What is Sword Knight Boot Camp, you ask? It’s exactly what its name implies: a full weekend of training and instruction. The best fighters from all over the country – all Sword Knights – convene in one place in order to pass on their knowledge of the Amtgard fighting arts to you, the aspiring fighter. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran looking to get the edge on the younger fighters, the up and coming tournament fighter striving for that sword belt, or simply a newer player looking to delve deeper into Amtgard’s combat, this is the event for you.
The event focuses entirely on instructional classes in blocks each day of the event, supplemented by communal meals where fighters can socialize and discuss what they’ve learned and constant, 24-hour ditching where fighters can put what they’ve learned into practice. Instructor-led ditching pits the students against the masters, allowing the students to see first hand the skill of the fighters they’re learning from, and see the instruction put to work.
This last year, Melannen and Ixous both went to SKBC in Texas instead of to Spring War. The effect was disasterious, although I haven't gotten to spar much with Ixous yes, Mel learned crazy Amtgard black magic. His fighting and weapons building have both improved 200%, and he's trying very new and different things.
Melannen spoke to the coordinators while he was there, a kicked out the idea of SKBC being hosted by a Belegarth group. See, SKBC moves, each year a group puts in a bid to run SKBC. At first I assumed the word "bid" implied that money way involved, but no, it's like bidding for the Olympics to come.
SKBC '09 is being hosted in Ohio. '07 was hosted in Iowa. Are proximity is these 2 locations would count against us, I'm not sure to what degree, but Mel said they were VERY interested in a bid being put in by a bel group.
What not have a bid be put in by all of Belegarth?
In general 'Geddon should not change. Fighting, drinking, partying, all stays the same. We'd have more Amtgard guys around, but that's a BIGGER event with cross game attendance. It's been done at EQ (Or Bel?) before, and it has it's ups and downs, but we had some amt guys out at Rhun in Juneish, and they hit hard and take their hits just as well as the next guy.
We could use the smaller field for those that want to do ditching with amtgard weapons only, then the bigger field for Bel combat.
Mel has thrown down with these sword knights, but those that haven't heard some of the pro-amt buzz lately, these guys throw down, amtgard is not the * **** you got the propaganda on, in the south where a lot of these guys come from, their ditching (strip their system down to just combat) is the same as our fighting.
I think this would give us a HUGE boost in numbers, a HUGE hand shake between Amt and Bel, and a **** ROCKING event.
SKBC is run by a council called FWACK (say it out loud) and they do have some requirements. Up until we got Stonehouse, the only Bel park I knew that met them was Montey Bell. Now, Stonehouse either meets them all now, or one (needs cabins for the instructors or a close hotel) it will by the time this would happen, Arm 9 at the earliest.
Here are their requirements, and a site full of general info:
http://skbc.naropa.edu/hosting/default.asp
