Getting started

[Mason Pluzak]

My friends and I up here in Canada wish to learn but I noticed that there isn't any groups in Canada so how would I go about getting some form of instruction/training? (Were all 15 and as you can guess no experience what-so-ever)

[Brian Hunt]

Hi Mason,

good to see you are interested in ARMA. You might want to start by reading the various articles here on the website, especially the "where to start" link at the top of this page. Also due to your age, you are going to want to read anything to do with the ARMA youth program. As for training, the best place to get that would be at a 1.0 seminar.

hope this helps.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Mike_McGurk]

I started when I was 15 also. My advice is for the basic stances and principles buy Clement's Medieval Swordmanship (or Renaissance). If you're going focus on the german disciplines of 14th and 15th century, concentrate on the then termed High, side, close, low, tail and inside guards, and look at the hanging guard as an action instead of a stance. The ARMA website certainly is a vast resource, as has already been pointed out but bears repeating. Save up for a waster, as a blunt might be a bit risky for someone your age.
Good luck!

[Mason Pluzak]

Thanks for the replies though a few questions:

- Where/how would I get that book?
- Which website would have good wasters? I know of little-raven and woodenswords
- I wanted to look more into sword & buckler: which is faster to learn/easier to get started: sword & buckler or longsword?

Also, Brian, you mentioned seminars. Where/when are they and how would I be admitted?

Thanks in advance for answers.

[Jake_Norwood]

Hi. Answers...

1. Amazon.com
2. raven or New Sterling Arms
3. longsword. Do that for a little while before moving onto sword an buckler to get your fundamentals down.

Jake

[Mason Pluzak]

Thanks for the help, I'll be getting on it ASAP. A few questions though. What length of long sword should I have? I'm 6'4"* so I don't know what measurements I'd need. Also, for little-raven it gives options for which wood for a hilt etc, what should I get?

*Just a random side note, my hand is 6 1/2" so if I want to go two-handed I'm assuming an 11" hilt with pommel. Any comments/corrections?

[Mason Pluzak]

I'm trying to find Clement's Medieval Swordmanship on Amazon.com but it doesn't find anything.

For the SCA: I notice (obviously) how everyone ignores their combat system (even I am beginning to doubt their "historical" accuracy <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />) but what about the rest of the things they do? Are they historically accurate in any other things they do?

[Edit] Having seen NSA's swords I'm wondering, should I get their claymore and use it as a long sword? In another thread they said a longsword should come up to my armpit (58") and their Claymore is 54" overall as well as having a 13" hilt which my hands would fit nicely. Suggestions/opinions?

[Brian Hunt]

A typical longsword is around 48".

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581600046/sr=8-2/qid=1143563934/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-5129342-3004732?%5Fencoding=UTF8

The SCA recreates the middles ages as they should have been, without the plague and peasants. What do you think? Some in the SCA work very hard to portray the era and clothing of the time they are trying to portray, others just throw on a generic medievil shirt with sweat pants and tennies. It depends. If you want history, look at living history groups, if you want a fun game with lots of evil politics look at the SCA. As for their combat, it is mostly made up though there are those in the SCA that are doing good research into the manuals, the problem is that their rule system doesn't allow for a good portion of what was done in fighting historically. As I have said in the past, the SCA is what it is.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Jake_Norwood]

Yeah, if you're going with NSA at that size I'd get the claymore, too. It's really just a greatsword waster. At 6'2" I used 48-inch wasters for about 3 or 4 years before converting--permanently, I think--to a longer weapon. The hilts on the 48 inchers were smaller than I preferred, though certainly sufficient. With hands like yours? Definitely go "great sword."


Clement's book is a maintstay at Amazon, ranking amongst their bestselling titles in our niche market. Brian's link will take good care of you on that (if you're interested in Sword and Buckler, btw, pick it up in combination with Renaissance Swordsmanship at a big discount).

Note that John's books are pretty out of date where "cutting edge research" in our field is concerned, but there's still no better primer on training to really use the darn things. I still re-read mine every so often just to catch dumb "fundamental" mistakes I make, etc.

Jake

[Mason Pluzak]

Just one last question before I proceed to spend (assuming prices are American) ~$170 <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />. My friend commented on how it might be easier to make a weapon out of boffer instead of spending $90. Any reasons why not? (Asides from balance, longevity, able to properly practice forms, etc.) Also, if I were to make the ARMA approved padded weapon should I make it to the same length as my Claymore/Longsword?

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Not sure what you mean by making it out of boffer, but making a padded weapon, is kind of a recipe that is a little diffrent for everyone, there are a bunch of posts on making the weapons, and a few guys have posted thier stuff and turn out great quality weapons that work well. I think that for $90.00 you could get alot of basic materials for that price.

I would make my padded weapons as long as my waster and as long as my blunts, as well as sharps, in other words, the ARMA method incorporates all of these tools used for perfecting technique and fighting style, so it only makes sense that the more consistancy you have in each of the tools will only aid you to develop your skills- my advice would be try and get them all the same if possible, - AP

[Mason Pluzak]

As far as I know 'boffer' is a generic term for non-sword shaped padded weapons. Essentially 1/2 interiour diameter schd. 40 PVC and pipe foam (note: pipe foam isn't the ARMA suggested high-impact closed cell foam) and duct-taped. I just said that 'cause boffer is really easy to make for me. (I am unable to get transportation anywhere) With my limited knowledge of wasters I wouldn't think boffer because how unrealistic they are. (No balance, no discernable edge/flat, etc.)

So far the plan is: buy a Claymore from NSA and the Medieval Swordsmanship manual/book and learn/practice. Now the only thing I need to figure out is how to get my friends interested/active.

[Dan Kanagie]

"Now the only thing I need to figure out is how to get my friends interested/active."
Just ask them if they want to swing stuff at your head. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Mason Pluzak]

It's not that, my friend's have oriental ties so they want to go Katana/Wakizashi whereas I want us all to learn German Longsword.

Also, I've been thinking about this and seeing as how I'm off to my SCA meeting in an hour or so: why would the SCA not change their combat system? Since it was created before all this new information and research (I'm assuming) they most likely made their own rules from scratch. Why don't they change them and strive to be the most all-around authentic organization?

So, my plan is as follows:
-I've already ordered Medieval Swordsmanship
-I'll be ordering my Claymore from NSA tomorrow (Mar. 30)
-Show my friends my waster
-Get book, read book (which I'm assuming will show me technique/footwork/basics/etc)
-try to get friends into longsword also
-become an official ARMA youth member
-start a group up here in good ol' Canada (Can I do that as a youth member?)
etc.

Somewhere in there is go to a 1.0 seminar

Anything wrong with my plan? Also, if I am to spar with my friends either with wasters or padded weapons/boffers, should I get a fencing mask?

[Brian Hunt]

The SCA has a vested intersocial interest in the way things are. Their king, dukes, knights, etc. have become what they are through their current fighting system. Therefore to change their fighting system may threaten their social organization. They have been doing some interesting things in the form of the sidesword combat, and there are SCA people who are interested in the study of the manuals, others are not.

Yes, get a mask, an eye is a terrible thing to have poked out.

just some thoughts.

Brian Hunt
GFS