well, don't know if i'll ever have the opportunity to train with the DB's, but let me say thanks for 'doing what you do'.
i've done SCA stickfighting for the last 13 years, but my main focus is warrior culture in general, amatuer hoplologist? i hold a Master rank in the SCA, but i don't try to tell people that it's -real- fighting, just a dangerous contact sport.
i admire your commitment to realistic contact and 'combat comeraderie'. i'm 35 right now and i wish i'd found the DB's earlier. before SCA, my background is in judo and balintawak, with the occasional knife semiar thrown in.
your organization was mentioned on a medieval armor/combat forum recently. most poo-pooed the sample videos as 'sloppy' martial arts and 'dick swinging'. but a couple of us who knew what was up jumped in and let them know how wrong they were. my biggest comment was " take off the armor and see how brave you are. otherwise, you don't know what you're talking about.". ah well, lots of elitism in that group anyway.
keep it up, swing for the trees,
Metis
PS: now that i've de-lurked, anyone in upstate NY, feel free to let me know if you need a sparring partner ('stick only' anyway....)
