Postby Justin Blackford » Thu Jun 16, 2005 4:24 pm
I'm not arguing with anybody on this. I should point out again that I did in no way proclaim myself to be a "Meister", but the fellow scholars of mine are the ones who insist.
I agree that it may be good-natured ribbing by them, but I do not endorse their usage of the term.
I have told them all that people like Liechtenaur, Talhoffer, Capo Ferro, Ringeck, Meyer, etc. were the real masters and that I am merely a student of their works. I have been firm, but they insist on calling me something(I suppose out of respect). They are under the impression that I am a "Master" because I am more studied than they are and can defeat them so easily, but I have tried to come up with a different term of sorts to ween them off of the "Fectmeister" crap.
I was thinking of having my whole group just call themselves "scholars". Thus, it would make me the "senior" or "chief scholar" of the group, since I have been doing this longer than all of them and I am the one who teaches them the basics. Maybe just calling themselves "students" and myself the "student teacher" might get through. Though, if someone else joined who had been doing this longer than me, I would relinquish the title without protest and allow their usage of it. I know that titles are just titles, but these people insist on calling me something. I still think that "Lehrer(instructor)" would be a fine idea. I have been very firm in this, but when 8 people speak at once and insist on giving me something to (I'm guessing) show respect for me, I feel that I have to give them something.
But, to repeat, it will not be "Master" of anything. I have not endorsed this usage, nor will I. And, yes, I do believe that if anybody even comes close to the title "Master" it is most certainly Mr. Clements.
Justin
A man believes what he wants to believe. - Cuchulainn