The number one rule of SCA combat, whether you are brand new or a seasoned veteran, is that it is up to the slain person to declare that they are dead. Or in other words - it is up to the person being struck to acknowledge any blow as good.
This rule is not in SCA Corpora - in AnTir it falls under Section III - Conventions of Combat, rule V - Judging blows
You need to implant it in your head as an SCA fighter that sometimes blows you land that may feel good to you are not good to your opponent. You need to realize that you have to fight for yourself and at the fights end be content that you did everything you could to win and that is good enough.
Because there will come a time when you are sure that you won but you didn't.
And when that time comes - you keep your mouth shut. You put a smile on your face and you walk away and you leave it on the field where it remains dead just like you were 10 seconds ago.
You can only control your actions and not those of your opponent.
Their Chivalry is on them and your Chivalry is on you. So take care of yourself. Die when struck. And never ever openly question your opponents Chivalry (especially on the field). Never tell someone a blow you landed was good. Never tell someone they are dead unless they ask.
If that seems hard realize that if your "special shot that you worked so hard to land" already worked once so just do it again.
Be the best opponent you can be. Be the kind of person people want to fight. Be gracious and keep learning and apply yourself and one day the end result will be the one you want. That is all in your control.
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