Hey all, I just thought I'd start a thread super-early for the next WMAW. If you go to only one WMA/HEMA event, this should be the one. Nowhere else will you get instructors from all over the world, and see booths for Albion, A&A, DSA, and Revival Clothing all in one tent.
The problem is that registration fills up fast these days.... as in, only a few days. Registration usually opens sometime in the late spring.
The event is held at the DeKoven Center in Racine, WI (about an hour north of Chicago). It is held every
other year, on the odd-numbered years.
http://wmaw.us/ (currently still redirecting to 2011's page)
Of course it helps to have some WMA/HEMA background, but most of the classes assume you have little or no knowledge. This is because many of the people who go will use it as an opportunity to learn something new. For instance, a rapier-fighter might use it as an opportunity to try longsword. Or a German longsword fighter might want to try the Italian version. Also many of the classes focus on a specific aspect, like actions from the Zwerchau, or the importance of distance, or some-such.
Other classes may be things that very few people have tried, like knife throwing, or bartitsu with canes.