Questions I have

[Kelten Sivola]

Hello,
This is my first time posting, just joined lastnight. My name is kelten Sivola and through my research I have found the ARMA website great site. I knew groups like this existed now I have proof. It has been a dream of mine to learn Medieval swordsmanship, sence I was about 8 years old. I never new how to go about my dream, now I have an idea.
I am intrested in joining ARMA, my problem is the area I live in. I live 246 miles north of San Francisco, close to the Oregon border. So my problem and question is, How do I go about this solo?
I have read almost everything I can find on the ARMA site, question is, If I join is there another site with more tranning material I will gain acess to.
Also I have ordered John's book on medieval swordsmanship, cain't wait tell it arrives, along with it I have ordered Medival Combat, don't rember authors name.

One more question, I woul like anyones comments on Blackforge Armory blades, My wife bought a 14th Century German 2 hand sword for me from them, just wanna know how good of a sword I am getting.

Thanks for liestening to my ramblings and treadding through my bad spelling.

Kelten Danann Sivola

[Mike Cartier]

Hi kelten
Yes you will gain access to the ARMA members side once you join ARMA and it has lots more cool info and training aids there.

That sword you have is no good, so its best to just send it to me as quickly as possible before you get discouraged with swordsmanship <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />
Just kidding have no clue about the sword.

Goodluck

[Brian Hunt]

Kelton,

Welcome. Always great to see new people. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

On training. Do you have a wooden waster (wooden sword)? I would reccomend getting one, or building one. When John's book arrives, start by practicing the footwork and the guards, along with the cuts listed in his book. This is a good place to start. I would also try to find a training partner to work out your displacements, voids, countercuts, etc. with. And the best thing you could do for your training is to make it to one of John's seminars, that is where things really came together for me.

Good luck, and happy sword swinging.

Brian Hunt.

[Belinda_Hertz]

Hi Kelten,
Welcome to the ARMA Forum. Once you become a ARMA member there is a members area with more in-depth training advice (including articles, manuals, photos and videos). This weekend at the ARMA International Gathering we had a number of people in attendence that had been practicing and training solo so I am sure they can offer some advice. We also currently have several members from various areas in California and Oregon. Also John Clements will be out in the Portland area on August 9, 2003 giving a longsword seminar. You might want to check out the seminar page at
http://www.armanortheast.com/poarma.htm

Belinda

[Shane Smith]

Welcome to the forum Kelten <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> While training alone can be very productive, I also highly recommend that you make a road trip to attend an ARMA 1.0 event as taught by John Clements.There is ultimately no real substitute for hands-on instruction but the steps you are taking already are a good start.Best wishes.

[Kelten Sivola]

Thanks for all the quick responses. On the wooden wasters I am looking into woodenweapons.com. A correction on the sword it's a Dacksword Armory bade, not Blackforge.