In response to considerable demands, the HACA is finally unleashing our long requested new Membership Structure and our new Training Program. We are very excited about both. Both of these will allow us to offer more structured and specific material to enthusiasts and students as well as provide greater guidance to new Study Groups. HACA members have expressed the desire for more structure and oversight and they want a more formal membership policy with a clearly defined relationship between affiliates and the directing body.

In consultation with our Study Groups and Affiliated members, we believe that while the HACA method is the most complete and best that's out there, our system for teaching and licensing it has been limited in effect. We have set a very low bar for inclusion and participation –and except in exceptional cases, as a result this must eventually effect performance and quality. Therefore, what we've done is look at those exceptional cases to find a way to help all HACA students and members excel. We are thus introducing a new formal membership structure which contains certain entitlements and responsibilities.

• We are now offering a new special three-tier training program based in Houston that will direct members in:

• The HACA Method
• Combat-effective martial technique
• Taking lessons and pursuing them in your own training

• HACA will continue to present its free website and online databases in their current format, but much more will be made available for registered members. HACA membership now consists of annual Associate fee of $25 for individuals, and for recognized Study Group members, an additional $15 per year club registration fee. Each of these provides for a wide range of benefits and specific privileges.
  
• Associate Membership Benefits & Privileges
  
• Recognized Study Group Benefits

What’s different now?
In the past, we encouraged enthusiasts and new groups to progress along the same pathway HACA Houston has. But a more active role is required in helping members overcome the hurdles, apply the knowledge out there, shorten the training curve, and take advantage of our experience. One of the strengths of the HACA has been that it provides so many training resources to the public –and that isn't going to change. But what we've found is that it's one thing to read the manuals and research material, and another to develop a historically and martially effective combat system based on them. HACA’s expertise is the latter, so we are supplementing our emphasis on making resources available by also making available a sound interpretative system and practice style –i.e., the HACA Study Approach.

• The Training Program will be open to any participants, but registered HACA Members will receive priority registration and discounted rates. These events will be offered long-term using a structured curriculum to immerse members in HACA training with the goal of the student obtaining eventual HACA Certification.

• All future seminars and workshops outside of Houston will be integrated as a continuing part of the new Training Program, or else conducted as separate informational presentations. All of this will be tied into our forthcoming video series and Training Manuals, the HACA website, and our current Ranking / Certification system.

• Over the next 12 months we will be initiating the first series of Training Program weekends here in Houston. These are offered independently of (but supplemental to) our current Houston classes. Future program segments will later be conducted for regional members around the US.

To better promote the HACA Study Approach and to maintain substance and quality of curricula, this entirely revised membership structure has now been implemented. Previously, basic membership in HACA consisted of "Recognition of HACA Status" –a very informal concept. We also allowed select interested parties to simply add the footnote "Member of HACA" –to reflect identity as an "Associated" member –while "Affiliated" HACA members were those recognized students qualified by certified HACA instructors.  These policies have been discontinued. Consequently, to reflect this a number of refinements have been made to the procedures for starting new Study Groups. HACA membership has hitherto been an informal matter of offering guidance and direction as well as presenting a positive role model. Many times individuals or groups who have attempted the HACA training system only reflect a portion or misinterpretation of HACA practices. As HACA has encountered more and more sincere enthusiasts seeking education and requesting expert instruction, the decision was made to formally refocus HACA membership in terms of officially affiliated members and groups. The procedure for each has been reformulated to reflect our established teaching system, the new soon to be instituted HACA Training Program and the forthcoming series of HACA videos and Training Manuals.

The HACA has been highly influential and inspirational to many enthusiasts in this subject. Many other groups and organizations have adopted portions of our approach or tried to follow our method. But, while many of our supportive fellow enthusiasts may be "associated" with the HACA or hold "honorary", "fraternal", or "supporting" titles, unless they are registered members of a recognized Study Group they have no active connection to the HACA or its Training System. Only recognized Study Groups represent any formal part of the official Historical Armed Combat Association (a federally protected copyright) and only registered members can participate in Ranking & Certification.

What’s it all about?
The HACA membership is specifically geared toward martial arts proficiency with Medieval & Renaissance swords and historical European weaponry. Anyone in any group can benefit from it. Courses are aimed at serious enthusiasts and students from anywhere in the sword-community, and at weapon practitioners from outside the community as well. You can take what you learn from HACA and apply it in your own organization or practice just as you would any other martial art, or you can choose to pursue your studies exclusively within HACA. We provide training that works. How much you learn and what you do with it is up to you.

These changes in membership policy are being instituted to better promote the HACA Study Approach as an actual martial art style plus ensure the quality of our trademarked methodology. This progression is not an impulse. After all, HACA was founded in 1991, has had active chapters since 1994 and offered public classes in Houston since 1997. Our purpose is to make HACA a self-supporting training authority that can continue to provide the best resources and synthesis training in the world of historical European swordsmanship.

Membership Structure & Benefits