Starting up in Iowa

[Eric Allen]

Hello, all.

Long time lurker, finally got up the nerve to join in.

So, I'm not an ARMA member (yet. I'm seriously considering applying soon), but I have been trying to get started learning the fine art of the sword. Admittably, I've delayed applying to ARMA mostly because, while I admire the ARMA method, the focus of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance falls just outside of my primary "area of interest." My facination lies in the sword, shield, and spear world of the earlier "age of mail," though I, of course, have a strong appreciation for the later times as well.

I got started a couple years ago when I got my first (and still only) blunt sword (a single-handed Paul Chen Hanwei "practical arming sword") and a copy of John clement's "Medieval Swordsmanship". From there, I constructed a couple (crude) padded weapons (they ended up too heavy and unbalanced) and some sparring shields. I got a couple friends together and we tried to glean what we could from sparring and the book. Not much of a start, but a start nonetheless.

Then I moved to Iowa City, IA.
I've finally managed to get back on the horse between moving and graduate school and am now dedicated to going full-on into historical martial arts.
I've still got my copy of "Medieval Swordsmanship," I've got myself a New Stirling Arms longsword waster (which I love), the parts to make a pipe-and-poolnoodle pell (which has been clanking around in the trunk of the car and driving my wife nuts), plenty of poolnoodles for test-cutting with the Albion 1st-gen Gaddhjalt I got off of MyArmoury, and some leads on finding materials to make some new padded swords

What I lack are a place to do test cutting (I live in an apartment and the cops don't take kindly to swinging sharp pieces of metal around in parks), and training partners to spar with.

So, I've started trying to practice basic longsword techniques a minimum of once a week in a highly visible location, and joined "facebook" to try and flush out some interested parties at the university here. So far, no bites.

[Gene Tausk]

Hawkeye, eh? I have friends in and around the Waterloo area and the founding partner of my firm went to Univeristy of Iowa for undergrad. I was just up there earlier this year.

Since you are in a univeristy location (I assume you are at UI and not ISU, I get the two confused), you can talk to the programs director at your university and see about starting a club. If you can start a historical fencing club (or another name), get a meeting room with scheduled class times and post some fliers. You will probably have anywhere from 2-5 people show up, and hopefully this momentum will get you going. Both UI and ISU have a large population of students, so you should have at least a few interested individuals.

It will take a little effort, but you can get something started.

Good luck.

---------->>>>>>>>>gene tausk
SFS
Study Group Leader - Houston ARMA Southside

[Eric Allen]

Yeah, U of I. grad school in vertebrate paleontology.

Hmm, I like the idea of the school scantioned club. I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the idea.

[Jaron Bernstein]

We moved our study group to a large university and got 3-4 committed new members out of it.

[Gene Tausk]

"We moved our study group to a large university....."

Nor just "a large university" my friend, but the best university in the history of the solar system!

Go Bucks!!!!


-------------->>>>>>>gene tausk
SFS
Study Group Leader - Houston ARMA Southside

"Cut me and I bleed scarlet and grey!"

[Josh Welsh]

We are staring an ARMA study group in Davenport! Well, it's not official yet, until we get 1 more arma member, but we have been at it for 4 months now! It's probibly a little over an hour's drive for you. I have family in Williamburg, so I know, lol. Anyway's, we practice from 3:30 to 5:30 on fridays. We are thinking of starting up on Tuesdays again, if schedules work out. Interested?

[Eric Allen]

If my wife will let me make the commute, and my class/teaching schedule work out.
Can't promise I'd make it every week, but I'd sure as hell try to get out there sometime.

[Josh Welsh]

LOL, yep, first duty's to the better half, I respect that. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, I'll PM you my number, and if you would like to come, I'd be glad to give you directons. We're always glad to have new people around. It makes everythig more fun, and all involved get to see things from someone elses view point!

[Eric Allen]

Well, I mailed my application to join ARMA this morning. Now the agonizing 4-6 week wait.

I'm going to keep on trying to find interested parties locally, and start trying to commute to Davenport to check out the operation there once the semester ends.

So would it be a little preemptive to go out an buy a red t-shirt? <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Josh Welsh]

Glad to hear you joined! I'm still working on that, lol!
When does your semester end? New study partners is an exciting prospect, lol.
Well, if you decide to join our study group, you can get the ARMA shirt only available to study group members! <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Eric Allen]

Technically, this is the last week, but of course, everything doesn't actually end until next week.

[Josh Welsh]

Well, that's not so long then. I'll bet your glad it's almost summer!