Another New Guy Post...

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Sure you guys get this all the time: "I'm interested in joining you guys. I have been interested in swords since I was X years old. But before I join, I was wondering how I actually study?"

That is the substance of my post too. I am based in Mequon, Wisconsin. I know that there is a group in Appelton, approx. 1 hr and 49 minutes away. I am very interested in joining. I know the main site talks about being on one's own to start, I figure I could do that, but am at a complete lack of how to start. I do have some background in sword work, but I would rather you get to know me a bit before I talk about it so that I don't get marked poorly before I begin.

I guess I will end here, I thank you for the time taken to speak with me and to help educate me.

-Jeremiah Backhaus

[Brian Hunt]

Have you clicked on the where to start link at the top of the page and read all of that info? Also, another good way to get started is to get yourself to a 1.0 seminar ASAP. That will give you a bigger jump start than anything else I can think of.

hope this helps.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Jaron Bernstein]

I suggest contacting Aaron Pynenberg and making the trip to Appleton. This will get you some excellent first hand training and help you decide if this what you were looking for.

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

I sent him an e-mail, but haven't heard anything yet. It is a busy time of year though, so I figure I will just wait. Its not like I don't have enough to keep me too busy as it is right now... Thanks for the advice. I know I want to get involved, right now it is just to what degree that I can now. I checked with the library here and am getting a copy of Christian Tobler's "Secrets of German Medieval Swordmanship." That should keep me busy in it and interested for now, well, when it gets here...

[Allen Johnson]

I'd suplement that book with the dozens of articles and instructions in the site here. There are some things in that book that don't seem to match up with the original manuals.

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Thanks for the advice. I started reading some of the articles...wow, I have a long way to go (but I am looking forward to it). However, after reading many And looking at the German, I have to ask, are all of the German sources written in low German? I have studied the language for 6 years translating old Church German which is supposed to be outdated. But I look at the texts here and find that the spellings are inconsistant with any forms that I have seen before. I find the translations interesting, and am interested in translating some myself once I find some that I can get my hands on. Anyway, I will keep reading, and if anyone has any helps on the German classification I would be interested.

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Hello All,

Sorry I have not logged on in a little while, personally I have had a few things happen which are now squared away. So Jeremiah yes please come visit us here in Appleton, most of the questions you have asked will be easily dealt with if you make the drive. We practice every Sunday from 2:30pm to 5:00pm. We train at "Original Martial Systems" 3315 W. Colleg Ave, Appleton WI 54911, mapquest it for directions or shoot me another E-mail at iceman9108@yahoo.com. I was pretty sure the last e-mail I sent you included my home phone # for more specific directions, but I have been getting a ton of e-mail from new folks so sorry if I missed you. We are always interested in having new folks join us. Let me know what else I can do for you! Thanks man, Aaron Pynenberg