Advice for a Novice? Please?

[Ethan Jones]

Hi all, my name is Ethan. I have dabbled in the material available for the public on the ARMA's website for two years or so, and recently have been re-impassioned to pursue this part of my heritage. I have applied for membership and have begun practicing the essential basics in the meantime. By basics, I mean the guard, mastercut, and related essays available on the ARMA website, as well as following what I can discern from available ARMA videos.

I have a few questions. The first, is what in your opinion is the best translated manuscript, from any master, that is best suited for a novice such as myself?

The second is, is it a general rule of thumb not to practice what you are unsure of? I do not want to develop improper techniques, footwork, and at worst, assumptions (cringe), that will betray me later on.

The third question is what seasoned ARMA members think about HDPE plastic wasters, such as the Purpleheart Pentii. Will such tools lead me to poor practices, and is wood really my best option regardless of tradition? I understand that steel is the best training implement, but it is simply not in my budget at the moment and I don't trust my half-interested friends to learn control.

Also, is the selection process for admitting members extremely selective? I tried to put my best foot forward on the application, but it seemed to hint that only the few, the proud get in. I am young, athletic, intelligent, and passionate, and I have full intention of growing in this organization and building up a study group, so long as I have the opportunity.

Thanks for you help, advice, and time!

[Corey Roberts]

Hello Ethan,

I'm glad to hear of your interest in learning these arts. For starting out, my first ever manual which I feel provides a very good start point for German longsword is Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword , translated by Lindholm. Another very good start--point which I have not read myself, but which has been reviewed highly both within and outside ARMA is Mr. Keith Farrel's German longsword study guide. Mr. Farrel's work draws from multiple different German sources and provides a good foundational understanding of the basics, from what I've been told.

As to your second question, so long as the sources you are basing your studies on are good quality historical sources, (such as the ones above) and you approach the craft with the right mindset (always keep paramount the idea that these arts were designed to function in chaotic, brutal and inherently violent encounters, if what you're doing starts to look like a rehearsed dance, probably revise your training.) you probably aren't going to be too far off, and will be well on your way on the right course.

Personally, I do not care much for plastic wasters as I feel they are too whippy and springy. Others may have a different opinion but in my view stick to wood wasters until you can invest in a quality Fechtschwert/Federschwert.

In regards to admissions into the ARMA, we are selective to some degree, and select for members with a certain mindset that respects the seriousness of the craft and true desire to learn these arts in a realistic manner. If you cultivate this mindset, your admission is likely.

Hope that helps!

[John Farthing]

is it a general rule of thumb not to practice what you are unsure of? I do not want to develop improper techniques, footwork, and at worst, assumptions (cringe), that will betray me later on.

This should help: http://www.thearma.org/Practice/training.htm

[Ian Mac Pharlaine]

Hello Ethan. Glad to see someone so enthusiastic about starting out. I know I certainly was when I was younger.


As for translated manuscript options, I have many books in my library and depending on which weapons you want to study you'll probably be going for a good number of them like I did. If you are looking to study longsword, which is what many starters go for, the books I most use for on hand training are In St George's Name (a translation of the so called "Von Danzig" manuscript and other minor sources) by Christian Tobler and Fiore dei Liberi's Armizare by Robert Charette. Both can be purchased from Freelance Academy Press. I also make use of Captain of the Guild (a translation and lifesize printing of the Peter Falkner manuscript) and the German Longsword Study Guide that Corey mentioned. Of course, if you have a few hours a day to kill, there is no better resource available than the Wiktenauer online database. There you will find dozens of high quality full color scans and translations galore.

As for being unsure about things, even the best of us are unsure about something the Masters teach us. I always advise to follow their words and instructions as closely as you can and try to figure them out in such a way that translates the words into actions that are faithful to the text and effective in your execution of those techniques. Luckily, much of the text is simple and easy to understand more or less, but there are a few headscratchers that will require sorting out.

As for training tools, you really can't beat steel, and there are many options to choose from (Albion, Arms & Armor, Ensifer, Regenyei, Pavel Moc, and others being some reputable producers among others), but if you can't afford steel then you do have one option. Let me start by saying that the majority of synthetic wasters, in years past and even today, are utter crap that I wouldn't touch with a 20 foot pike. However there are some customs that are rather nice that I've seen. But if you want an off the shelf option, the Purpleheart Pentii is the only standard issue synthetic that is remotely acceptable. Now that said, having played around with their options, the only one id recommend for longsword is their federschwert model synthetic; it has a stiffer blade and is better balanced than their standard longsword, plus you have the schilt at the base of the blade for safety, and at $120 its quite a deal (you could get 4 for the price of a steel and have enough to start a group or have extras for public demos and visitors). It's still a little slippery in the bind but I'm currently looking into methods that may help with that issue. More on that later.

Apart from that, just let me or any of the other fine gentlemen here know if you have any more questions and we will be happy to help!

Good luck on your endeavors as a Scholar!

Regards,
Ian
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