Do Something!   It is a better choice than doing nothing.

My philosophy on “giving up an advantage”.  This one is much easier. In a tournament I tend to not give up an earned advantage, and in a Melee I rarely offer, accept or request single combat (unless it makes things more fun).

1. It is an act of Largess not an act of chivalry or a point of honor.
   1. An act of Largess, a gift from one who has to one who does not, given to whom you wish for whatever reason you wish. – Some gentles want to find offense in you giving them such a gift, so long as you give out of “generosity” and not “pity” then it is honorable.  To hold the giver in disdain for such a gift is the receivers the folly of “pride” and none of your concern
      
   2. An act of Chivalry – to call it that is a trap it implies that if I do not do the same for you, then only those who give up an advantage are chivalrous and those who do not are not, these assumptions are untrue.
      
   3. Point of Honor – see above “Act of chivalry”
2. Tournament – as a rule I generally choose not to give up an earned advantage.
   1. If I’ve worked hard to take a limb why ‘re-even’ the playing field if I’ve just worked real hard to uneven it? So don’t.
   2. If the tournament is a Pas, where the winner is not found on the field, but from a gallery then this philosophy is different. There its all about the show.
   3. If someone does gives up an advantage they’ve earned over you, accept it graciously it is a gift, not an insult.  If it is obviously meant as an insult (and you can usually tell) then kill them and make them think twice next time.)
   4. Exceptions – There are exceptions when I do give up an advantage
      1. Wound retained tournament – If I take the field in a wound retained tournament I always….ALWAYS start the fight on even ground. To do otherwise *I believe* –would be- unchivolrous, its only fair that at the beginning of a fight you face your opponent on even ground.– However do not “Strike your own limb” to even the start of the fight else you will be without that limb should you win.
      2. Slop – If I know a shot was slop for whatever reason and I cannot talk my opponent out of taking it, I will match them so that I gained no advantage from the slop. (like in billiards, slop doesn’t let you shoot again, I don’t take slop)
3. Handicapped fighters – Never EVER match a handicapped fighter so that you start out even. Its insulting to them…they are not a handicapped fighter, they are a fighter. That simple I should not have to explain more.
4. Melee – Don’t yield, don’t accept offer or ask for single combat.
   1. To yield is to give up, Meridians do not yield, you want to beat me, whack me with a stick.  If asked to yield, politely decline. (I usually follow this with a charge of some sort, nothing like whipping 4 guys at once to be a hero).
   2. But always be happy to accept if they are willing to yield
5. Single Combat – don’t do it, don’t ask for it, don’t offer it. Melee is melee it’s a team sport. Dispense with them and get it over with.
   1. That said if two people are in single combat, respect it, and keep others out of it.
   2. Once said single combat is over, the rest of you should maul the remaining person, or reabsorb your teammate depending on who won.
6. Leg’em and leave’em create as many knee fighters as you can, if you come upon a legged fighter, avoid them and move on to join your group. If your in cleanup, then deal with them how you will, I suggest attacking them in groups of 2’s and 3’s until their dead.