questions

[Shaun Williams]

Hi I'm new the the forums and actually swordsmanship in general. So far I've looked into a few books, though the only one I own is Medieval Swordsmanship and I've found quite a few resources online as well through this site.
Quite a few of my questions have already been answered by just reading through the forum but I have more that are unanswered. I suppose I'll just ask the two that are plaguing me for the moment and return if I have more.

First off I'm having trouble figuring out which leg is the lead leg in the various stances. Some sources have said left foot forward and others right. How is it decided?

With all the stuff I've been reading its doing me no good without a practice sword to actually use. I have two other people intersted in sparring and learning with me but they need swords as well. Since I've had little luck finding foam offline I going to have to resort to buying online.I've seen EVA foam from http://www.foamorder.com/closedcell.html recommended once. Is this a decent foam for using for edges with the ARMA padded swords?

[Will Adamson]

Matt Anderson clued me in to a site for the lifejacket foam. I don't have the link at hand, he probably does, but it was through Seattle Fabrics, so you can probably do a search for them and find how to order it. It can seem kind of pricey, but a little will make quite a few swords. Keep some in reserve for repairs and revitalizations.

Many of the manuals that I've run across can be ambiguous as to which leg is the leading leg. Often the artwork and the text don't match up. I think it's in the Codex Wallerstein that the translators correct this several times, probably because they actually physically performed the techniques, so know how they work as opposed to some pencil neck translating without a working knowledge of the material. I don't recall that ambiguity in John's books, but mistakes can be made.

The easy answer would be that the leading leg is the one in front (duh) and that the weapon is rarely on the side of leading leg. The biggest thing is to try and make the movements being described and see if they match up. If it seems like the wrong leg is being used, just experiment with the other one.

Getting some first hand instruction is key to getting started. Find a study group that you can get to, even if you have to travel a few hours. I drove over to Virginia Beach when I was still in North Carolina and it really helped. Even something as simple as seeing someone knowledgable going through the guards is worth it. Often, some new idea about a technique or stance has not made it to the website, but the SFSs will point it out to you.

Oh, and if you are so inclined, apply for membership in ARMA, if you haven't already. If you really become active in communicating with other members (both online and in person), it'll open up this great, new, exciting world for you.

[Shaun Williams]

I checked into that company and is this the type you were talking about? http://www.seattlefabrics.com/neoprene.html the MLC flotation foam? You're right it does seem a bit pricy on my budget but I am splitting the cost three ways...I'm just hoping the end price for all the materials isn't too high even with the split.

Its not that the book that I have leaves it unsaid. A friend has the book at the moment but I think for the most part the right leg was the leading leg in all the major stances (except the tail guard). Its just that some of the references I have contradict this. Do I have to wait until I have my sword made to realistically test which leg should be the lead leg?

I'd like to get first hand instruction somehow but that will be hard unless the person is in my immediate area. I'm going to iowa state university and don't always have access to a car. Perhaps on a weekend or something but again I'm not sure if there is even a person near me.

I've looked into applying for membership but I havn't gotten around it since exams have me bogged down but they're almost over and I can start getting serious about it.

[Will Adamson]

I believe that is what I use. Nobody I've sparred has been injured [maybe I'm not hitting hard enough (j/k)] so it must be the right stuff.

I seem to remember seeing a few new members listed in Iowa. There may be an old hat there recruiting some folks. I have no point of reference for Iowa geography (only been there once) so I don't know how far away they may be. But college towns are fertile recruiting grounds for this type of thing. Then again, they are also fertile grounds for SCA too.

As far as trying the stuff before getting equipment, use a wood dowel from one of the home improvement places that has been cut to the appropriate length. It won't be weighted correctly, but it'll get you started. I've noticed that most waster manufacturers take their sweet time getting the product to you (depends on how busy they are, schedule, vacations, etc,) but I got my New Stirling Arms one in about a week. I've never gotten anything from anyone in this business in a week! Add the fact that their wasters are tougher and more realistically balanced, and you have the markings of a great company.

Don't worry about real swords for a while. I'm still waiting to get my good one, but did manage to pick up a halfway decent MRL for not too bad of a price. It cuts milkjugs like butter! Not that that really means anything.

