on me in the yard so I could practice parries, (and get some exorcise) gradually she started doing some sparring with a few of the younger kids who show up now and then, and then eventually she started sparring with me and some of the other guys on occasion.
I agree wholeheartedly with your suggestion about the ideal blade shape being tapered. I made this short sword specially for Marjorie
http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/e/deodand23/Dagesse.jpg It's based on a Cinqueda Sword or a so-called Dagesse. The acute point and some fairly heavy counterbalancing make it very comfortable for her with a close to the hilt balance, and she does pretty well with it with a shield.
Later I made a longer cut and thrust sword like a bastard sword for her but I don't have a pic yet.
I notice she was particularly good at thrusting, as you also pointed out. Other girls I've seen sparring seemed to naturally rely on thrusting too.
I also agree about the issue of bruising and the special padding requirements. Once marjorie started doing more sparring I got this thing from Ebay.
http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/e/deodand23/girl-pads.jpg It's a either Lacrosse or Hockey shoulder pad... I forget which but they have similar gear for both. It works quite well and you can get these used for about $20. She also has some lacrosse shin guards, and wears gauntlets and a helmet (of course) when fighting.
Here is an amusing clip of Marjorie sparring with my friends 14 year old son Hakon. (Disclaimer! Despite his harrowing shriek of agony, the kid was not hurt in this 'fight', he was back at it 5 seconds later. He's just very loud about the slightest bump an a little whiny!) You can see her using that Cinqueda sword I made.
http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/e/deodand23/Abuse.mpg Here is another of the two of them sparring later on when both had developed their parrying skills a bit more.
http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/e/deodand23/hakontriumph.mpg Finally here is one of Marjorie taking out some aggression on me (notice the aggressive intent and the nice thrust she does):
http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/e/deodand23/mage-riposte.mpg The only thing I have found different was the martial spirit issue.. I did run into a lot of initial reluctance to attack, but after some coaxing, once they start attacking the women I have gotten out onto the field seem to be very aggressive indeed, it's like the damn breaks or something. One young girl of about 13, who was very hesitant to try sparring, turned out to be remarkably ferocious.
Interesting disucssion!
JR
