Any training groups/schools in South Florida?

[coryzamparelli]

Okay so I have been trying to teach myself Longsword alone (2 hands) and Sword and Rotella because I have become extremely interested in HEMA and it has become a very fond passion of mine. I have learned quite a bit but not enough to ever go up against someone. So I decided I need to train under a master and learn from experience as apposed to trying to teach myself from reading many documents from questionable sources and only have a Pel.

So are there any groups or schools here in South Florida that teach the Italian or Bolognese (Dardi) schools of combat? I am mainly trying to learn Longsword alone, Sword and Rotella, and if this is available, Sword and Shield (I know Sword and Rotella is sword and shield but all I've seen for sword and Rotella is with a rapier and round shield where I'm using a Bastard sword with a small heater which was used around the early/mid 15th century.)

[Stacy Clifford]

I'm not sure who's in south Florida these days, but in ARMA we don't believe any modern practitioner deserves to use the title of "Master" or "Maestro," including our own Director, and I think it would be a mistake to train under anybody who claims to be one. Many of us can rightfully call ourselves teachers, but we are also all still students of a very recently revived art. There are other threads on this subject in more detail you could search for, so I won't belabor the point, but the use of that term is a bit of a pet peeve around here.

[John Farthing]

Hello Cory,

I grew up in South Florida (Broward County)! Although I no longer live in Florida, to the best of my knowledge there are sadly no groups there which are focusing on the Italian tradition.

While I know all too well the frustrations of trying to study this craft alone, you seem to be enthusiastic and passionate about the subject. Have you considered looking into submitting a membership application to the ARMA? This would allow you the opportunity to take advantage of the ARMA's Member Training Programs and other resources that might be of tremendous help in both helping you learn the art and in staying motivated!

While I can also understand (and I certainly respect) the desire to focus soley on the Martial Arts of Italian pedigree, I would encourage you to not pass up the opportunity to learn from the other Mediæval/Renaissance sources if you have the chance. You will find that during that period, the Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe being practiced in Italy have much more similarities to the arts being practiced elsewhere in Europe than differences!

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck and hope you will continue your quest to learn all that you can about this subject!

[coryzamparelli]

@Stacy. I understand completely what you are saying, all I meant was I was looking for someone who was more knowledgeable on the subject to help me further my skill in HEMA, so I apologize for the mistake haha, I am quite new to this so I was unaware of that being a peeve (which makes sense though).

@John. That cool! I'm in Port Saint Lucie. Well to start yes I have, and want to join ARMA but the issue is I don't have any income at the moment but I'm hoping towards the end of the year that I will have a job so I can become a member of ARMA. As for the schools, I am focusing on The Italian School at the moment but that is just what I wish to learn and better myself in right now. I am very interested in many different styles and types of martial arts and I am very interested in European Martial Arts over all, it's just that I am very dedicated and set on bettering in The Italian Tradition first.

[Bart Bartley II]

Instead of making a new thread, since I live in South Florida, I'll just post in this one. I'm situated in the southernmost Florida Keys, it takes a while to drive to the mainland and I don't know anybody here who practices martial arts of any kind. I have resorted to using one of the palm trees in my yard as a pell, it actually works rather nicely for that.

I'm not asking you guys to look for anybody for me, but if anybody who is reading this lives near Key West, well, that's where I'm at.

I like all historical European swords, and the various styles involved in their use. Longsword is my preference, but anything is fine in my book.

On a side note, it's nice to meet all of you. I'm obviously new here, but I've been studying HEMA for a couple years now and ARMA is my favorite source of learning material.

[J. Scott Steflik]

This Training Partner/Group Finder has nearly all the known HEMA groups listed. There are no ARMA groups in S. Fl., but there are a number of other groups in S. Fl. and throughout the state. Most seem to focus on the German material, both the later Meyer manual and the earlier tradition.