Postby ElizabethPangerl » Sat Nov 05, 2005 4:27 pm
You're a few months ahead of me; maybe you could let me know what sources have helped you in your training in the past few months.
As for me, I picked up John Clements's book on Medieval Swordsmanship a couple of years ago and was an occasional visitor to the ARMA website until last month, when I became a more regular visitor. These are both great places to start, but the thing I'd most strongly recommend is trying to get to an ARMA NTP 1.0. I went to the one in Appleton, Wisconsin in October 2005, and I wish I could go to a half-dozen more. There was so much information presented, and everyone else's enthusiasm is contagious. It's also inspiring to see how skilled others are and how effective the techniques are when used by more advanced students.
At this point, my beginner's study consists of trying to read the translations of the historical manuals (starting with Dobringer). Practice consists of basic fitness (running, weightlifting, Pilates), trying to get my guards and cuts straight, and occasionally doing touch/press drills with my husband. We have the New Stirling Arms wasters and think they're great. I marked my waster with painter's tape to designate my leading edge, and the weak, middle, and strong areas. Ideally, I'd love to find others to form a study group in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
As a woman, it can feel like going against conditioning to hit others and others (especially men) may initially hesitate to hit you. I have a lot of trouble with attacking in earnest, using a non-padded weapon against an unarmored opponent, even if I've just got a waster. At the Appleton NTP 1.0, John Clements had to really encourage me to cut at him in earnest despite the fact that he could knock me over with one stroke. This is still a struggle when I cut against empty air, so I was planning on getting a pell or putting up some sandbags to strike at. Any thoughts with regard to pells?
Elizabeth Pangerl
ARMA - Twin Cities (Minnesota)
