Presenting his royal Newnessitude...

[Darrin_S_Knode]

...Darrin Knode!

Hi there! Im a new or beginning or to be student of medieval/european martial arts. I am having alot of trouble finding others in my area interested ARMA members in my area.

Another problem i have... WHERE DO I START!!?!?! <img src="/forum/images/icons/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" /> is it just me or does the task of becoming a student in this feild seem daunting and full of directions? in which direction should i step first?

any help at all would be appreciated

Darrin
(Hagerstown MD / Washington DC)

[David Kite]

Welcome, Darrin!

Are you an ARMA member? Or are you interested in becoming one? Everything you really need to know about ARMA is of course found on the home page. If you havenb't looked there yet, I'd start with Method, FAQ, Practice, and National Training Program, and go from there.

There are also all kinds of books out there, most of which can be found in Research and Reading, and New Book Reviews.

It also kind of depends on what weapon(s) you're interested in.

If it's rapier (for thrusting fence) I'm afraid I can't help you much except to recommend John Clements' book "Rennaisance Swordsmanship" as an excellent starting place, and there are also several essays found in the Articles and Essays section. I've read these (as well as the following books I've listed), so these are the only ones I can personally recommend. Beyond this, you're at someone else's mercy.

If it' longsword, there's also John's "Medieval Swordsmanship," as well as David Lindholm's "Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword," and a wonderful translation of Joachim Meyer at www.schielhau.org . Meyer is also a great place to start, because not only is he a period source, but he really starts you at and takes you through the basics.

Beyond that, get a sword (or preferably a waster if you're a beginner <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) and get outside and start swinging. Begin with the basic guards (stances), strikes and thrusts, and footwork. Everything else builds from those, so be sure you learn and practice them well.

Oh yeah! Get to a seminar asap, too!

Hope this is helpful.

David Kite
ARMA in IN

[Darrin_S_Knode]

im not a member of arma but im interested in becoming a member
and as far as what im interested in learning... a host of things! spear, axe, longsword, but primarily a sword and shield (viking-esque).
but um, i cant seem to find where the seminars are or how i can attend or whatever on the website... can you give/send me a link?
thx

[Randall Pleasant]

Darrin wrote:
I can't seem to find where the seminars are or how i can attend or whatever on the website... can you give/send me a link?

If at all possible try to make the ARMA Southern Knights event in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 28th &amp; 29th. The event will also include classes for non-members. Of course, if you join by that time you will be able to attend all of the classes. Hope to see you there.

[Brian Hunt]

Hi Darrin,

you might want to look at Hank Rheinhardt's video on viking sword and shield, and I would re-reccomend John Clements medieval swordmanship where you have a interest in sword and shield. Also you might want to look at the I33, which is a wonderful sword and buckler resource as well as the oldest known manual. Jeffery Forgeng has a pretty nice translation you can purchase.

Here is the link for ARMA seminars http://www.thearma.org/houston/Seminars.htm . Welcome to the forum. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

hope that helps.

Brian Hunt.

[Darrin_S_Knode]

Jake_Norwood stated in another post that he had started 2 arma study groups from scratch. How? ciould I do this? or would i need to be more experienced and such. Could me and a group of friend interested in this start a group together even though we know jack squat? <img src="/forum/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

Another thing... Are there ever any seminars on the east coast? I am a college student and that being said im often strapped for time and cash <img src="/forum/images/icons/frown.gif" alt="" /> which makes travel hard.

What is the WMA? another group like ARMA?

im sorry for having so many questions... but hey im new! <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Brian Hunt]

Hi Darrin,

The starting of an ARMA study group involves three or more people applying to become an official study group. You can get more details about that at the home page of the ARMA web site under joining/membership. Jake may chime in here, but the hard part for me is getting people to commit so we can get in an application and become an official study group here in Price.

As for knowledge, it is earned through sweat, study, practice, and tears, but hopefully not blood. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Having someone to workout with is always an advantage to the learning curve, it is one thing to read about a bind from a zornhauw, it is quite another to actually do a bind from a zornhauw with a partner. You learn much more from actually experiencing something than just visualizing it.

Yes, there are seminars that take place on the east coast. I believe the International Event will be held in New York. In Febuary, even though it is not on the east coast, the Southern Knights Event will be held in New Orleans, and there will be others. Keep an eye on the schedule here on the website, and plan for one.



WMA stands for Western Martial Arts. ARMA studies WMA, there are other groups and individuals who do so as well. WMA is used to differentiate from Asian or Eastern Martial Arts (EMA).

Hope that helps.

Brian Hunt.

[Jake_Norwood]

Hi Darren.

Somewhere on my desk I have a half-finished article about this meant for the ARMA members page. But don't remind John...

As a college student you actually have a *huge* advantage in setting up a study group. It's how I set up my first group (which, in truth, was left to me by Robert Hyatt, but when he left there was only myself and the guy that I had recruited, Stew Feil, and a guy that Stew had recruited...so I guess I started it. Either way Stew and I built it up to 20+ members in about two years, so you can too!).

The easiest thing to do is ask specific questions, or call me. If you want to call me then email me at kuba_norwood@hotmail.com and put "ARMA Study Group Qs" in the subject line so that I don't delete it by mistake, I'll send you my phone number then by email.

Jake