Brothers at Arms, possibly inaccurate WMA School.

[Sam Nankivell]

Finally, people are starting to actually cut the "I'll kick your ass with my martial art" or "you have not proven your skills therefore you have no right to speak" crap. They are finally actually making intelligent conversation with me. Well, O.K., three so far, but it's progress.

Some of them seem to be fairly intelligent.

[Sam Nankivell]

Seems I'm the only one answering this thread anymore. Oh well.

I viewed a couple of the new Brothers At Arms videos, and I have to say, they actually do look fairly functional. They haven't revealed their western sources yet, but I feel that these guys are definitely going for some functionality and are achieving it (though I have to say, the S&B video still does not look functional).

Anyway, just finishing off the thread on this note because I feel it would be unfair for everyone to walk away hating them, despite the fact they demonstrated some functionality.

[Jaron Bernstein]

The question isn't one of functionality or even skill. There are very good FMA stick fighters out there and kenjitsu folks who can fight just fine. My question is whether a hybrid curriculum (whether functional or not) can legimately call itself WMA when that isn't my current impression of its sources.

[Sam Nankivell]

True, I don't think they should continue calling their course the Academy of WESTERN Martial Arts.

[Will Adamson]

Some of their stuff looked like the hanging parry to zorn partner drill followed by some kind of closing to a trip or throw. It's fun to do, but it is only a drill after all.

The sword and buckler clip reminded me of the constant parry riposte of SCA rapier that has been described as resembling a sewing machine. I would agree that it is pretty much escrima with swords.

I couldn't tell if they were edge hacking.

The price was considerably more than my wife and I used to pay for both of us to do TKD. Of course any school that does not take on alot of little kiddies is going to need to charge more, but not that much.

Also, is it just me or does it look like they are in someone's attic?