Potential New Member from Fayetteville, AR

[Alex Stripling]

Hi, my name's Alex. For several years, I've studied karate, jujutsu, aikido and for a while a style of Japanese swordsmanship developed for the Japanese Imperial Army during World War 2 called Toyama-ryu. However, I took up the study of jeet kune do and realized that some of the very best methods of martial methods have come out of the West (Boxing's scientific leading hand attacks, fencing's quick yet powerful lunging, savate's highly effective and precise kicks, wrestlings overwhelming take-downs and painful holds), and soon found myself reading about Fiore De Liberi.

Studying a bit into Flos Duellatorum, I find myself amazed at the techniques of the style of my ancestors. For years, I had vaunted the techniques of the Orient, thinking the Europeans only developed barbaric, useless methods. I stand, proudly, corrected. Simply the technique of "half-swording" leaves longsword fencing in a realm far beyond the effectiveness of any kenjutsu method, or of any other swordsmanship style I've had the opportunity to witness or even spar against from Asian styles.

Around the same time, I found myself getting in European Folk-metal, reading the Saga of the Volsungs, the German epic the Nibelungenlied (And finding Siegfried is the same as Sigurd, and Balmung the same as Gram), Sir Thomas Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur, and for fun, re-reading Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. My pride in my heritage was at an all-time peak, and I wished to find others to share that with.

I tried the local SCA group, figuring that'd be the closest thing, but found coldness and unwillingness to reach out. I got the impression that they felt I was not worthy of their time, and so, left them to their own devices and now seek out the ARMA. I realize, of course, the SCA and the ARMA are two very different groups. The ARMA would be better for me, as I'd love to learn the actual methods of swordsmanship as opposed to going out in full battle-rattle medieval-style and pretending to die when I get hit by a rattan stick. But hey, at least learning the armorcrafting and medieval music would've been amazing.

I've not seen anyone in my area, Fayetteville, AR, but if there is anyone out there, or if anyone knows of anyone, please do tell me. As soon as I can find another, I'm perfectly willing to join up and begin this officially.

[Randall Pleasant]

Hello Alex

It is always good to hear that another person is interested in these arts. I don't think there is an ARMA study group in your area. The closest study group that I know of is the Dallas/Fort Worth study group which I practice with. I know it would require an over night stay but you are very welcome to vist the DFW study group to get a feel of what we do as an organization. Please note that ARMA puts a lot of effort into supporting its members who are not part of an actual group.

[Keith Culbertson]

Welcome! Although they are not officially ARMA members, Steven Archote and his son are in Newnata----they are master woodcraftsmen who make wasters andcrossbows and more. try to contact them through hollowearthswordworks.com

otherwise, tennessee has a few folks and Mississippi and Georgia, and Texas as well. might try to get to one of their meetings...

in the meantime, stud all the material on the site and get/stay in fit shape

[Alex Stripling]

It's a shame no one in my neck of the woods bothers with such things as the ARMA. They seem content with fraudulent karate dojo, MMA and taekwondo (Although very good taekwondo!). It's been rough even trying to find a sparring partner. Heck, even bringing up archery at my workplace, I'm something of the subject for ridicule with my ownership of a traditional, linen-backed red-oak longbow. About the closest I come to someone that might also be interested in the ARMA is the incredible archery shop where I acquired it. If anyone on here wants something of that sort, I can see if the man I bought it from ships to other states and try to get his number. He provides wooden longbows and recurves, either modern or traditional, and crafts his own wooden arrows for about $5 a pop. His work is astounding.

Anyway, I digress. All I own right now is a Starfire Swords LS-28 model, which I am only able to really compare to some kind of fictional missing link between cut-and-thrust swords and the single-handed arming sword. Its blade is about an inch and a half wide, the blade is 28 inches, the handle only really big enough for my hand and a tad amount of slipping, as Mr. Clements points out as a technique in his book on Medieval swordsmanship. If I were to put it on the Oakeshott Typology (Which is not going to be work out too well in my favor), I'd label it a Type XI with a shorter blade and no fuller and no taper. It weighs probably 2.5 pounds, I'd guess.

The steel is surprisingly excellent, and I had the oppotunity to meet the crafter himself while he was at the Renaissance Faire I purchased it from. The steel has no reflection but an incredibly high shine, a clear loud ring and is very flexible and well-made for its purposes. It is designed for stage-combat and thus is not too suitable for period-type practice. At the present moment, my finances don't exactly condone my acquisition of a more authentic weapon, but my desires tend to hover around the Windlass Steelcrafts "15th Century Longsword." If anyone has any experience with this particular blade, or even Windlass as a company, I would much appreciate any comments.

I'm not too sure where to begin with what I have. I imagine that I'm going to have to either buy or build a waster (I'm lucky in that my father is a master carpenter) and begin learning the basic guards, cuts and parries with the longsword. I can't seem to find any large amounts of information on the lone arming sword, and am almost resigned to giving up for now and focusing on the longsword.

