Our New Curricula and a new understanding

[John_Clements]

Since 2007, I have been teaching as my private core instruction what I consider to be a radical new re-interpretation of the source material of Renaissance martial arts. Based upon the longsword but applying to every skill and weapon, I have been personally teaching it publicly in ARMA seminars since 2008 (in North America and Europe).

It is nothing less I believe than a revolutionary understanding that will quickly become the new standard understanding for anyone who seriously thinks they are accurately practicing this craft. I have alluded to and hinted at elements of this new understanding I developed in my various public writings on our website for the last three years.

The important discoveries and insights I have made interpreting from the source teachings --- staring everyone right in the face all this time --- are such that it amounts to almost a unified field theory of renaissance combatives, Rosetta stone of understanding of core principles that truly unlocks the entire art.

The conclusion I have reached, and my students and colleagues have become convinced on, are that one cannot do it without audaciously seeking the bind and wind with feeling and Indes linked, knowing how to employ the Vaage, strike from the Kron, utilize the true Krumphau, be in constant motion with accurate postures and dynamic footwork, as well as integrated Ringen, correct ideas on range and timing. None of this has been understood anywhere by anyone in hundreds of years --- certainly not in any recent publications or online materials over the last decade.

And none of this major breakthrough is being presented currently anywhere other than the holistic context and martial spirit as with my new ARMA curricula. In that regard, I will accept credit for my original work in rediscovering and re-presenting this aspect of the historical teachings. Because as in the past, it wont be coming form those who missed it all and did not find it on their own.

These interpretations and this new perspective is the subject of a forthcoming major new book and (series of videos) I have long had underway. But in the coming weeks and months the ARMA will be revealing here aspects of this materials to non members for the goal of raising the credibility and legitimacy of this craft to the benefit of all students and enthusiasts. I have already begun this through a public presentation given in Portugal in May, and through other sources online and public. Stay tuned. Things are about to change. For the significant impact of our findings will be self-evident.

Cheers,

John Clements
ARMA Director
July 2009

[Jonathan Newhall]

Still not a member, though I've been considering it for a long time. I'll probably apply in a few months once my classes simmer down a bit.

Even from this somewhat outside position, however, let me be the first to say I'm looking forward greatly to any new material you care to release. ESPECIALLY videos! They're the most helpful thing outside of live instruction for sure!

I will indeed stay tuned as you suggest and am definitely waiting on this big time. I am especially grateful that you consider releasing what could be considered by some to be "proprietary" information to non-members such as myself (currently).

[LafayetteCCurtis]

These interpretations and this new perspective is the subject of a forthcoming major new book and (series of videos) I have long had underway.

That's what I've been wanting to hear for all these years. I wonder if there are any projections on when the book would be coming?

[Jonathan_Kaplan]

Edit: When and how will the book and videos be available? Will they be available on DVD? Will non members be able to purchase the full set, eventually?

[William Savage]

For the significant impact of our findings will be self-evident.

Good, sounds like you've been kicking ass.

[M.J.Easom]

Since 2007, I have been teaching as my private core instruction what I consider to be a radical new re-interpretation of the source material of Renaissance martial arts. Based upon the longsword but applying to every skill and weapon, I have been personally teaching it publicly in ARMA seminars since 2008 (in North America and Europe).

It is nothing less I believe than a revolutionary understanding that will quickly become the new standard understanding for anyone who seriously thinks they are accurately practicing this craft. I have alluded to and hinted at elements of this new understanding I developed in my various public writings on our website for the last three years.

The important discoveries and insights I have made interpreting from the source teachings --- staring everyone right in the face all thiare such that it amounts to almost a unified field theory of renaissance combatives, Rosetta stone of understanding of core principles that truly unlocks the entire art.

