Some Specific Questions from a New Beginner

[Sal Bertucci]

I'll PM you, this is a sencitive subject and while you deserve anwers, it could quickly degenerate into a flame war, and no one wants that.

[Randall Pleasant]

I'll PM you, this is a sencitive subject and while you deserve anwers, it could quickly degenerate into a flame war, and no one wants that.

Sal

Neither you or I speek for ARMA. Therefore I strongly suggest that you do not discuss those issues with Daniel. Regardless of what any ex-members put up on the internet those issues are internal to ARMA. If anyone outside of ARMA wants information about those issue then they should contact either John Clements or Aaron Pynenberg. Plus, Daniel has been on this forum for 5 years and is still just thinking of joining ARMA? How does that equal Daniel "deserving" an answer?


Daniel

Someone wanting to join ARMA does so because they want to learn RMA. If someone has doubts about joining ARMA then they probably should follow those doubts.

[Shane Smith]

Another question for all of you as I consider membership --

I am not pointing fingers, as much as trying to understand the take of those still in ARMA, specifically this:

http://paulushectormair.blogspot.com/20 ... xodus.html

and
http://paulushectormair.blogspot.com/se ... 20Politics

There are a lot of accusations there, some of which are relevant to me and some of which aren't. Regardless, before I associate myself with an organization I would really like to hear the views of those who did NOT leave, and why they didn't. The posts from the ex-arma people are riddled with bitterness, which could easily account for possible exaggeration.

Thanks again for being so helpful thus far!

ps the joining the forum in 2004 was due to a project i was undertaking to make my own padded sparring swords... i was not really into undertaking a discipline at the time. i just liked swords. it has since progressed quite a bit, obviously

A post such as the above is arguably off-topic for this forum, but since I think the question raised is an important one, I will answer with candor.

I am one of those Senior Members of this organization who didn't go anywhere. I have my own reasons for staying just as the men who left had their own for leaving.

Some of the folks who left did so after being called out for having non-members training within their ARMA sessions after a request to stop doing so. That is true. I have seen the evidence and the men who left chose their own path. If they are angry, it is of their own doing in my opinion.

Now, some other men left over differences of opinion in the way the group should move forward and what direction the curriculum should take. I spoke with some of these guys and I must say I do respect them highly. I hold all of our SFS's(past and present) in high regard. I even shared many of their concerns and told them as much. I will defend the integrity of those men to this day against anyone.

That said, the SFS's and other senior students who remain are also held by me in the highest regard. Many good men left, and many good men stayed. I hate to see men I consider my brothers in our craft go their own way, but such is life. Everyone has their own path to personal exceptionalsim and achievement that they feel compelled to walk.

I stayed because I really do believe that the ARMA method and approach is the best organizational path to personal exceptionalism and development to be had in our craft...just as it has been for the almost ten years I've been a member...The SFS's who left and those who remain bear my opinion out via their exceptional skills.

I think there are guys out there doing good work in the field outside our membership and anyone who tells you otherwise is a fool. Still, we are the 800 pound gorilla of RMA for good reason. We have a history of extensive ground-breaking developments in-house that no-one else has and that has led to important discoveries being made that have both improved our ability to apply historically accurate techniques in a martially effective manner,and allowed us to teach our Scholars an ever expanding core of principles that really does create the finest Swordsmen in the world.

Any of the SFS's who left are fine Swordsmen...they would not have earned that title of honor and achievement otherwise. They developed that exceptional skill here as my fellow Scholars within ARMA. The exceptional skill of the Free Scholars, Scholar Adepts and Scholars that are now counted among our membership also bears out our organization- wide culture of exceptionalism and personal excellence.

I urge anyone to do their own research and choose the organization that most fully meets their needs. I chose to stay with ARMA because as far as I'm concerned, there really is no one else turning out such high quality, martially capable Swordsmen on the world wide basis we're able to. I also have an awful lot of good friendships made here among our membership and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

*My reply is my honest opinion only. It does not represent the official position of ARMA in any way. I have given only one man's opinion.

[Shane Smith]

I will watch this topic closely. Any trolling or flaming will be dealt with decisively.

[danielcarcich]

I'll PM you, this is a sencitive subject and while you deserve anwers, it could quickly degenerate into a flame war, and no one wants that.

Sal

Neither you or I speek for ARMA. Therefore I strongly suggest that you do not discuss those issues with Daniel. Regardless of what any ex-members put up on the internet those issues are internal to ARMA. If anyone outside of ARMA wants information about those issue then they should contact either John Clements or Aaron Pynenberg. Plus, Daniel has been on this forum for 5 years and is still just thinking of joining ARMA? How does that equal Daniel "deserving" an answer?


Daniel

Someone wanting to join ARMA does so because they want to learn RMA. If someone has doubts about joining ARMA then they probably should follow those doubts.

Randall,

No reason for the hostilities. In actuality, anyone within ARMA cannot be barred legally from speaking their own view of what happened.

That said, I am not trying to accuse ARMA or JC or anyone of anything. I simply asked for an explanation from someone who can give it. The facts that an exodus happened seem to be undeniable. Currently, I have only the reasons behind it from one obviously biased and bitter perspective (the ex-arma people).

You say that I should follow those doubts, and I am. I have gone to the source (ARMA itself) and requested an explanation. This isn't really all that unreasonable. I would not go so far as to say I "deserve" a response, but I am considering putting my name next to ARMA and representing it if I were to become a member. Wanting to know the truth of such a matter before associating myself with it is fair as far as I can see.

