Postby John_Clements » Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:11 pm
Stew will be posting his report on this event shortly.
It was a pleasure to attend and participate in this three-day gathering. Getting this many practitioners and enthusiasts together from all over the West (some 25+ ARMA members plus some 10 other attendees) always generates a lot of energy and excitement. The chance to share new discoveries and research with everyone is always invigorating for me. The opportunity to brainstorm and exchange in person with senior members will no doubt be very fruitful for our program and our curricula. I left with a wealth of written notes and a head full of new materials.
I was thoroughly impressed by the instructors who presented classes and impressed once again by the character and dedication of our members, especially the discipline and martial spirit consistantly displayed by those at BYU. The classes were absolutely first rate.
David Knight & Brian Hunt’s enlightening P. H. Mair staff material was well-delivered and clearly valuable. The opportunity to learn another approach to fighting with this weapon and discover Mair’s teachings was greatly appreciated by everyone.
Jacob Norwood’s impressive Meyer interpretation-application is the cutting edge on this source text and unquestionably combat effective. There’s no questioning Jake’s impressive insight and expertise on this material.
Once again, Jake (newly 2nd Lt. Norwood) also showed us how some of the U.S. Army’s Combatives Program further ties in to the importance of grappling in historical fencing. The class was certainly among the most enjoyable for the participants.
Stew’s and Brian’s MS. I.33 was fascinating in its presentation of competent and clearly combat effective interpretation of sword and buckler. Their many original insights in interpretation-application of this text will surely prove significant and influential. Their work was inspiring.
Shane Smith from ARMA VAB along with Casper Bradak educated and delighted everyone on impressive armored half-swording teachings of Fiore and from the Gladiatoria manuscript.
Congratulations to Casper for a well fought and well-earned Senior Free Scholar ranking for his successful Prize Playing. We’ll have the results of his 92 bouts posted soon. Casper showed real skill, talent, and stamina. He becomes our 5th Senior Free Scholar in longsword.
Congratulations also to Maryann Moore and David Knight for attaining their General Free Scholar certifications. Both proved our standards.
Our thanks to Stewart Feil and Robert Hyatt for all their work in organizing and putting this together and to the BYU ROTC for their sponsorship and the language departments for their interest. My thanks also to the many compliments and comments regarding the HEMA and fencing history presentations as well as the NTP 3.0 rapier class (certificates will be mailed shortly). I was humbled by everyone’s gratitude and appreciation.
Unfortunately, along with fighting off a cold during this event, we lost the camera with dozens of choice photos. Anyway, my apologies to anyone I did not get to work with or spend time with. Such is the nature of these get-togethers, even after 5 days. I'm glad to have met so many new faces.
This was ARMA's 4th event at BYU, and the first ARMA West event, each year it grows in scope and content. I look forward to the next Western Regional Gathering in Utah. My gratitude also to everyone in the Provo & Ogden Study Groups for putting this together. It was an excellent advancement of ARMA’s efforts to achieve progress historical fencing studies.
John C.
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