The conclusion I have reached, and my students and colleagues have become convinced on, are that one cannot do it without audaciously seeking the bind and wind with feeling and Indes linked, knowing how to employ the Vaage, strike from the Kron, utilize the true Krumphau, be in constant motion with accurate postures and dynamic footwork, as well as integrated Ringen, correct ideas on range and timing. None of this has been understood anywhere by anyone in hundreds of years --- certainly not in any recent publications or online materials over the last decade.

And none of this major breakthrough is being presented currently anywhere other than the holistic context and martial spirit as with my new ARMA curricula. In that regard, I will accept credit for my original work in rediscovering and re-presenting this aspect of the historical teachings. Because as in the past, it wont be coming form those who missed it all and did not find it on their own.

These interpretations and this new perspective is the subject of a forthcoming major new book and (series of videos) I have long had underway. But in the coming weeks and months the ARMA will be revealing here aspects of this materials to non members for the goal of raising the credibility and legitimacy of this craft to the benefit of all students and enthusiasts. I have already begun this through a public presentation given in Portugal in May, and through other sources online and public. Stay tuned. Things are about to change. For the significant impact of our findings will be self-evident.

Cheers,

John Clements
ARMA Director
July 2009

Sorry friend iam a new English member to this forum i have collected Swords for some time.Iam now looking to the use of said Swords however reading your post .To be truthful i did,nt have a clue what you are on about . Is it possible for you to condense what you,v said into words of one syllable that a very slow learner can understand .As you are the first post on the forum you have been the only post that i,ve read as yet. Dogbiter PS am i wasting my time?.

[Webmaster]

M.J. Easom,

Please edit your username in your profile (click on "Profile" in the forum links at the top of the page) and change it to your real name as per our forum rules. We do not allow pseudonyms like "Dogbiter" on this forum, even though we appreciate you putting your real name in your signature line. The signature line, incidentally, is the same line where you said you don't know about the signature, which can also be changed in your profile.

As for the post you are asking about, it is really aimed at people who have been studying this subject for a while and are familiar with previous versions of our interpretations and teaching methods, so don't worry if you don't understand it, just keep reading and asking questions on here and start practicing and you'll build up the background necessary for it to make sense.

[Jonathan Newhall]

I like that the extent of the new ARMA understanding has been outlined extensively in the new article, but I can't help but feel that this is beginning to become a bit more of the same (there are too many interpretations that are bad, you need to go about it with intent, et c. et c.)


I look forward to a more thorough description of the new understanding in subsequent material, however, and hope that Mr. Clements is not in the least exaggerating what he has constructed as it sounds revolutionary, no matter how contradictory the term revolutionary inherently is when applied to a science hundreds of years old.

[Paolo_Troiani]

I like that the extent of the new ARMA understanding has been outlined extensively in the new article, but I can't help but feel that this is beginning to become a bit more of the same (there are too many interpretations that are bad, you need to go about it with intent, et c. et c.)


I look forward to a more thorough description of the new understanding in subsequent material, however, and hope that Mr. Clements is not in the least exaggerating what he has constructed as it sounds revolutionary, no matter how contradictory the term revolutionary inherently is when applied to a science hundreds of years old.

yes I totally agree, i've not yet understood what it is

[Stacy Clifford]

Yes, the new article is mainly a teaser, but having seen the new curriculum we've been talking about for the last year or so, I can tell you that it's like the difference between feeling around in the dark for an hour thinking you're pretty sure where the furniture is and actually flipping on the light switch. So many things that seemed out of place or contradictory to our logic in the manuals before now make perfect sense. It doesn't invalidate all the skills we've learned in the past, it puts them in proper context by changing the way we teach the skills. It's difficult to describe, but this is a better way than how I learned my first few years in ARMA - more direct, more natural, and producing much quicker results. Newer members will definitely have a faster learning curve than we old salts did because of it. More articles will be forthcoming that give greater detail.

For those wondering what we're talking about, a new article has been released in the Essays section:

http://www.thearma.org/essays/revealing ... tives.html

[Jonathan Newhall]

Aye, Stacy, but WE haven't seen the new curriculum and are dying to do so! Please hurry with any followup articles, JC, and release that book and video you were talking about, we want more!

