Thinking about submitting an application...

[Matt_Conner]

Hi,

I've been doing a lot of haphazard, find what you can work on WMA over the years, starting in the SCA as a fencer. That's where I first started researching period manuals, finding Di Grasse in a rather troublesome and confounding online version. I fenced for a few years before too many other things piled up in life and I fell out of active practice of WMA for a good long time. Over the last couple years, things have finally calmed some, and over the intervening years I've gotten a fair selection of reference and study materials, and am always looking for more. At the moment, my equipment and book references are:

John Clements' "Medieval Swordsmanship" and "Renaissance Swordsmanship"

Sydney Anglo's "Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe"

The "Codex Wallerstein" as translated by Grzegorz Zabinski with Bartlomiej Walczak

Mark Rector's translation of Talhoffer

"Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferro's 'Gran Simacrulo'" edited by Jared Kirby

William Wilson's "Arte of Combat" (I also met and took a few pointers from Mr Wilson while I was with the SCA)

Tobler's "Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship" and "Fighting with the German Longsword"

"Medieval Sword and Shield: The Combat System of Royal Armouries MS I.33" by Paul Wagner and Stephen Hand

"English Martial Arts" by Terry Brown

and the "Ochs" longsword DVD.

At present, I've got a very good quality longsword replica by an independant smith, not one of the companies well known, and a Raven great sword waster.

I've been mostly working on longsword work, as that's what I have a replica of and can work with the greatsword waster. It's also, along with rapier and sidesword, one of the forms I find most appealing, although I'm very keen on learning anything and everything I can find time to practice and try to work out. I've got a former co worker in the area who will probably work with me on this, although a second waster would help if we were going to work together, it's on the list of stuff to get.

Anyway, I came across ARMA a while ago, and have been considering submitting an application as an associate member, it being easier to learn if you can discuss ideas and interpretations with other like minded folks, as well as broadening my source material.

I hope, if I do submit an application, that I can learn as well as contribute, and other than that, I guess all I've got to say is "Hi".

[John_Clements]

Well, you're certainly in a far better position than many of us were when we first started out. So, "Hi" back.

JC

[David Kite]

Hi!

So where are you from? You might find that there are some ARMA members relatively close to you that you could train with, which would greatly accelerate your learning curve.

David Kite
GFS, ARMA in IN

[Matt_Conner]

I'm in Panama City, Florida. Stationed at Tyndall AFB since about a year ago. I've done a little looking on the ARMA site to see if I could find anyone nearby, but so far haven't had any luck. I'm also on the lookout for a 1.0 near enough and at a time that I can get away for it.

[Jake_Norwood]

Matt,

Lots of folks in the ARMA started out in the same way (though, as John noted, with notably fewer resources). I tinkered with the SCA for about 3 months or so in high school and "fencing" for about three weeks...but I found my true love here.

Get comfortable with the forums. Ask questions, provide answers, and argue a little. See if the ARMA approach to thing appeals to you--you'll find pretty early on that it really, really does...or it doesn't. More than likely it will come down to your goals.

Martial intent? Fighter's mindset? Come on over!

Jake

[JeffGentry]

Welcome to the Dark side young Skywalker.

Jeff

[Jonathan Scott]

Hello Matt Conner!
Jay Vail and I are in Tallahassee, that's somewhat close (shrugs) though even we usually can't meet but once every other week.
pm either of us if you're interested in getting together.

[Mike Chidester]

You've got a great start there, but I'd definitely take what you read in a lot of those books with a grain of salt (or a whole cup in a few cases).