GODDESS News Network Broadcast- 1.15.23
Felix Reed: In the world of sports, nothing says controversy more than the discussion around Singing Blade's 'One Mind' style. Banned from the majority of competitions back in 20019, the style has received much interest since with many claiming the ruling was unfair and meant to target the few athletes who used it. Many say its high time the ruling is reexamined and potentially overturned. Others say that One Mind adds unnecessary risk to an already dangerous sport, where more often than not, athletes go home with stitches if not worse.
Felix Reed: GODDESS has gotten an exclusive interview with Tetsuya Oh and Ramille Hendrickson, finalists in the Red Maple 20,018 and International Singing Blade Showcase of 20019, proponents and users of the One Mind style. For those new to the Singing Blades, Oh and Ramille were considered by many to be rising stars in the sport before their signature style was banned by the ISB committee in 20,019, during their own showcase match. Here's Sylvia Vale with our competitors.
Sylvia: Welcome to the studio guys, how are you both doing today?
Oh: Good, good, thank you for having us.
Ramille: It was a long flight, but it's good to be back in Sydney.
Sylvia: So glad you two could make it. So, let's get right into it. Rumors abound that the two of you have moved to Japan following the ban, is that true?
Oh: Yeah, back home for me over in Red Maple.
Sylvia: I see. A lot of the talk of the town says that you moved due to the ban itself.
Ramille: Oh, nothing like that. It's still allowed in Japanese circuits, but we moved to be closer to Oh's family.
Oh: Still helps, we still compete, but it's not the primary reason despite what people say.
Sylvia: And how have the competitions been since the ban? There's been word that a lot of smaller arenas are also banning One Mind Style following the ISB's ruling.
Oh: It has been a problem, yeah, but honestly let them. Every arena can make its own rules, and it's not as if we aren't still placing high in tournaments regardless.
Ramille: Mhm. Really the only issue is when a rule change is on short notice and we don't have the time to prepare a new set. It's not often that happens, usually we know at least a few months in advance, at least in the Japanese circuits.
Sylvia: Oh really? And that hasn't been the case in others?
Ramille: No, well, for some of them. The ISB ruling as you know was made during our match, but for the most part, since then it's been pretty widely talked about if Lunar Style is being removed or not.
Oh: Yeah, and we always try to have a plan just in case it does get cut.
Ramille: Exactly. The '20 Italy Showcase was I think the last one to do it on short notice, but even then, we still knew four months before.
Sylvia: Four months does seem like a long time to prepare, but as you've said in prior interviews over with our sister network, for Singing Blades, that's practically no time at all. Is that true?
Oh: I mean, pretty much, yeah. One set can take years to master doing it on the regular. If the ban is fast, we might have to fall back on something we haven't practiced as our main set, and honestly, that's a bigger issue I think than One Mind itself.
Sylvia: Oh by all means, do go on.
Oh: Well, like, a lot of the time sets are made specific to the arena we're doing it in, right?
Sylvia: Right.
Oh: So when these bans go through, we might use our last well known set again. That itself usually docks points for being a repeat. Not all the time, not a big difference, but in the bigger competitions against the really good pairs it can be all it takes to make final or not. A different arena might be a different size, different floor, the spar area might be smaller. It's so easy for just a few centimeters to be the difference between a parry and getting stuck in the neck.
Ramille: We actually had that problem over in the California Showcase in '17 before the ban. Nobody knew the arena was only 15 feet from the renovation, and I think... Wasn't it Leander? I think it was Leander who almost lost a finger because of the lip.
Oh: Yeah, his opponent slipped up, not her fault, and got caught on the little lip around the spar ring. I'm surprised he's still got his hand, to be honest.
Sylvia: Would you say that such changes make One Mind Style more dangerous than the legal styles?
Ramille: Well... kind of, but more marginally. It's just as much an issue for the legal styles too. Lea and Henriette don't even use One Mind and they've gotten hurt before. Plenty of people have gotten a fair few nasty licks in because an arena wasn't to the international standard.