[Vincent Le Chevalier]

I must say I found the new article rather disappointing myself. There is little novelty in it compared to the original forum post here, aside from (more) vigorous assertions that Arma has it right and the rest of the world has it wrong.

I guess it's a way of building expectations but there will have to be an uncommon amount of putting-up to go with it in order to retain credibility in the field...

As my main interest lies in the later single-handed sword methods (call that rapier if you like) I don't seem to have much to expect in the way of novelty anyway. Which is not surprising since later source texts are already so clear by themsleves

[Stacy Clifford]

Vincent,

I agree that the later manuals are more clear on their own due to the evolution of technical writing into a more modern form that we're used to, but I can say from my own experience that our new approach to longsword is helping me to see continuities between the later teachings and the older stuff that I don't think I would have picked up on a few years ago. Two-hand and single-hand fighting still have plenty in common, and this has definitely colored the way I see Di Grassi's teachings since I started working on it. Things that are not spelled out in the text or even vaguely alluded to still match exactly with principles described in detail a century earlier in the longsword manuals, and I think this has made my interpretation more accurate for recognizing it.

I understand if it doesn't sound outright revolutionary to everyone, I see it as more evolutionary myself, so I hope we don't get too hung up on the marketing lingo here. It is different than the way I saw things before, and it has made a difference in the way I learn and perform now, and as John releases more info I hope others can see why I say this.

[Vincent Le Chevalier]

Hi Stacy,

I don't disagree that there is some cross-over between single and double-hand and that's why I also follow discussions about longsword Still, the interpretation is certainly a lot easier with later manuals, actually I tend to use them to understand the earlier ones rather than the opposite... Question of focus I suppose...

I understand if it doesn't sound outright revolutionary to everyone, I see it as more evolutionary myself, so I hope we don't get too hung up on the marketing lingo here.

I think marketing lingo is indeed the problem... What you say seems a lot more reasonable and modest than what is exposed in the article. But all these annoucements of revolutionnary things without much substantiation are not really doing much good to the image of the organisation... Which might not be a concern but then why publish the annoucements at all?

Why not just put the new interpretations up and let them talk for themselves?

[Randall Pleasant]

I must say I found the new article rather disappointing myself. There is little novelty in it compared to the original forum post here, aside from (more) vigorous assertions that Arma has it right and the rest of the world has it wrong.

Vincent

There can be absolutely no progress made in the process of re-creating the lost Medieval and Renaissance martial arts without the whole world being proven wrong from time to time. As John Clements did back in 2000, he warns in the article against the problems of an "approved consensus". To see the danger of an approved consensus just ask yourself when was the last time you saw a new interpretation of Fiore's work that really made a difference. Due to approved consensus almost all of the groups doing Fiore are basically doing little beyond what Bob Charron was doing back in 2002! To get to his current understandings of Medieval and Renaissance martial arts the first interpretations John had to challenge was 20+ years of his own work! Do other people's work deserve not to be challenged, espeically when they don't work very well?

I guess it's a way of building expectations but there will have to be an uncommon amount of putting-up to go with it in order to retain credibility in the field...

The first "putting up" will be an article by John Clements on the Vaage footwork. Hopefully the article will be post on the ARMA site next week.

As my main interest lies in the later single-handed sword methods (call that rapier if you like) I don't seem to have much to expect in the way of novelty anyway. Which is not surprising since later source texts are already so clear by themsleves

Indeed the source texts are clear, but only if viewed from a correct perspective. Is sport fensing, classical fensing, stage acting, and SCA play a correct perspective? No! That's one of the main points John was addressing in the article. Once you read John's article on the Vaage footwork you will see that the later Renaisance rapier texts were not as clear to people as they thought. If those texts were completely clear then the Vaage footwork, which is clearly in those works, would be used by everybody.