Any comments from the more experienced on these videos?

[Darren Hollenbeck]

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?p ... eff&page=1

Whole series of basic stuff that I found on youtube while flipping through ARMA vids. It looks (to my unlearned eyes) like a pretty good explanation of the basics and everything explained makes sense (again, to me).

Can any of you guys with some knowledge and experience verify that this is something I could learn from, or correct any points where there are errors or gaps?

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Hello Darren, I guess I'll bite.

There are many issues with these vids, but to answer most of your questions would take me the better part of an afternoon. Not to sound short but to answer these you would need to join, practice using the ARMA method, and get yourself to a few events. Then you would find out for yourself where the problems with these vids lay.

I will say that the folks here could really help themselves by actually fighting with the weapons, and fighting with energy. There seems to me to be to much focus on the basics....while that sounds silly some folks can get so wrapped up in stances, etc that they forget it's about killing another guy, without getting killed yourself-

I don't know if that helps you or if that was the answer your looking for, but in general, the core of this material is the old way we studied..this style is outdated now for us, especially with John Clements recent discoveries and new 1.0 material.

Thanks for the question and posting the vids as any Member who has expirenced the new 1.0 can now see how far we have come from this style of application.- AP

[Darren Hollenbeck]

That's a fair enough answer, Aaron. I'm *just* getting involved here so I honestly don't know the difference.

Are there any videos or articles around the ARMA site that could get me started on this new 1.0 style, or is it pretty much limited to attending an event at this point?

When you reference John's new discoveries/research, would that also go along to say that his old book from '98 or so would now be outdated and probably not a good reference? Based on searching around here and the website I bought Medieval Swordsmanship as well as Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword by Lindholm and Svaerd.

If you or anyone else can recommend different material that helps translate and interpret the source material ARMA works from, I'll definitely look into it.


Either way, I'll be out this afternoon to meet up with the ARMA DFW crew and hopefully get set on the right path.

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Cool Darren, you will get some of the answers you seek from them.-welcome to the effort!

As far as the materials you mentioned they will both give you a good starting point to use, even though JC's 98 book is getting a little old, it still is a great resource. Same can be said for the Lindholm and Svaerd book.

As all here will tell you, when you first get going it is difficult to get a handle on what information you should adhere yourself to. The best advice I have recieved is to start training -(with an ARMA Group)- Apply for Membership, and start checking out all sorts of historical material, take a good look at Doebringer, check out Meyer..get JC's book, check out some other historical works, Castle is interetesting..read Anglo's work..etc

In other words, it's going to take some time but as long as you continue to apply what you learn in rigorous practice, you'll soon see the "truth" behind much of the B.S. that is out there, just try not to get bogged down or disuaded by it.

Dressing up and playing "knight" is not what our heritage and fighting art is about. Nor is it about some peoples desire to mix the approach with Asian systems or culture, nor is it about an interpretation of the art in ways that do not keep "fighting" as the central most important feature of thier applications.

I hope that you enjoy your journey, and keep motivated!- AP

[Jaron Bernstein]

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?p=r&user=fortejeff&page=1

Whole series of basic stuff that I found on youtube while flipping through ARMA vids. It looks (to my unlearned eyes) like a pretty good explanation of the basics and everything explained makes sense (again, to me).

Can any of you guys with some knowledge and experience verify that this is something I could learn from, or correct any points where there are errors or gaps?

there are 2 ARMA study groups on Texas. You might (if you can travel) make arrangements to visit one of them.

[Darren Hollenbeck]

There's a group here in DFW (only an hour away ), which I actually went out to yesterday. Thanks Jaron