An Interview with
Don Dylan ap Maelgwn
How and when did you start fencing in the SCA?
I started the summer of 1987, while in college. I was on the junior varsity fencing team in school, but they wanted me to practice 12 hours per week, and I didn't have the time to do that, but I did have the time for the SCA. I'm pretty sure that I was doing SCA stuff for more than 12 hours per week though...
Do you have other combat arts experience?
I dabbled in heavy weapons, but that's about it.
What do you enjoy most about fencing?
Figuring out what works and, more importantly, why.
It can be a challenge to communicate how something works in a fight. What do you recommend?
In a teaching sense? I think that the best way is to describe cause and effect (eg., "If you place your blade this way, you gain leverage over your opponent's blade—feel it?").
What usually goes through your mind during a fight?
A good fight? A song—preferably one with strong vocals. If that's going on then I'm not overthinking.
Which songs?
U2's the Joshua Tree was a great album for me, for that purpose. The soundtrack to Sweeney Todd is also fun and useful, in a macabre way.
Have nerves ever been a problem in competitive fighting?
A couple of times, sure. Somewhere out of the blue a voice whispers in my ear, "This person is going to win", and then I wind up having to fight back into my mental state.
What would you change about your fencing or about the fencing community?
The only thing I'd change is that I'd be active again.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
How long it was going to take for the fencers to be taken seriously in the kingdom.
What has kept you fencing over the years?
The drive to learn more, and improve.
What’s your favorite form and why?
Rapier and dagger—it makes the most sense to me. I think of it as primarily single with something useful in my offhand. I don't actually fence that way, but that's always the way I've thought of it.

I guess the real reason is the dagger gives me leverage and control that no other form gives me.
Name three people who have influenced your fencing.
Mark Masters (my mundane fencing coach)
Thomas de Castellan
Ian Raven
What were the challenges during your time as the Deputy Society Marshal for Rapier?
The biggest one is still there, and always will be—to get all of the disparate kingdoms to work toward the same ends. The cohesion that a Kingdom Marshal gets from their regional marshals, and from the fencers in the kingdom, just doesn't exist at that level.

After that, how to deal with new blades, the best way to approve their use, and track them for safety concerns.
What inspired the inception of 'Dead is dead!'?
In a real-life duel, dead is indeed dead. Double kills are a sign of sloppy fencing, and in some cases, the tourney rules rewarded that behavior. If you had a real weapon in your hand, facing an armed opponent, your approach to fencing would be a tad different—I wanted to encourage people to fence better, and to want to survive their bout.
What is mentoring? How does it differ from teaching?
Mentoring implies a personal relationship, teaching doesn't. Mentoring is also much more encompassing.
Why have you chosen or agreed to teach each student that you have?
My approach changed over time, as I learned what I wanted out of a mentoring relationship. Ultimately, I chose students who were committed to learning and improving. Maybe they would become a Don/Pelican/whatever, maybe they wouldn't, but they were working toward that goal. It's the old cliche about the journey vs. the destination.
Did you prefer teaching or serving in a marshallate office?
I enjoy both for different reasons. Teaching gives me the joy of seeing a student have an 'aha!' moment. Being in the marshallate let people have a good time, and have an opportunity to get those 'aha!' moments.
Melees or single combat?
Melee is fun, but single is where it's at.
Wolverine or Cyclops?
*eyeroll* Wolverine.
Any rules changes you'd like to see?
At this point, I'm pretty happy with the rules.
What's your favorite accomplishment?
Being a 4-time King's Champion.
How can you be bribed?
21-year old Balvenie.
How can you be defeated?
Bribery.
Tell a bit about a favorite fencing day.
Winning my last King's Championship—fighting Alexandre in the finals, and doing schlaeger all day through the tourney, which was still a bit of a novelty at the time.
Whom do you admire?
Lots of people—but mostly I admire people like Liam St. Liam, who sees something that needs to be done and just does it. Sometimes I'm that guy; Liam is always that guy.
Favorite opponents?
Don Alexandre, Don Brokk, Don Ian.
What advice do you offer new fencers?
Want to get better? Drill 75% of the practice, bout the last 25%.
Give someone in the fencing community a call sign.
Collin "The Rock" Munro.
Without naming the speaker, give me a quote from someone in the fencing community.
"Four."



Interview from November 2007.