I thank you for all of your support, and will endeavor to start my ARMA membership as soon as finances allow. I will also try to make it to a seminar or other such meeting.

Again, thank you both Mr. Culbert and Mr. Pleasant. Your welcoming has made me feel very much at ease already with your organization and I look forward to my future official membership and helping to rediscover what I've always considered the most fascinating, most practical and perhaps most effective system of swordsmanship ever devised.

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Alex,

Welcome to the forum, man! I hope that you find a great deal of information (if you click on one link you will find it, any link).

I am familiar with the Starfire swords. I have purchased from them before, and I as desperately in love with them. But the fact of the matter is that those swords are not swords at all, but "Sword-like objects." They work wonderfully well for stage combat, but for actual use in Historical Swordsmanship, they are just to the right of worthless. Sorry, but my Starfires have been accumulating dust for about two years now.

As far as beginning, "get thee a waster." If you have the ability, or if your father can help you get one. You can find measurements for a good longsword very easily (http://www.albion-swords.com) (also where I would suggest looking to get a sword from, either blunted or sharp - suggesting blunted first). And, I further suggest, commit yourself fully to the longsword. The techniques that you wish to learn for the arming sword are directly transferable (mostly) from the longsword. Also, we have the most information on the longsword, so your training will be more thorough and honestly, the longsword was THE weapon of the day. This is where you should start, and once you get into it, you will find that this is where you WANT to start.

The arming sword can be picked up MUCH easier after learning the Longsword.

Anyway, start mining these pages for beginning information, along with making the membership a priority, you will surely get your money's worth. Also, start trying to figure out how to get to one of the study groups that might be close to you (I know that you don't have any around, but making a drive to get started is TOTALLY worth it). And, since no one has said it, try to get to a 1.0 (the introductory class) this will get you started and BLOW YOUR MIND!!!!

Oh, and you don't need to be in the SCA to hear about the weird music and armouring. Some of us are harness fighters (I am working on building mine), and music is certainly a main feature in many of our trainings (check out schelmisch - Chaos on Youtube for some cool medieval metal).

A really long message just to say welcome and hope that you get started soon!

-Jeremiah (SA)

[Jdteague]

Hi, my name's Alex. For several years, I've studied karate, jujutsu, aikido and for a while a style of Japanese swordsmanship developed for the Japanese Imperial Army during World War 2 called Toyama-ryu. However, I took up the study of jeet kune do and realized that some of the very best methods of martial methods have come out of the West (Boxing's scientific leading hand attacks, fencing's quick yet powerful lunging, savate's highly effective and precise kicks, wrestlings overwhelming take-downs and painful holds), and soon found myself reading about Fiore De Liberi.

Studying a bit into Flos Duellatorum, I find myself amazed at the techniques of the style of my ancestors. For years, I had vaunted the techniques of the Orient, thinking the Europeans only developed barbaric, useless methods. I stand, proudly, corrected. Simply the technique of "half-swording" leaves longsword fencing in a realm far beyond the effectiveness of any kenjutsu method, or of any other swordsmanship style I've had the opportunity to witness or even spar against from Asian styles.

Around the same time, I found myself getting in European Folk-metal, reading the Saga of the Volsungs, the German epic the Nibelungenlied (And finding Siegfried is the same as Sigurd, and Balmung the same as Gram), Sir Thomas Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur, and for fun, re-reading Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. My pride in my heritage was at an all-time peak, and I wished to find others to share that with.

I tried the local SCA group, figuring that'd be the closest thing, but found coldness and unwillingness to reach out. I got the impression that they felt I was not worthy of their time, and so, left them to their own devices and now seek out the ARMA. I realize, of course, the SCA and the ARMA are two very different groups. The ARMA would be better for me, as I'd love to learn the actual methods of swordsmanship as opposed to going out in full battle-rattle medieval-style and pretending to die when I get hit by a rattan stick. But hey, at least learning the armorcrafting and medieval music would've been amazing.

I've not seen anyone in my area, Fayetteville, AR, but if there is anyone out there, or if anyone knows of anyone, please do tell me. As soon as I can find another, I'm perfectly willing to join up and begin this officially.

Hey Alex,

My name is David Teague, and I am actually living in the Fayetteville area. I work as a Martial Arts instructor here. I am very interested in training in the western martial arts, and I used to be a part of a Schola study group in Little Rock. If you want, I would love to meet up and start training longsword again, just let me know!

[J. Harvey]

Alex, good news is we aren't all that far away here in Oklahoma. We have one member in Tahlequah , one in Tulsa , I'm in Mannford just west of Tulsa, another member in Enid. We meet here in Mannford on Saturday evenings and at other times as we can. You are more than welcome to contact us and visit , also our members in the other towns may arrange to meet you there - and on occasion one of us may even be in your area on business.
Again , you are more than welcome to visit and we are fairly close and if you are interested even making it once or twice a month would be very helpfull I'm sure.

[J. Harvey]

Sorry , intended to add the invite to you also JD.