Hello. A little new here.

[Dylan Harrell]

Hi, I just recently discovered ARMA and I must say that I'm a little surpsrised an association like this exists. I like in Elk City, OK so maybe that is why I haven't heard of it before.

I don't have much experience with swordplay, but living out on a farm, I've used machetes, hand axes, and knives all my life - just not against people. I've also learned some unarmed and bayonet techniques from the Army (I'm currently in the National Guard).

I've always been interested in medieval weaponry and swordplay and I wish to learn more. I think it will be worthwhile to turn my lumberjack techniques into an art form!

As I said I live in Elk City, OK about two hours west of OKC. I was wondering if there might be anyone close by or even a group I could participate with.

[Sal Bertucci]

Well, we have a member in Ok City. That might be a bit far for regular travel, but it would be good to go occasionally and get help points. You might have to start off solo if you are really interested in this, but ARMA has drills and other helps for solo members. It can be challenging, but there is no reason why you can't progress by yourself. I did it, so it is doable. How much do you want to do this?

Sal Bertucci
Scholar Adept

[Dylan Harrell]

I have my whole heart into this. It's something in which I hold many reasons toward - those being mostly personal.

But to hold a martial art from history that hardly anyone in our present world knows about is really a reward in itself. I really want to do this.

[Jonathan Newhall]

I agree with the reasoning on that one, Dylan. Swordsmanship today is not only challenging physically and mentally, but also a disturbingly fun hobby if you don't mind getting whacked now and again.

A membership to a group like ARMA and/or its contemporaries would really help, I think, in letting you know what you are supposed to be doing. Just keep in mind that some of the Western Martial Arts communities are a bit, erm, well let's say "dodgy" in terms of their validity. Think McDojo, like our old friend the fat man with a halberd (go find the thread with the most pages in the recent history, lots of stuff on him there, but I won't go into that).

Self-progress, though, I have to say is going to be both arduous and slow at first and won't really pick up for a while. I know my first week and a half was just trying to get footwork down, which while interesting, was admittedly not a lot of visible progress! Listen to Sal, he trained alone for a while and knows more about it than I do now or ever will :p


Also, don't get too fooled - a lumberjack's swing and a swordsman's swing are rarely the same, and the weight of the implements are distributed very differently. As an aside, never try to use a sword to chop wood even if you're an expert in chopping wood - it won't work.

[Dylan Harrell]

Ha. I did indeed see that thread. And know that my belonging to the army keeps my fitness and discipline in check, so any validity would be taken seriously on my part.