Hello all -- interested in starting: South Alabama

[Ben Crowell]

Hi folks. I'm in South Alabama and interested in starting working with, learning about Medieval Swordfighting techniques.

I have several years in Karate and Tai-Kwan-Do, but they're not exactly what I've been looking for. Since I was 7 or 8 years old I've felt a special "draw" to the sword, and to the period, and I've only just found out about ARMA. There's no SCA group down my way, but to be honest, I've always found SCA more in line with some odd type of "overlay" onto the rest of the region (world?), with their dutchies, baronies, and selecting a "persona", so it just seems something more like a fringe LARP thing to me. It seems SCA tries to "take themselves back" to that era.

I'm interested in the science, the history, the beliefs, and the men and carrying forward their art and their teachings to a new age. I want to bring that forward.

I'm in Andalusia, Alabama - I already have several swords, a Scottish Claymore, a general purpose broadsword - something around an Oakeshott XIII if I had to hazard a guess, and a myriad of katanas, which, while elagant, just aren't my spirit.

Please let me know what I need to do from here to get started. I don't have anyone nearby me that I know of who could train with me, so I fear I'll be going it alone. I had planned to put out some flyers at the local college and maybe some announcements around here at work to see if I could round up a couple others to train with. Perhaps even some of my old karate partners, although nearly everyone else has long since left the area for larger cities.

[Jeff Hansen]

Hi Ben,
The nearest people to you are John Bentley in Mobile, and Ray McCullough in the Montgomery area, who is also just getting started.
Look at the "getting started" section on the ARMA webpage. And, I would suggest making the effort to get to a 1.0 seminar or meet with an experienced member as soon as you can to help get you started on the right track.
I am planning on getting together with Ray in Montgomery on a, hopefully, semi-regular basis. PM me if you are interested in trying to make it to a training session.
Welcome to the wonderful world of rennaisance martial arts. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Ben Crowell]

Thanks guys. For what it's worth -- Andalusia is (roughly) mid-way or so between Mobile and Montgomery, and I own 50 acres of land, mostly flat field area, but with some woodlands too if anyone would like to meet out here. I'm not sure where Pelham is.

[Brian Hunt]

Hi Ben,

If you can get together with Jeff, he will really be able to get you jump started. You will be able to learn a lot from him.

Good luck.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Jeff Hansen]

Pelham is just south of Birmingham.

[Ben Crowell]

I'm mailing in my membership request today.

I've got a couple of old Shinais, but they're both beat to *(*&amp; and back so I'm ordering a waster or two.

I'll send you a PM Jeff with my contact info. Depending on when you guys meet in Montgomery I'd like to make it, however my schedule can be a bit tricky.

Every other weekend I have my son from my prior marriage, and my (new) wife and I are expecting her first, and our first baby together now. She's 23 weeks along, and has me pretty busy around the house right now.

But if you guys let me know when and where, I'll try and make it up there when I can.

[Ray_McCullough]

Hey Ben

We'll try to meet in Montgomery on the 15 of April. We are going to meet the 1st in Pelham. Im just getting started myself.

Hope to train with you soon.

[Ben Crowell]

What time are you guys going to meet on the 15th in Montgomery? I have a conference in Andalusia that day from 1pm - 5pm that day.

If it's sometime early that morning I could probably make it, but I'd have to leave Montgomery by around 11:00 am to make it back in time.

[Ray_McCullough]

Hey Ben

We won't know until it gets closer to the 15th. We'll let you know.

[Ben Crowell]

Sorry guys, change of plans for me on the 15th. My Shriner's group is having a big Easter egg hunt at the Hadji Shrine Center in Pensacola, FL the morning of the 15th, and my wife and I are going to take my son to it for Easter.

I'll try and catch up to you guys the next time you're in Montgomery. NSA said they would probably ship my waster out around the 21st of April, so I should have it sometime thereafter.

[Eric Easley]

It's good to see Arma folks in my part of the county... I'm down in Milton, FL, about 20 min away from Pensacola, FL in the FL panhandle. When are you all planning another get together? I'd like to come for a visit and learn somethings. I've been doing a lot of reading, but just got a "real" waster this week. I'm ready to hang out with some other scholars.

Sincerely, Eric Easley

[Ray_McCullough]

Hey everyone in the area. Ive been busy lately with getting back in school and working. Hopefully we can get together soon.

[Jeff Hansen]

Eric,
Just an FYI, Jay Vail is in Tallahassee, and John Bentley is in Mobile.

[Jay Vail]

i'd be interested in getting together, hwever i am out of commission for abt 4 months with a torn bicep tendon which i've just had surgically repaired. i'll be glad to play wit you when i'v recovered.