Sylvia: What sorts of dangers does One Mind present that aren't found in the other styles?
Oh: Height.
Ramille: Yeah, the height difference for sure.
Sylvia: Really?
Oh: Yeah, I'm what, like... four inches taller than you?
Ramille: Something like that. When you're using One Mind, you're not just moving your body, but your partner's too. Him being taller means he moves differently than I do, and what could be a miss on me might be deadly for him and vice versa.
Oh: The early days of us practicing you wore these like, lift things so we were the same height.
Ramille: Yeah, and that helped with that, but still you're just... shaped differently than I am. His legs are longer, his arms are longer, that's all things we have to take into account because we're trying to move at the same time, while being in each others' heads as we do it. That's why most of our sets are a lot of back and forth, stepping in and out, doing the same motion as each other.
Sylvia: Sort of like a mirror, then.
Oh: No, oh no. That's like, a big misconception. It's not mirrored, we're doing the same exact strikes and motions, just facing one another is all, so it looks mirrored. We do it sometimes, but usually only for the big flourishes we don't really change up that much.
Ramille: Yeah, usually only our finishes or during breaks in the tempo when we can slow down a bit.
Sylvia: So wearing lifts making you the same height did help in that, but it didn't solve all of the problems.
Ramille: Made some of its own, too. He'd be standing flat footed, but I'd be standing as if I were wearing four inch heels. That makes every step you take very different, how you move entirely has changed, and you've still got to figure out how to walk, while dancing, while swinging swords at one another. It's not easy to do at all, but it is possible.
Oh: That's the reason we have issue with the ban. I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of Myer, but he ain't wrong. Not anybody can do Singing Blades to begin with, One Mind style is just a step above how hard it is to begin with.
Sylvia: You mean Myerdin Abrosha, yes?
Oh: Yeah. I think he took it really personally when it got banned, I mean, I would too if I was making a living training people to do it, but sometimes he takes it a bit far. It's not as if it's banned everywhere.
Ramille: Well, he did lose his studio out of it, with Scotland's ban.
Oh: Yeah, fair enough.
Sylvia: Pardon the pun, but swinging back around-
Oh: Right, sorry, sorry.
Sylvia: How do you overcome the challenges the style presents, and what do you think could be done to mitigate the dangers of it?
Ramille: Practice, lots and lots of practice. As long as the athletes know ahead of time what the arena is set up like and have time to practice for it, it's really not too much more of a challenge to do it. You don't do Singing Blades at all if you're worried about getting cut. Gods know we've both got plenty.
Oh: It's like going for a jog knowing it's gonna rain. You're gonna get wet eventually, you just have to expect it.
Sylvia: And as with any kind of lunar magic, are there any side effects to using One Mind?
Ramille: A few, but honestly, they're really minor. One of them, after we started regularly using it, I don't like chicken anymore.
Sylvia: Really?
Oh: I hate chicken.
Ramille: It's such a weird thing that like... you're in your partner's head for it, so sometimes things about them get passed over to you too.
Oh: You used to hate fish, too.
Ramille: Yeah! Oh, especially mackerel and salmon. They're okay now. I'll at least tolerate them.
Oh: One thing, when she was pregnant, early on we'd still at least practice to stay in shape. Training blades, they're just foam wrapped sticks and-
Ramille: -Your face when the baby kicked while we were setting up.
Oh: Ugh, never again. (laughs) It was so weird, I was the one who felt it.
Sylvia: That is so interesting. Has anything else changed?
Ramille: I think it was your mom who pointed out I walk more like you do now.
Oh: Yeah. You do that thing I used to do as a kid where I like, sweep my steps.
Ramille: And you've been using your left hand to write sometimes, because I'm left handed.
Sylvia: I can only imagine that certain 'other' things might get passed over too?
Oh: Eh heh... Maybe just a bit.
Sylvia: Unfortunately that is all the time we have today, but it was so great to have you two in the studio. Any future showcases we have to look forward to, to see you two in action?
