Looking for training partners in Western Washington

[Ken Dietiker]

I know this is not a discussion point, or a training question, but I didn't know where else to post this.

I am looking for people who want to practice in my area. If you are located anywhere near Seattle, Tacoma or Olympia (and surrounding areas), and have been looking for someone to practice and study with, I will make arrangments to get to, or near, your location and pratice with you.

I live in Tacoma and I am an ARMA member. But you don't have to live in Tacoma or be a member yourself. Just tell me where you are and how to contact you, I will do my best to do the rest.

Cheers!
Ken Dietiker

[Benjamin Smith]

I'm a Grad Student at WSU I know that's not quite as close as Portland but if you ever get out this way I hold practices on Saturdays.

[Ken Dietiker]

Thanks Ben,

I suppoe that some day I'll have to come out your way. I think it would be fun to meet up sometime. However, at the moment, I don't have thime or resources for that long a trip.

I do how ever love the WSU pages on Medieval Europe. Great reading and very informative. I learned some things I did not see anywhere else yet and to find something like that online was a pleasant surprise. I know you didn't have anything to do with it as it's old (1999?), but are you in this program?

Cheers!
Ken

[Benjamin Smith]

I'm in the Public History program I just started this term. Medieval history required Latin, and Italian, French, or German, and all I know of those pertains to martial arts, but I'm trying to learn Latin so I can delve into Pietro Monte with my Spanish, but I do know Dr. Gough our Medieval Europe expert, and we're getting a new professor specializing in Rennaisance Europe this next year. I'm hoping to come out to western WA in the summer and tour my old mission field a little, maybe we can meet up then? Send me a email so we can coordinate it sometime. Also the Portland group may have another seminar and we could meet up and ride down for it.

I'll PM my email to you

[Michael Bjornson]

Hello Ken,

I live in Federal Way, but I'm currently recovering from a shoulder injury. It may be a couple of months or longer before I'm up to snuff.

Assuming I ever recover, it might be nice to stir up some interest in the South Sound. Please do keep me posted.

-Mike

[Ken Dietiker]

Hi Michael,

I'm very glad to hear from you. Welcome to the club.

Don't worry too much about needing time to recover from your injury. Though things are moving forward, they do so at a snail's pace. I have one very interested person already, two who want to know more but strugle to find the time, and one other who is also on the injured lit with a badly sprained ankle who, in my opinion, will most likely be one of those now-and-then sorts. Truth is, if you really are serious, I believe then we could have at least three of us to start with, which is a hell of a lot better than it was when it was only me.

True, I think it would be cool to put the South Sound on the map and show those upitty folk to the north that we're not just some suburb of Seattle.

I PM'ed you a message with my normal email address. I also have started a yahoo group for keeping in touch locally, if you want to join.

Cheers!
Ken

[Will Adamson]

I'll be out your way this spring! Are you currently holding regular meetings?

[Ken Dietiker]

I'll be out your way this spring! Are you currently holding regular meetings?

Hi Will,

We are having meetings, sort of. Right now it's just the basics with a few interested individuals. People who have found my carefuly posted fliers and forum messages. I do the pitch mostly, on ARMA and HES in general, but I think I've hooked a couple already, and one is bringing some more "interested" individuals out on Friday. I am also holdig a meet on Sunday with a more experienced WMA practitioner (also named Will), and we'll be doing some test ctting with his new Atrim blade. Other than that, it's the fundamentals of grappling, dagger and sword, working on guard positions, footwork and basic cuts. We do not currently have anyone of senior level around, and it's just me as an associate ARMA member holding the fort.

However, this has all sort of taken off over the past two months, and at this rate, we should be holding regular meetings and sendfing out membership applications to John by the time Spring comes around. So, you're more than welcome to come over when you're in town. Just give me a push when you have a deate and all, I'm sure we will be having something going on by then.

Keep me updated,
Cheers!
Ken

[Mike Richings]

Howdy Ken,

I'd be interested in joining the group you've got going; although I don't live down in Tacoma/South Sound, I could probably make it down there for group meetings. Let me know when you guys are meeting up, and I'll make sure that my schedule is clear.

As far as my experience is concerned, I have none .

Take care,

Mike

[Ken Dietiker]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the message. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but my Internet connection was down the past week. Now that everything is working again, I want to welcome you to the Tacoma Area study group. Just to let you know, it's not an official ARMA group as yet. We're still very young and working on getting some members so we can put it together.

We do have a member living in Seattle, so when we're not meeting as a whole, I'm sure you two can work together on things up there. Write to me at the address below and I'll get you two connected.

You can reach us at <ARMA_tac*at*yahoogroups.com> (change the *at* to @ ).

Cheers!

Ken Dietker
ARMA Tacoma

[Matt_Conner]

Home for me is the Seattle/Tacoma area, although I get back there far too seldom. I'm currently stationed in Panama City, Florida, and have "join ARMA" on my never ending list of things to do, even though the closest training groups are a good distance away from me.

Perhaps next time I'm back home on leave, I'll have a spare day I can look your group up on.