Mr. Clements asked me, as I’m sure he did the other attendees, to be sure to visit the ARMA forums and provide some feedback on the Southern Knights symposium held this past weekend.
First let me state that I am not a member of ARMA and, as such and since this was an open symposium, it should probably be best understood that my viewpoint is coming from one outside of the organization and not fully familiar with ARMA standards and practices.
Overall the symposium was quite interesting. I think. The overall emphasis was generally on Longsword techniques, and most participants had wooden Longsword wasters with even a few extras to loan out to those of us without them. There were several other classes on other forms (as you can see from the itinerary on the website) but I was a bit disappointed that the Side-sword class ended up being left out and, unfortunately, I had to leave early enough on Sunday that I was unable to catch the Rapier discussion. Mr. Clements did add that he felt such a class would not be quite as useful as he would hope, however, with very few folks having any Rapier wasters to practice with.
As something of a side comment I would like to state that since this was an open symposium, and not for ARMA members only (even though the majority of folks there are, or are very interested in being, members), that there were a few remarks that would probably be best suited for a members-only gathering. Primarily there is no mention on the website of any particular clothing requirements. Yet some rather disparaging remarks were made about wearing Jeans instead of sweats and that the proper “uniform” involved plain dark sweat pants and red for the shirt as well as some consideration for those who may find it more comfortable to wear shirts not tucked in. Certainly no manner of disrespect or lack of discipline to ones art and study should be implied from the clothing worn, particularly by non-members, for such an occasion. Clothing requirements for safety would be one thing, but those involving club membership requirements at a non club-specific function would seem to me to be quite another and I would that such remarks should probably be kept more for within the circle of the club itself, as I don’t feel it was particularly productive in the venue at hand.
There were also remarks about “standing ready”, followed immediately by a lecture of how Mr. Clements could be ready even when standing casually. I believe the assumption was simply that one learns better in a more “on guard” position, but since there were non-members present it is uncertain how well Mr. Clements would be able to know just how “ready” any such individuals might be. Beyond such discussion, however, I think that many students also tend to learn in many different ways. For example, I am one who learns a great deal more by watching and committing the aspects of a stance or move to memory first, then using the picture in my minds eye to get my body to perform the function. Standing, or not standing, “on guard” has little to no bearing on my ability to learn.
Such incidents, however, were relatively minor but I thought it important to mention them if it will prove of any assistance in training techniques and methods for any future symposiums. They do distract to at least some degree from the material being presented, depending on the student, so hopefully some consideration may at least be given to those suggestions. Of course others have different training techniques than I that they find work better for them, so I may be a bit off base for what others have found to work best for them.
Mr. Norwood had several excellent presentations on the Longsword and Joachim Meyer’s teachings. He moved to show several stances, moves and positions through those movements that presented the material, I felt, fairly well considering the audience, overall. It may have been a tad quick for the beginner, but even then the beginner has much they can pick up and learn even from a faster paced lesson. Still, I don’t think the pace was too fast even then from what I could see of the less experienced of the group. If I were to offer a single suggestion it would only be to have Mr. Norwood walk around the room a bit more to check the students’ techniques, or to have an assistant or two performing that function, as Mr. Clements admirably did on a couple of occasions.
The other presentations overall were also performed fairly well from what I could see (there were a couple of times where there would be two classes going on at once so my attention tended to be more focused on one moreso than the other.) Mr. Norwood’s presentations simply stood out in my mind as being, perhaps, the ones I felt presented the material the best and as an instructor quite familiar with his material.
There was a discussion of several Longsword stances that Mr. Clements presented reviewing the illustrations available. I certainly agree with and admire his ability to take into consideration art history (such as the contra postura methods) and possible production of fluidity of motion in art in his considerations of what was being shown. I agree that it is very important that to better understand what is being seen that it helps to be familiar with context, such as the social and cultural position of the author, and very importantly the social and cultural position of the intended audience. (I think this is especially true when the audience is one of the nobility where even as early as the 14th century in Italy they would tend to be quite familiar with art, art appreciation and the meanings and standards conveyed in art.) I certainly commend him for making the extra effort to, in effect, bring up that kind of historical study method to his audience and by showing artwork outside of the treatises on defence. I do think he may have gone on with it for a good deal longer than was necessary. From what I could tell the audience was receptive enough and convinced of his position after about 5-10 minutes. So further discussion on the matter was, it seemed to me, rather like “preaching to the choir”.
As I mentioned I was also disappointed in there not being a Side-sword discussion or presentation. Even if wasters were not available I feel there is still much that can be conveyed without resorting to their use. And other simulators could have been used. I think that is an important distinction to make, as I have seen more than a few groups who discuss the “right” tool to use for practical purposes. I am of the opinion that if it’s not the real weapon being used in a deadly manner then no other tool is the “right” one. However, I feel that most any of the tools being used today, whether they are wooden waster, blunt steel, blunt aluminum wasters, practice schlaeger blades, practice Del Tins, and so on, all have their uses and place in training. The tool is not inherently at fault for its shortcomings, but the user of the tool could be considered at fault for not considering those shortcomings in using that tool. As such I feel that all tools have a place in learning the whole of the art as long as understanding of the tool exists. Therefore I feel with that understanding in mind, that other tools could have easily been used to assist in the practical work involving those weapons forms that wooden wasters were not readily available for.
Overall the symposium was a pleasurable experience. I certainly got to meet and come into contact with other folks in the local area (I happen to live in the New Orleans area) and, thankfully, it looks like that means I will be able to get back into a more regular practice regimen (it’s been about 4 years with no regular practices for me, now. I am so pitifully out of shape! <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />) There were many recommendations, and considerations given during the symposium that I think will be of excellent use. While I must, frankly, admit that I still have no intention of becoming a member of ARMA, I do sincerely thank ARMA and its members for putting on this symposium, as I would encourage many other groups interested in the martial forms of the “west” to do. We can all learn a great deal from each other, even in areas we may disagree upon. These kinds of gatherings provide an excellent learning opportunity for everyone involved, from the most serious of scholars to the bare novice alike. So thank you again and may we all continue learning and teaching each other.
Lenny Zimmermann
zarlor@acm.org
