Audacity.

Audacity- a willingness to take Bold action.

Fiore used the lion to represent this attribute and wrote “No one has a more courageous heart than I, the lion, for I welcome all to meet me in battle.

Why is it important to be audacious? Well,  First of all you're sword fighting so even to start you are taking a risk. But it is more than that. You may start a fight, and find that you are outmatched. For some people in this situation they retreat and fence at max range. Thinking they better play it "safe" and never commit. However, doing so is often akin to waiting to die. Remember, the point of fencing, in my opinion, is to stay alive. It isn’t to “win” however, if someone is really a better fencer than you staying at max range, maybe they make a mistake, but more likely you are going to make one first.  

Oftentimes the" right" or "best" thing, and the “safest” course of action is to commit and step into an enemy's attack. Stifling an attack before it reaches speed and distance so then you can commit another shorter attack is often the best choice of action in this situation. Because of that fact, even in a sword fight that you feel outmatched in, it is usually better to step in than step out, and therefore audacity is vital if one wishes to become a Swordfighter. And so it is in life outside of the fencing hall. 

I see audacity as the ability to stand up when others won't. That is something that too many of us have given up in order to "keep the peace." If you know me, you know I am fairly easy going—and I think often I am too easy going. This is something that I am trying to work on, both in life and in the sword ring. I should be bolder, more audacious and courageous. I should stand up for what I believe in and take more risks, to develop my Audacity. 

Unfortunately many people think that to be so bold is rude. However, It is often just being Honest. And, we are rude in many other ways, inconsiderate, not talking about things, making one another feel invisible. Instead, if we just talk and are bold about what is going on it allows us to properly discuss differences, misunderstandings, and "hard" topics openly. Thus leading us to develop real respect, understanding, and relationship with one another, things that many people are lacking in this life because they walk on eggshells to avoid being offensive to anyone. Many people will do anything to avoid conflict.

I call us as swordsmen to be Audacious as Fiore said—let's invite everyone to battle!

So, let's all be more audacious. Let us be willing to step into the ring and step into danger to give ourselves the advantage in a fight. But more so, let's be bold for what we believe in and stand for. Let's be willing to civilly discuss the real issues and differences of view we have openly and bluntly.

Be Audacious. Be a Swordfighter! 

Thank you again for reading!

Next time we will get into my own added virtues. The first of which is Charity!

I'm looking forward to it! 

Andrew.