Honor and Respect - The Pitfalls of Hit-Taking

Every vet has had to explain the phrase “honor sport” if they've ever taught a new person. This is usually followed by rounds of questions about cheating, making you wonder if they’re gauging just how much they can get away with. A few minutes later, you still find yourself giving a stern lecture that they can’t yell out “I hit you!” like they’re a kid playing cops and robbers.

It doesn't matter that they are absolutely sure the other guy is cheating. It doesn't matter that they felt something solid under their sword. It doesn't matter that their opponent staggered backwards as if hit by a cannonball. You can’t question it - that’s in the rules.

So next comes the call to the herald to sort it out. “Watch that guy, I think he’s sloughing.” If the herald is lucky, they’ll manage to catch a bad shot so they can look like they’re doing their job, and might even call something questionable just to be safe. The individual fighter can’t supersede their opponent’s honor, but they can use the herald to do it.

That’s the herald’s job after all, right? To keep track of everything on the field, make sure it goes smoothly, and be sure no one is cheating. Nevermind that it’s difficult to get a clear view on two fighters going at it, much less twenty. They must keep everyone safe and honest somehow. It’s no wonder so many hate being a herald.

That’s not to say that there isn't a time to intervene. Some sloughers can cause a battle to fall apart, unbalancing teams. Others are dangerous, not clearly communicating the shots they ignore, causing confusion on the battlefield. Often new fighters just don’t know any better yet and need help calibrating their hit taking. In the interest of safety and enjoyment, it has to be policed, honor be damned.

Still, a cheater rarely stops cheating even if caught. So how to avoid the insanity of practicing with those who are impossibly thick?

Trust your opponent’s honor above all else. Take their word over your own, no matter how much it stings. You thought you hit arm but they took nothing? Ask them where you really hit; they know best. Hit harder and cleaner, but never out of anger and never with intent to injure. Encourage more communication and less assumption. Words like “light”, “garb”, and “hand” can make a world of difference.