Joel Norman wrote:Randall,
I've seen Hugh Knight's blog before and did not know that he was anti-ARMA specifically, but I kind of figured that out by reading between the lines. I am curious, though, regarding some books that he has published, I think on Longsword, Wrestling, Dagger, and Sword-and-Buckler. Is anyone out there familiar with these books at all? Is there any value to them (good translations if not interpretations, images, etc)? The cover images are from fechtbucher, but as they say, even the devil can quote scripture for his own purposes. . . (I'm only joking there, I don't know the man personally so I make no judgements about his character).
Joel
I all honesty I must say that I don't think any of the books by Hugh Knight will have any value for an ARMA members. My understanding is that Hugh has not done any significant translations. In regard to Hugh's interpretations it all falls way way short of the interpretations of John Clements and other ARMA's senior scholars. Hugh's real problem is that he is openly against any type of sparring because he says it leads to "bad habits". Remember that for ARMA the recreation process of these lost arts is composed of Translation, Interpretation, and Application. Application forms a feedback loop with interpretation. Without sparring Hugh has no form of application, thus he has no way to test his interpretations. Since even really bad interpretations work at slow speed he, like may others, easily mis-leads himself in regard to what is or is not a good interpretation. This is a general problem seen in groups that either don't spar or only engage in light sparring.
As with any martial art, those of us looking for insturction either in person or in writing must judge instructors based not only on their abilities to quote other people and documents but also upon their present and/or past abilities to put knowledge of that martial art into realistic martial practice. In other words, students need teachers who don't just talk the talk but who can in the present or have in the past walked the walk. Given Hugh's current physical condition I must strongly doubt his ability to walk the walk in both the present and the past. I'm very out of shape myself so I know very well its limitations, and I'm probably about 100 to 150 pounds lighter than Hugh.
