Looking for information on a Master

[Robert Vernell]

I'm currently trying to find any form of information on a certain master fencer. I'm not completely sure on the spelling of his last name, but I believe it is Steve Vaughn. I know he uses the Pappenheimer and I believe at one point he was wanted to help in the choreography on braveheart (though I think something happened where it ended up not happening).

I've searched around for a couple of days and can't seem to get anything on him. If anyone would know who I'm talking about and could give me a point in the right direction it would be most helpful.

Thanks for your help.

[Jake_Norwood]

Hi Robert.

I've never heard of the guy, but maybe someone here has.

Hey everybody else--let's not rail on Robert for calling anyone living a "Master," especially someone who works in film. Instead, if you know who this guy is, please just point Robert in the right direction.

[back to Robert]

As a general rule around here the only folks anyone at the ARMA (and, in our opinion, any self-respecting modern swordsman or spathologist) refers to as a "master" is someone who really was one "back in the day," referring to the historical masters. Guys like Talhoffer, Fiore, Meyer, and so forth who are the real masters of the art. Anybody nowadays claiming "mastery" over an art that hasn't even been fully reconstructed is, well, either a crock, a hack, or deluded in some fashion.

That being said I hope we can help you find this guy.

Jake

[Mark Driggs]

I looked up Steve Vaughn on imdb.com and found no matches for him and swords. However, I did notice a Nick Powell listed as 'sword master' under the credits for Braveheart as well as a few other movies (Gladiator, Mummy, Hamlet): http://imdb.com/name/nm0694249/. He might be the one you are looking for. It seems that 'sword master' is the term that movie studios use to refer to sword stunt coordinators. Not to be confused with Maestro or Maître of old.
As for how swords and sword-fighting are portrayed in movies, I used to never think how realistic or practical it is until after I joined ARMA. I cringe when I see someone doing a spin or stab the guy behind you without looking. Those are moves that you could only get away with against the most incompetent people (or orcs) and under the best of circumstances. Also, many fight scenes show people attacking eachother's weapons and not the person. It's a different mentality altogether and diminishes the historical accuracy.
It seems as though the role of sword stunt coordinators is mostly making the actors comfortable with swinging a sword and not hurting anyone in the process. For some reason, historicity usually takes a back seat in their choreography. I am sure you will hear more opinions on this matter. I know Allen has some experience and knowledge in the industry.

[Robert Vernell]

I guess I should have said a little about me before I posted this topic. I'm actually a scholar with the rapier (sad story of not training for over 2 years since my trainer moved out of state, and my trainer was last ranked as a provose by other ARMA members).

As for the 'Master' part, I used that due to lack of knowing how people in his position of his stature may yet be addressed as. I do know that he is currently ranked (as attributed by ARMA masters themselves, if there is a different term I should use to reference someones rank please feel free to tell me how they should be addressed) as a master with the pappenheimer.

Hope this helps with the validity of what I'm addressing and that this is not a 'self-proclaimed' person of the arts.

Thanks for the kind responses.

[Mark Driggs]

Something is not quite adding up here. The ARMA (Association for Renaissance Martial Arts) does not have any Provost's as of right now. It's a title which we reserve for those who have proficiency in multiple weapons, not just one. As of right now, we have around 10 people who are Senior Free Scholars who have played their prize for Long Sword mastery. A Provost, ideally will be one who has played the prize in at least 3-5 weapons, wining at least 70% of bouts in a 1-1 1/2 hour period utilizing the chosen weapon against a variety of others.

I suspect that the person you are looking for probably received his Provost ranking from a similar organization. Many WMA (Western Martial Arts) groups like to emulate the London Masters of Defence system of ranking (scholar, free-scholar, provost, and master). Perhaps the organization you thought he was involved with had some association with ARMA, but unless you gave us more details such as specific times or geography, we can't figure out who this guy is.

[Benjamin Smith]

I haven't found this person either. Out of curiosity, why do you want to look him up?

[Ray Brunk]

OK.....so I'm a loser with nothing better to do on my vacation.

Been bouncing around the name through several search engines and have had several hits on a fencer in the SCA (easy now) by the name of Steve J. Vaughan.

Don't know if this is your guy but he belongs to the House of Drunken Badger (can't even keep a straight face while typing)

This house seems to have members in different locations. Unfortunately they go by D&D type fantasy names for places such as Atlantia and a few others I couldn't decipher without my Wizard's cap of Ren'dar (OK, now
I'm actually laughing out loud.) I did notice one reference to our dimension by way of Texas.
Hope this helps or at least gives you a starting point.

After surfing those websites, I must say....I don't feel like as much of a loser anymore

[Brian Hunt]

Thanks Ray,

with that I was able to track this down. http://profiles.yahoo.com/sjvn

If this is the guy, here is contact info and everything.

hope this helps.

Brian Hunt
GFS

P.S. A Pappenheimer is simply a hilt style for a rapier and is not a specific weapon.

[Ray Brunk]

Good job Brian. Aren't we a couple of internet detectives....lol!


Ray Brunk GFS
ARMA Upstate NY



P.S. A pappenheimer hilt on a stick is still just a stick