Beginer help?!?!

[JeffreyHendricks]

hi all... im new to "fencing/sword play" actually....ive been sword fighting some with homemade wooden swords made from youpon ...i'd like some book recomendations (in english please) or thread links from the past on the basics of fighting....im pretty sure ya'll dont just whack each other wildly ,right? ive got a copy of "old sword-play"...but its greek to me... id like to get some basic help on terms and things.


thanks


JH

[Jaron Bernstein]

There are some very cool ARMAteers in Texas who can help if ye are around Houston (or can get there).

[Jeremy Martin]

Where in East Texas are you? Theres no group here, but I live near the extreme east side of Texas.

[Jay Vail]

There are now many useful books published interpreting the historical texts for modern martial artists -- so many in fact, that it is hard to know where to start. However, I recommend Medieval Swordsmanship, by John Clements, and Sigmund Ringeck’s Knightly Art of the Longsword as good places to begin. Both are available from Paladin Press and can be bought on its website. "Old Sword Play" is interesting, but less helpful to learning the fundamentals. These two books will help you get a jump on the fundamentals.

The ARMA website also has many important articles describing the basics of Medieval longsword fencing that you should print out and study.

Books are usually not enough to master this complex and fascinating art, however. You should find a qualified instructor, someone with real experience who has learned fencing the ARMA way. Be careful whom you choose as a teacher. Many people in the martial arts, including sadly this field, inflate their qualifications. Especially beware of anyone who considers himself a “master” or allows his students to refer to him in this manner.

[JeffreyHendricks]

i live in lufkin.....jeremy

[Jeremy Martin]

Not too far away. I live in Logansport, LA. It's near Joaquin, TX and about 30 mins or so from Center.

[Jake_Norwood]

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and contradict something that someone said, but probably not what they meant.

"You should find a qualified instructor, someone with real experience who has learned fencing the ARMA way"

It would be nice, sure, but I never really had one and now I am one. Yes, you'll want to get to an offical seminar or workshop. yes, you'll want to spend some time training with other ARMA folks. But, you can learn alot more from a book than folks normally give it credit. It only works, though, if you get out every day (every-single-day) and swing a sword. Practice practice practice. Film yourself, make careful observations and comparisons to the videos on this site, and integrate your own findings. Find like-minded, martially-minded people to train with, and don't settle for less than twice a week.

Jake

[Gene Tausk]

Agree with Jake completely on this one.

And, to take it a step further, I am more than convinced that if someone wants to learn real fighting skills in general, he or she can buy a video/dvd of a martial art, get together with like minded friends and train hard. 95% of the time you will learn more about actual fighting than by joining a commercial McDojo. You may need special training for certain skills, such as tumbling.

Oh, but wait, that means that you don't have to spend $150 a month to belong to a karate club.

Something must be wrong with my logic........

<img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />


---------------&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;gene tausk
SFS
Study Group Leader - Houston ARMA Southside

[JeffGentry]

Hey Gene

Oh, but wait, that means that you don't have to spend $150 a month to belong to a karate club.

Hey that mean's you have $150 a month to get a waster buy a helmet, maybe get a heavy bag or grappling dummy, padded glove's, buy a couple Fechtbuch's, and find a like minded person you can beat up on and someone to beat up on you, and you could save some to go out of town to an NTP.

sound's good to me.


Jeff

[Jake_Norwood]

Hey...that's a good strategy... a monthly ARMA budget, based on the fact that membership is so inexpensive...

And it is, folks. I'm a card-carrying member even while deployed in Iraq. The ARMA goes where I go!

Jake

[Jeff Hansen]

<img src="/forum/images/icons/frown.gif" alt="" /> I didn't get a card to carry. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Shane Smith]

I got a card to carry when I joined but it says HACA I think. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />