Belegarth

I've only recently started fighting again after a couple years off. And already I have made plans to move for the fall away from Dunharrow. I'll still be in the Chi 'burbs tho...

I'll be moving from Hoffman Estates ( a nice 20 minute drive from Elgin/Dunharrow) to Lansing, IL

What's my best bet for fighting on the south side? Travel west to the realms out there? Is there anything in Indiana Dag or otherwise? I'll be a short 110miles to Numenor for some Saturday practices in the fall. It'll be nice to beat on college freshmen again.

Now, as to why I am moving and other alternatives. I am moving to Lansing to teach biology at TFSouth High School. This will put me into contact with about 1800 students ages 14-18. In what ways can I either introduce students to the sport or avoid any complications which might arise from fighting with students.

Basically, if I try to build a realm...how do I do that? Do I include the local high school kids? Do I make it an in school club or an out of school club? How have the college realms gone about this? Do I build some kind of base realm before inviting students? Do I try to avoid contact with my students when sword fighting?

What do you think Belegarth?

I'm all for growing the game wherever possible. Some schools have started after school programs utilizing Belegarth equipment and rules; you could always go that route. However, you have to be careful about their involvement in the national aspect of the sport.

While we openly discourage underage drinking at events, we know it still happens, and if any of your students were to go to a national event, get hammered, and do something exceedingly stupid, it's likely that your butt is the first in line to get kicked by today's outraged parents that look to blame anyone but their own child for mistakes and idiocy.

I think for your own benefit, the best bet is to set up the group independent of the school, and then waiver the hell out of any high school-aged fighters you may have and refuse to chaperone them at national events. If another adult has signed off on the child and you're not an authoritative representative of a school program, you'll be much less liable to the school or the fighters' parents if anything bad happens.

In short, use your access to the students, set up your group independently of the school, and don't be responsible for your underage fighters at national events unless you really trust them.

Don't get your students involved in the sport, period.

I think it'll get a bit too complicated... Jimmy's right.

I wouldn't mind swinging sticks with anyone really. However, I would never be able to shed the authority of the classroom.

Back to the other options...

Driving to other practices and/or building a realm from scratch in whichever 'burb I choose to move to around Lansing.

Growing the sport is uber cool, but in starting a realm, you're going to spend a lot of time fighting people that aren't going to challenge you to get better. You'll be the go-to guy for garb, weapons, and everything else related to the sport. If you've got the time to start a group while frequenting other practices, then awesome. If it's one or the other, then it comes down to what you want for yourself.

Do you want to grow a realm from its infancy or focus on your own development?

We'll have to see what I have time for I suppose. And I think you're right...I need to make sure I know * is going on in the sport before I try to grow a realm. I'll require tutoring Dane, lots of tutoring!

It was a fun idea for afew days atleast. So what's my best bet out on the Southeast side of Chi?

My group fights in Romeoville. That's the closest I can think of in your area. And that would be like an hour drive or so. There has been some talk of another Muxlovian practice closer to Tinley Park. But that practice will only happen if I can find at least 5 other guys who would commit to showing up on a (fairly) regular basis.

Bah, don't necro.

I've found a very close Dag practice (<5 miles) from my new place in lansing, IL. They fight over the border in Highland, IN. Unfortunately Im used to a more mature group of fighters. The local fare is all ~16 and more into the "LOOK THREE OF US MADE a Q=STAFF AND WE REFUSE TO FIGHT WITH ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE WE TOOK KARATE FOR 3 WEEKS AND THE STAFF LOOKED COOL" type of thing....the caps were needed.

Also, if you've met me you may agree that Im pretty much an exactly average of a fighter for Belegarth. 50% Right on. The first two weeks I dont think I died once at this realm. Ever. Some of them are getting better fighting me, but more than half are still running at me full speed then trying to jump into me...patience is my virtue.

Im also stealthily working on some of my goofier freshmen and implanting the idea into their heads. The trick is to make it think it was their idea to start some type of fighting club. If I can mainstream it in the school I might accomplish something unique.

/thread dead