Research and Discussion Forums

I'm just curious- but other than having different names, how are posta di falcon and posta di vera finestra mechanically different than vom tag?

I'm fairly positive that pikes were used, on occasion, for dueling. I know that diGrassi's section on pikes are for duels fought with them. I would hazard that it is very likely that other manuals covering them are describing techniques used in formal duels and not on the battlefield. I freely admit...

I've always found that the best proof is in actually using both methods. When you use edge-on-flat, your opponents blade slides right off and keeps your blade in alignment to strike at your opponent. When you use edge-on-edge you bind. And considering that you can move the blade's alignment to go fr...

Just a note to everybody-- Bob Dougherty's http://www.woodenweapons.com, which Tony's referring to, was bought out some time ago by http://[disallowed link], better known as Purpleheart Armories. ARMA has a standing policy not to buy from Purpleheart (or "PHA"). This is an organization-wi...

I'm still a fan of Wooden Weapons. I recently broke my NSA and went back to using my WW waster. While it is definitely not as nicely balanced as the NSA I find it's slightly heavier feel gives me a better workout, and there is little worry when I'm doing pell work. The fit and finish are not as nice...

I'm still a fan of Wooden Weapons. I recently broke my NSA and went back to using my WW waster. While it is definitely not as nicely balanced as the NSA I find it's slightly heavier feel gives me a better workout, and there is little worry when I'm doing pell work. The fit and finish are not as nice...

Why are you bothering to argue with them?

I'm not a fan of Sword Forum, but that is because I don't like weeding my way through all the drek on there to find info that is actually...informative.

Sam, I'd probably just say that since what he is doing is not actual RMA he probably shouldn't bill it as such. Why would he need to confuse folks with what he is doing? As for sparring with him, well that's a great way to find out if he is just talking out his rectum or not- however, that will depe...

While I don't doubt that they are martial artists they are not doing RMA. The sword and buckler vid looks like escrima with a sword and buckler. They videos also all look choreographed with the same movement patterns repeated over and over. It looks like EMA with a patina of RMA thrown on to catch t...

Uh, yeah. There were two-sword systems. We all know this. So why do people keep saying there weren't? I don't think it's so much that folks say that 2-swords weren't used, but that the coverage of their use is relatively minor. I don't think I'd call it a "system" either. It is always pre...

I'd be willing to guess that a single hand axe is used much the same as a single hand sword. Two hand axe is probably be similar to the poll axe and long sword.

I doubt that there is seriously much difference between them, with the exception of a smaller striking area.

Going to a NTP seminar will jump start your progress by leaps and bounds. When I first joined ARMA I paid to have John come out to Las Vegas and give a class. I figured the only way to see if it was BS or not was to see it (and JC) in action. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but the reality was fa...

Jaron, I'd say you are trying to compare apples to oranges here. One is sport, and the other is martial arts. The only time you have problems is when folks think that doing one is the same as doing the other. I'd be willing to bet that if you were doing kendo, those guys would be tough to beat.

Actually, I meant to change that statement about cutting pikes as I've been unable to verify it with a reliable historical source and can't locate a reference to where I read it. I think that this is a legend that has just grown up around misinformation and lack of actual scholarly pursuit. I haven...

I purchased a NSA and I'm very happy with it- but I still use my Wooden Weapons one for most of my training. Now if I could just will CASI into making one of those Paul Chen practicals at a size large enough for a longsword.