[Shaun Williams]

Well I'm holding off on buying the foam for the moment because I'm not sure if one of the two who I'm planning on sparring with knows he has to put up money for his sword. If anyone else has experience with another foam distributor I'd like to know so I can compare prices and such.

That's one of the reasons I posted, to see if there were any members in iowa around. I checked the study groups section and there were none in this state but I know there are a bunch of people who aren't part of a study group. I think we do have a decent SCA group on campus and I know I would feel restricted by the rules they have on their swords and who knows maybe there are a few that are too and they can come practice with us too.

My roomate does have a bambo kendo sword that I suppose I could use to practice for the time being. The problem is I'm worried about doing things wrong. If there is someone here near ISU but if there isn't I guess I'll have to use my best judgement.

[Kenneth Armstrong]

Well, I found this stuff here:

padded sword (kinda expensive)
http://store.sportswordstore.com/spgelo.html

modifying a bamboo sword
http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/equipment/ (scroll down to where it says SHINAI)

I have signed up for Historical Fencing classes at the Virginia Academy of Fencing, and they use modified Shinai for sparring. I'm still waiting on my approval to join ARMA (sent in my app about a month and a half ago), so this is what I will be doing in the meantime.

Hope this helps.

[Will Adamson]

Stay away from sportsword!! You might as well be fighting with a pool noodle.

A dowel will suffice until you have a waster, don't bother with a shinai because it is too light and doesn't have the same handling characteristics as a longsword...well any sword really.

I can't say anything about the historical fencing stuff because I have no information to go by, just be wary. Read the articles in the public part of the website on John and the other senior ARMA members' thoughts on study and the instructional industry. Also remember that everyone has their pet theories and they all basically disagree with each other most of the time. Take a look at Swordforum to see how petty they can be. That is actually kind of funny considering how sickeningly polite everyone appears on that forum.

Do a search on this forum for The Future of Western Martial Arts. There was quite a long thread regarding many of these issues not too long ago. It might actually still be on the first page since I made a posting not long ago.

[Kenneth Armstrong]

Not trying to hijack the thread here, and I do appreciate Will's words of warning, as you can never be too careful with whom you get instruction from (the fencing school I mean), just wanted to point out how I felt this group was legitimate enough to try to study with.

As for the Historical Fencing, it is taught here:

http://www.vafinc.com/index.htm

By this instructor: (Bill Grandy at the bottom)

http://www.vafinc.com/about/coaches.htm

He also seems to follow the same texts as ARMA, according to this (the same instructor authored this article):

http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_arms_gls.html

Also, these guys instruct regular(?) fencing, which I'm also interested in (the Sabre in particular, due to it's use of cut and thrust).

As I said, I'm still awaiting official approval to see if I am allowed in ARMA. I'm still in the DC area, so I can't train with ARMA DC unless I were official, and I wanted some type of formal training while I wait.

[Will Adamson]

Here is that thread.

http://www.thearma.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19475

If the link doesn't work for some reason, it's on page two right now.

It's kind of long, but worthwhile and alot of fun.

[Ben Strickling]

As I said, I'm still awaiting official approval to see if I am allowed in ARMA. I'm still in the DC area, so I can't train with ARMA DC unless I were official, and I wanted some type of formal training while I wait.

Hey Kenneth, don't feel like you need to wait for your ARMA application to be accepted to get started. If you're interested, we be glad to have you drop by our practices. We practice every Sat morning @ 9:30AM in Observatory Park in Great Falls, VA (there are directions on the ARMA DC webpage). Feel free to drop by and check us out, or send me a PM if you're interested.

--------------------------------
Ben Strickling
Study Group Leader, ARMA DC
www.armadc.com

[Shaun Williams]

Well I just sent out my ARMA application. How long does it usually take to process? I've seen people saying anywhere from 3-5 weeks.

Anyway I'm still holding out that there may be someone around iowa state university....or even someone I can drive to on the weekend that could show me the basics so I can build off that.

In the mean time is there an online source that shows the different types of steps like side step, passing step, triangle step, etc? I think I can find out which leg should be the lead leg by practicing but the book I have only shows the most basic of footwork.