As to my long history on the forum, you can easily do a search and see I was busy with other things for the last five years. I have come back to my love of swords now and thus I return here. It makes sense

Please understand I have no animosity or bitterness nor pre-bias in any direction. I simply wanted to hear what happened... Whether that be from JC himself or members of this forum.

[edit]

I should add, I really have no desire to start a flame war or bring up old evils and bitterness or whatever. I was just looking for an honest assessment of what happened if at all possible. If it's too much trouble or if this is the wrong medium I'd be happy to take it to PMs and/or emails with the appropriate people. Sorry for any possible trouble!

[/edit]

[danielcarcich]

Shane,

Many thanks for being so candid about it. This is exactly the sort of non-flaming assessment I was looking for.

[Randall Pleasant]

Daniel

I did not intent any hostilities to you and I'm sorry that it appeared so. I do understand that you have reasons for waiting to join ARMA but regardless of the nature or validity of those reasons I must disagree with Sal in regard to you "deserving" an answer. Simply, no one outside of ARMA deserves an answer. Personally, I do not think of what happen earlier this year as an exodus. As with any organization, people come and go, nothing strange or unusual.

[Stacy Clifford]

I agree with most of what Shane said, which is about as well as it can be said (as usual for Shane). I think the thing you have to keep in mind when entering this subject (through any organization, not just ARMA) is that by its very nature it attracts a lot of strong personalities. When strong personalities are united it's a mighty union indeed, but when they clash, they also clash strongly. Shane and Randall and I have been around long enough to see that union and strife go in cycles, and although the last year has been a rough one, our international gathering a month ago was proof enough that there are a lot of great people - scholars, fighters and friends - still in ARMA to make it worth belonging to. I'll miss those who left and I'm sorry some have such hard feelings, but they made their decision and I made mine, and I think our attention is best focused on the future.

[danielcarcich]

Randall and Stacy,

I think we're all on the same page... once again thanks for being honest on things I don't _really_ have a right to be requesting, heh.

And now for something completely different (I still would welcome any feedback as to the other thing, if you feel its warranted, etc).

A couple more other questions for the general populace:

a) I am 6'5" tall. What would be appropriate dimensions for a longsword for me?

b) Since I started sparring with one 1-2 times a week for an hour or two at a time it is possible I am causing some slow damage to my wrist... That is to say, I have been feeling some pain when I bend my hand downwards, specifically my right hand (I am right sided I guess you could say) in the joint where the palm meets my forearm. I feel like it could be overuse and/or some sort of bad form that is making my hand do motions it shouldn't. Any thoughts?

[Sal Bertucci]

Hard to say without actually looking at it. I would recommend finding strikes that make it hurt, and not doing them until it heals up.

Going up a bit, Maybe I was over-zealous with my comments. I'd like to apologize to anyone I've offended, and have them know that wasn't my intention. Just trying to be helpful.

[Jonathan Newhall]

Eh, I've been weighing the pros and cons of membership here for about a year at this point, and I for one will be submitting my application after a long period of wondering as soon as I have funds and free time to use the stuff it gets me. So take that as you will in regards to time scale for making a decision. Wouldn't want to join a group and appear a fool, after all, though this is almost certainly not the case given what I've gathered about ARMA.

Anyway, from the outside looking in, all I can tell about this "exodus" is that some people disagreed with the upper management and took off. Better not to stick together if you don't get along about things and refuse to come to a compromise regardless of what it is, I think, less headaches for everyone as long as people don't hold grudges. Though honestly I was thinking about asking about this myself before I pledged my time and money to ARMA, so it's certainly not a concern Daniel shouldn't have.


Regardless, in response to the question about longsword dimensions, a longsword only really has a set size. After you get any bigger you're going to start turning into a great sword. Basically grab one with a blade slightly longer than three feet (maybe about 40 inches) and a handle of about ten inches (incl. pommel) and that should fit you more or less fine. The waster I'm using now has a blade length of around 38 inches and a handle length of ten inches and it is just the tiniest bit oversized for my six foot frame (though I'm sure I could grow used to it), so I think it'd probably fit you just fine.

[danielcarcich]

The classic "doctor, it hurts when I do this." "So don't do that, numbskull." hehe.

Johnathon,

That is the approximate length of what I have now. The thing that made me question it was a brief paragraph on the ARMA north siders study site:

Sword Length - One size does not fit all! Longswords and bastard swords (both large swords designed to be used with one or both hands) need to be fitted to the person. Ideally, the sword should extend from the ground to breast level, with shorter being better than longer. If the sword is too long, it will hit the ground during techniques, while a waster six inches shorter than ideal will work fine.

It was followed by that picture. Given my height, the typical 38-40" blade and 10" hilt is "good" but not "ideal" by that standard. Thoughts people?

[Shane Smith]

I'm 6'3" and a 48" long sword works fine for me. I think sometimes folks get Great Sword and Longsword mixed up. I have a Great Sword too, and it is not used in the same manner as the Longsword.

[Sal Bertucci]

I'm in the "travel size" category, so I can't give you much advice, but it would be easier for you to go to a longer sword from a shorter one, then vice versa.

[CalebSlagle]

Sorry to come on to this late.

If any of you on the forum are bothered by the kinds of accusations made by those who left ARMA and want to ask questions from someone who knows a lot about what happened please feel free to contact me on this forum by sending me a private message. I will take some time to reply to your questions.

Be aware that some (not all) of the ex-members will try and ridicule John Clements. Be careful and weary of those, John is a lot of things but his character and motivations are pure and transparent (regardless of if you agree with him or not.)