The problem i have is basicly just with rule's if someone attack's me i fight to win there are no rule's, when rule's are attached it limit's the technique's used, and sometime's alter's the way technique's are done so they are "safe", so people become more interested in winning in competion as opposed to learning how to use the technique as it was originaly intended to harm your opponent, I think part of the reason we see injury on a very regular basis when we train is because we use the technique's as they were intended and they are intended to kill, maim, we can try to make thing's safe as we can that safety can only to a certain degree, most people are afraid of getting hurt and so they want a martial art to be safe(harmless) for them.
I do think eventualy HEMA will become more popular than it has been, look at the last ten year's, and alot will teach it "safely", i doubt it will become as popular as any AMA becasue i don't see alot of people teaching it with the flash of say Wu shu and alot of people think it doesn't work if it has no flash because it doesn't look dangerous to an untrained person, a first strike kill isn't real impressive to most people.
I realy doubt what we in ARMA do in training will ever be competitive/mainstream because we don't water anything down and don't want to, if you make a mistake against an ARMA opponent you are more than likely too feel pain and maybe get yourself hurt.
Brian
Still, it might be fun to hold an occasional prize tourney in ARMA once in a great while.
I have had that same thought on more than one occasion, Might be something to do at an international gathering.(hint, hint)
Jeff