Ramille: After our tourney this week here in Sydney, we'll be going to Italia 20,024, we'll be competing in the Dead Wind and Two by Twos. Hope that our fans down under will be cheering us on.
Sylvia: Excellent, and I hope so too! Let's go on over to Alexander Burke and Jason Smith with our current events after the break.
Alex: Thank you, Sylvia. We're here today in Aotearoa where the Fallen Gods protests continue. Since the breaking of Limbo's Crossing, protestors have taken to the streets across the globe condemning the fallen gods who have returned to our realm, with many worried that they have sided with the Fallen Serpent. Others worry that the return of such fallen gods may weaken the current pantheon, by taking power from their replacements and current rulers of their kind. With the War of the Moon in full swing, and threats like Neia Lun de Draco, the Fallen Serpent, and newly risen Batterion still at large, the pantheon may need all the help they can get. We've got Jason and Naomi over in the studio today. Jason: Have the pantheon responded to the protests? Alex: No word has been given on an official stance from the gods, with the majority of them still fighting in the War of the Moon itself. Mora still remains under his vow of silence, and Shia has been busy picking up the pieces of Limbo's Crossing. The hundreds of ghosts scattered by the serpent's attack there as well as Batterion have kept the majors too busy for comment, and it is feared that many of the minor pantheon are in critical condition. Jason: What are the goals of these protests? Alex: At least here in Aotearoa, many are calling for the Fallen to align themselves with the pantheon, and cast out any allegiance to the Fallen Serpent. A local minority are calling for the fallen gods to reopen the way to Limbo, and even return the dead who have fallen since the war's outbreak. It's still not known where many of these gods' loyalties fall, or what power they may hold. Scattered reports from the Land of Gods say that some may be more powerful than their living counterparts, but it is simply too early for anyone to tell. Alex: The Fallen Gods protests have been seen across Aotearoa, Australia, Europe, and Appalachia this week, with more planned in Laramidia to follow. Smaller protests have also cropped up in Tokyo, especially in the Red Maple District, where many are calling for the return of the Fallen Fox to aid Hikaru's efforts in the war. With a turnout of an estimated 25,000 people in the Red Maple District alone, the message is clear: Not everyone wants the Fallen to return. Alex: No matter which side of the issue you fall, if you join protests, it is important to stay protected. Stay hydrated, wear sun protection, and make sure you have a plan. Always know where you are going, and if you see something, say something. Don't join in with bad actors or those escalating violence. As the protests continue into this week, we'll have some tips and safety tricks to deal with the winter chills at 9 o'clock. Jason: In other news, the War of the Moon rages on in the Land of Gods, with no signs of slowing down. The Fallen Serpent's last location was at Limbo's crossing, but no one has seen him since the rise of Batterion, and news that Hilathu may have met his end has been welcome to many- but may be an issue. It's still unknown who, if anyone, is in control of Batterion, and the once-thought-myth has continued to rampage across the Land of Gods. Naomi: That's right Jason- The order from the pantheon given on Veg is still in effect that if you are in the Land of Gods' northern regions, you are to evacuate. The statement from Chezira states that south into Laramidia or Appalachia is your best option and National and State's guardsmen are in place to aid in relocation and get you to safety. Typical border crossing procedures have been lifted until further notice in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Michigan, and Wisconsin- You do not need your ID, visa, or to wait at customs. Jason: Minnesota still requires customs checks at this time and is screening refugees before accepting them for membership of the Fallen Serpent's cult. Even so, the pantheon has suggested ignoring the ruling entirely. This morning Soliairs Taeyang made a statement to ignore the Minnesota ruling entirely, and prioritize safety first. Naomi: Korea, Japan, Rusha, New York, and much of Appalachia are also accepting refugees from the Land of Gods. Across the world, governments have worried that paired with the Pacific Ring of Fire Crisis, this may be one of the largest mass displacement event's the world has seen, and are doing their best to prepare for the influx of displaced peoples.
Jason: We do have some more news out of the Pacific: At least over in Shanai, the fires from the volcanic eruptions are finally out, and rebuilding has already begun. Ports are still heavily damaged and officials are requesting that anyone who can spare shallow water vessels send them for moving the sick and injured to better conditions for treatment. Members of Soliairs' cult have been seen working around the clock administering medical care, food, and temporary shelter, with a surprise appearance. Naomi: That's right- earlier this morning, it has been confirmed that Ludovic Maol-Domhnuich is recovering, but still worse for wear. While he survived the initial attack on Soliairs' fleet, the polecat god reportedly has serious injuries with several broken bones, frostbite, and potentially even a skull fracture. While he is on the mend, even for a god, these are rather serious injuries, and it's not expected for him to be returning to the front any time soon. Jason: Even so, his cult has been working closely with Soliairs' own and Shanai's Red Pineapple Corps in distributing rations, with some talks suggesting that a more permanent alliance may be forming between Shanine and Scottish governments. Even if temporary, this could be a huge boon to both nations, especially in these trying times. Naomi: I can't imagine the heat is helping his condition much, can you? Jason: Hopefully he's at least traded in that fur coat for the time being.
Naomi: Following some photos being release from the front, it does look like there may potentially be an end to the war between Appylon and Fiona's cults in sight. Neither god has been available for comment on the pictures, but some started circulating showing the pair huddled up to one another amidst preparations for the Battle of the Moon's Rage. Taken by journalist Lucian Sage, Lucian says that the pair were often seen together supporting other members of the pantheon. Jason: Any confirmation of this being a potential blooming-romance, or just the cold? Naomi: None yet, sadly, but members from either cult have long speculated that the deer and finch have long held up their feud for appearances and appearances alone, condemning violence to the other side and forbidding conflicts to come to blows. Jason: It certainly would be the collab of the century if the two of them did set manners aside to work on an album. Naomi: That it would, that it would. Speculation and gossip aside, we'll be returning at 10 o'clock with more GODDESS news. Jason: This has been Jason and Naomi, signing off. From everyone at the studio, have a lovely morning, and we'll be right here, with the latest pantheon scoop fresh for you.
Alex: Thank you, Sylvia. We're here today in Aotearoa where the Fallen Gods protests continue. Since the breaking of Limbo's Crossing, protestors have taken to the streets across the globe condemning the fallen gods who have returned to our realm, with many worried that they have sided with the Fallen Serpent. Others worry that the return of such fallen gods may weaken the current pantheon, by taking power from their replacements and current rulers of their kind. With the War of the Moon in full swing, and threats like Neia Lun de Draco, the Fallen Serpent, and newly risen Batterion still at large, the pantheon may need all the help they can get. We've got Jason and Naomi over in the studio today. Jason: Have the pantheon responded to the protests? Alex: No word has been given on an official stance from the gods, with the majority of them still fighting in the War of the Moon itself. Mora still remains under his vow of silence, and Shia has been busy picking up the pieces of Limbo's Crossing. The hundreds of ghosts scattered by the serpent's attack there as well as Batterion have kept the majors too busy for comment, and it is feared that many of the minor pantheon are in critical condition. Jason: What are the goals of these protests? Alex: At least here in Aotearoa, many are calling for the Fallen to align themselves with the pantheon, and cast out any allegiance to the Fallen Serpent. A local minority are calling for the fallen gods to reopen the way to Limbo, and even return the dead who have fallen since the war's outbreak. It's still not known where many of these gods' loyalties fall, or what power they may hold. Scattered reports from the Land of Gods say that some may be more powerful than their living counterparts, but it is simply too early for anyone to tell. Alex: The Fallen Gods protests have been seen across Aotearoa, Australia, Europe, and Appalachia this week, with more planned in Laramidia to follow. Smaller protests have also cropped up in Tokyo, especially in the Red Maple District, where many are calling for the return of the Fallen Fox to aid Hikaru's efforts in the war. With a turnout of an estimated 25,000 people in the Red Maple District alone, the message is