Guide Dog's REAL Advice (I had posted a sarcastic list of ideas in this thread as a goof) to New Fighters:
1. Send in your liability wavier.
2. (MOST IMPORTANT) Show up about an hour or so early to the Gathering. The showing up part is so very important. As a full DB with two little kids, last public Gathering we had a strep throat scare in my house, and last Tribal Gathering, my son brought home a nice stomach flu that got me, my daughter, and my wife. I've been out for a year, and am actually coming off Gathering withdrawal. When Guro Crafty uses that Woody Allen quote that 90% of life is showing up, it actually turns out to be true.
3. Do NOT do the solitary, sullen act. Most of the people I have met in DBMA, whether tribe member or not, have actually been really nice people. Most of the folks I have met at the Gatherings have had really great senses of humor, and that is very important. Don't take yourself, or fighting with sticks, too seriously. Do give it your all without reducing anyone's IQ, but try to have fun. Brand new fighters might not have ANY idea what I am writing about, but you will.
4. Take a knife fight and consider it your warm-up. When you finish and get back to the waiting area, do not dwell in any kind of result from that fight. If you "killed' you opponent in simulation, great. If you "died", whatev's. We all have holes in our games that we are always working on.
5. Take a single stick fight with either a fighter that has some experience, or a newbie who seems to be of a like mind. What I mean by that is an experienced fighter can work with you and whatever level is manifesting when you step out. By having a conversation with another newbie, you can gauge what sort of a mental state he/she is in. As long as you both share an understanding of what the fight should look like, I think you will be okay. I am not suggesting that you plan for a "pillow fight", but if your prospective opponent/partner is talking about the "nobility that comes with surviving a coma", you should politely suggest that your partner is at another level and would best be served by finding someone else. Experienced fighters should be able to say something to put you slightly at ease, and newbies of a like mind should be able to reflect your apprehension in a manner that allows you both to honor what you are feeling and get on with it. (Slight addendum for this point) - as far as sticks go, have your first fight with whatever is your MOST natural weapons configuration. Most prefer single stick, but if you are a siniwali fighter/stick and dagger fighter/staff fighter, go with whatever you are the most comfortable with. The rest of what I wrote still applies, regardless of with what weapon(s) configuration you choose to fight.
6. Unless you actually sustain an injury that ends the fight (and I believe most won't), when you get back to the fighters area, slow your breathing, and immediately take/set up another stick fight. Don't out think yourself here. You're in it. You just learned what it is. You will never be in a state of not knowing again. Go out and fight again.
7. I would suggest you take as many fights as you can, and that MOST people have one more in them when they believe they are done. Once you mentally make up your mind your day is over, take off your gear, and be present. Watch the rest of the day's fights.
8. Don't worry about ascension. If you are meant to be a DB, just show up and keep fighting. It will happen eventually.
9. Enjoy your first day of fighting. You never get another one.
10. Figure out how to take back what you have learned in the adrenal state to your regular classes/training group.
In my experience with the DB's, we really are friends at the end of the day. I look forward to meeting you and hearing about your day and your journey/ transformation.
