I just want to clarify that rule on sufficient force. "Hard enough to make you wince" is definitely an overstatement. I think our sports are definitely hurt by statements like "Amptgarders all tap-fight like pussies" and "Dag/Bel fighters are just meatheads with no finesse." If you were to draw a line graph, pure LARPING would be on one side and live-steel fighting would be on the other. Ampt/Bel/Dag float in the middle there somewhere. In fact, within Dag/Bel there are whole groups of fighters popping up who prefer to use "quicktubes" instead of heavier swords so they can gain battle advantage. There is a significant amount of disdain for them because most of the hits from these weapons are too light. Additionally, the whole argument of what "too light" means varies from region to region. I have been fighting Dag/Bel since '95 and I was taught that a sufficient force hit is a hit that would have disabled your arm/leg or killed you if it had been swung with a real weapon. I tone this down significantly, but that is what goes through my head when I am calling "light."
Contrary to what some of you may think, there are a very large number of incredibly skillful, graceful, and lighting-quick fighters who hit with "sufficient force" in Bel/Dag.
I'm just not one of them. This is why they call me the Juggernaut.
In the end, we are all just dress-up nerds.
Let me recommend to you some training videos that will help you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3EPZfB1Qc This is part one in a 7-part Advanced Shield/Sword fighting class.
If I could get these movements down, I would get way better. Duke Uther from the SCA has some great videos on Youtube, but I think he recently cancelled his account.
Anyway, Looking forward to fighting with y'all again and trying to pick up more of your secrets.
Jugg