clear: Not everyone wants the Fallen to return. Alex: No matter which side of the issue you fall, if you join protests, it is important to stay protected. Stay hydrated, wear sun protection, and make sure you have a plan. Always know where you are going, and if you see something, say something. Don't join in with bad actors or those escalating violence. As the protests continue into this week, we'll have some tips and safety tricks to deal with the winter chills at 9 o'clock. Jason: In other news, the War of the Moon rages on in the Land of Gods, with no signs of slowing down. The Fallen Serpent's last location was at Limbo's crossing, but no one has seen him since the rise of Batterion, and news that Hilathu may have met his end has been welcome to many- but may be an issue. It's still unknown who, if anyone, is in control of Batterion, and the once-thought-myth has continued to rampage across the Land of Gods. Naomi: That's right Jason- The order from the pantheon given on Veg is still in effect that if you are in the Land of Gods' northern regions, you are to evacuate. The statement from Chezira states that south into Laramidia or Appalachia is your best option and National and State's guardsmen are in place to aid in relocation and get you to safety. Typical border crossing procedures have been lifted until further notice in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Michigan, and Wisconsin- You do not need your ID, visa, or to wait at customs. Jason: Minnesota still requires customs checks at this time and is screening refugees before accepting them for membership of the Fallen Serpent's cult. Even so, the pantheon has suggested ignoring the ruling entirely. This morning Soliairs Taeyang made a statement to ignore the Minnesota ruling entirely, and prioritize safety first. Naomi: Korea, Japan, Rusha, New York, and much of Appalachia are also accepting refugees from the Land of Gods. Across the world, governments have worried that paired with the Pacific Ring of Fire Crisis, this may be one of the largest mass displacement event's the world has seen, and are doing their best to prepare for the influx of displaced peoples.
Jason: We do have some more news out of the Pacific: At least over in Shanai, the fires from the volcanic eruptions are finally out, and rebuilding has already begun. Ports are still heavily damaged and officials are requesting that anyone who can spare shallow water vessels send them for moving the sick and injured to better conditions for treatment. Members of Soliairs' cult have been seen working around the clock administering medical care, food, and temporary shelter, with a surprise appearance. Naomi: That's right- earlier this morning, it has been confirmed that Ludovic Maol-Domhnuich is recovering, but still worse for wear. While he survived the initial attack on Soliairs' fleet, the polecat god reportedly has serious injuries with several broken bones, frostbite, and potentially even a skull fracture. While he is on the mend, even for a god, these are rather serious injuries, and it's not expected for him to be returning to the front any time soon. Jason: Even so, his cult has been working closely with Soliairs' own and Shanai's Red Pineapple Corps in distributing rations, with some talks suggesting that a more permanent alliance may be forming between Shanine and Scottish governments. Even if temporary, this could be a huge boon to both nations, especially in these trying times. Naomi: I can't imagine the heat is helping his condition much, can you? Jason: Hopefully he's at least traded in that fur coat for the time being.
Naomi: Following some photos being release from the front, it does look like there may potentially be an end to the war between Appylon and Fiona's cults in sight. Neither god has been available for comment on the pictures, but some started circulating showing the pair huddled up to one another amidst preparations for the Battle of the Moon's Rage. Taken by journalist Lucian Sage, Lucian says that the pair were often seen together supporting other members of the pantheon. Jason: Any confirmation of this being a potential blooming-romance, or just the cold? Naomi: None yet, sadly, but members from either cult have long speculated that the deer and finch have long held up their feud for appearances and appearances alone, condemning violence to the other side and forbidding conflicts to come to blows. Jason: It certainly would be the collab of the century if the two of them did set manners aside to work on an album. Naomi: That it would, that it would. Speculation and gossip aside, we'll be returning at 10 o'clock with more GODDESS news. Jason: This has been Jason and Naomi, signing off. From everyone at the studio, have a lovely morning, and we'll be right here, with the latest pantheon scoop fresh for you.
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