ModernChivalry.org
Main => The Courtyard => Topic started by: Joshua Santana on 2012-05-07, 14:31:22
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I came across this blog post that I just read and it is something I got to share!
http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2009/11/21/the-state-of-the-art/ (http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2009/11/21/the-state-of-the-art/)
Hope you enjoy it!
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Boy, I've been so busy with work, I keep getting interrupted every time I try to start reading this article. After a few paragraphs, he still hasn't gotten to the meat of it, and is almost apologizing for his article. But I can understand the point he's making, in that a lot of people get involved for different reasons, and therefore may not agree with what he says.
That does bring up an interesting point though. What draws you into swordsmanship in the first place? There are those who take a scholarly approach, and are happy to work with the manuscripts and never pick up a sword. Others just want to be good fighters, but don't care about the manuscripts, and there are many in between.
I'm in between myself, and don't completely fall into either category. I don't spend much time looking at the manuscripts, but I enjoy learning the interpretations of them from others who are more skilled than myself. I don't aim to be a great swordsman, just functional enough to understand the weapons. I came from being a collector first, and then wanting to learn more about their use.
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Boy, I've been so busy with work, I keep getting interrupted every time I try to start reading this article. After a few paragraphs, he still hasn't gotten to the meat of it, and is almost apologizing for his article. But I can understand the point he's making, in that a lot of people get involved for different reasons, and therefore may not agree with what he says.
That does bring up an interesting point though. What draws you into swordsmanship in the first place? There are those who take a scholarly approach, and are happy to work with the manuscripts and never pick up a sword. Others just want to be good fighters, but don't care about the manuscripts, and there are many in between.
I'm in between myself, and don't completely fall into either category. I don't spend much time looking at the manuscripts, but I enjoy learning the interpretations of them from others who are more skilled than myself. I don't aim to be a great swordsman, just functional enough to understand the weapons. I came from being a collector first, and then wanting to learn more about their use.
That is a good response, and I understand that you have priorities that precede your interests. It's your goals and how far you want to be "in to" your interests.
For me personally, I fall in the category of a scholar and swordsman who will spend a majority of his time reading the manuscripts and later on practicing the techniques and formulating his teaching method or curriculum. My priorities reflect on what I want to do, I am staying at college to be a history teacher since I know my history and it is a strong subject for me. I seek to teach HEMA as well since it correlates with my teaching profession and I am an active HEMA practitioner.
Now I am aware that I am deemed "crazy" for seeking to be a teacher of History and HEMA but since they are my passions, I seek to balance my passions with priorities such as building a business plan for my HEMA school and working on a doctorate's degree so I can teach on the college level.
My point is that the goal of any practitioner, part-time or full time will vary but we must be placed in proper perspective with their daily lives and occupations. How far you want to be full time or part time practitioner is up to you. Everyone who wants to get into HEMA have different, varying goals.
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For Joshua:
http://zenpencils.com/comic/36-bruce-lee-there-are-no-limits/ (http://zenpencils.com/comic/36-bruce-lee-there-are-no-limits/)
http://zenpencils.com/comic/35-bruce-lee-absorb-what-is-useful/ (http://zenpencils.com/comic/35-bruce-lee-absorb-what-is-useful/)
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Thank you Rautt for the blog posts. I am familiar with Bruce Lee as a influential individual whose philosophy did inspire in my former training.
If I were to apply his philosophy to my HEMA Studies it would bud from an interest in German Longsword, then branching out to I.33 + German Sword & Buckler fighting, Medieval Dagger, Medieval Pole Arms (Pole Axe and Spear), Armored Combat, Messer fighting, Grappling & Wrsetling this would be one branch.
The second branch would be Bolognese Swordsmanship Tradition (Italian Sidesword + companion weapons, Dagger, Pole Arms, Spadone, armored combat), Spanish Sidesword, French Sidesword, Renaissance German Longsword, German Sidesword, Dussack fighting, English Rapier, English Short Sword Renaissance Armored Combat and Wrestling.
There would be another branch that stems from this starting from Italian Rapier + companion weapons, Spanish Rapier + companion weapons, French, Italian, Spanish Smallsword, Polish, Spanish, Italian, English, French Saber fighting. Then there is Scottish Baskethilt Broadsword fighting then gets into Classical French and Italian Fencing (Northern and Southern Schools).
This would mean I would have to absorb multiple sources and training methods and fighting techniques. The list would be extensive to the size of a Encyclopedia volume. However, what my true point is this.
It is wise to be an practitioner whose Knowledge is the summation of individual experience and the experience and wisdom of those who fought in the past and present. Always listening and challenging his mind and his training. That I agree on.
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For me it's being closer to what a real knight would be. I also enjoy the martial arts aspect of it, learning to be better at knightly combat. Takes period immersion to a new level IMO.
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Call me crazy but for me I simply like to fight and hit folks with a blade. ;)
Studies of historical texts are all well and good for establishing a solid foundation in which to develop your own distinctive and preferred fighting style but I can only garner a fraction of their meaning with just academics. The real lessons for me come with experiencing all the nuances of the various techniques.
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Call me crazy but for me I simply like to fight and hit folks with a blade. ;)
Studies of historical texts are all well and good for establishing a solid foundation in which to develop your own distinctive and preferred fighting style but I can only garner a fraction of their meaning with just academics. The real lessons for me come with experiencing all the nuances of the various techniques.
My thoughts precisely. I have fun with it, but I'm neither looking to be an academic, nor be the best. My desire is to have functional capability to fence with others, and to understand in a more intuitive way how these weapons were used back in the day. It gives me a better sense of what makes a good sword a good sword, and why. For this reason I'm a member of the WMA/HEMA community, but on the edges of that community.
Something you'll notice when I'm fighting is that I don't always care if I "die", as long as I look good doing it. It's part of that personal style. I want to look clean and fluid, even if I pick the wrong technique. :)
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Something you'll notice when I'm fighting is that I don't always care if I "die", as long as I look good doing it. It's part of that personal style. I want to look clean and fluid, even if I pick the wrong technique. :)
Actually I have noticed that about fighting you and I am most appreciative otherwise I'd NEVER get a 'kill' on you! ;)
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For me it's being closer to what a real knight would be. I also enjoy the martial arts aspect of it, learning to be better at knightly combat. Takes period immersion to a new level IMO.
I agree with you Sir Nathan. ;)
Call me crazy but for me I simply like to fight and hit folks with a blade. ;)
Studies of historical texts are all well and good for establishing a solid foundation in which to develop your own distinctive and preferred fighting style but I can only garner a fraction of their meaning with just academics. The real lessons for me come with experiencing all the nuances of the various techniques.
My thoughts precisely. I have fun with it, but I'm neither looking to be an academic, nor be the best. My desire is to have functional capability to fence with others, and to understand in a more intuitive way how these weapons were used back in the day. It gives me a better sense of what makes a good sword a good sword, and why. For this reason I'm a member of the WMA/HEMA community, but on the edges of that community.
Something you'll notice when I'm fighting is that I don't always care if I "die", as long as I look good doing it. It's part of that personal style. I want to look clean and fluid, even if I pick the wrong technique. :)
That is good Sirs Brian and Edward! :D You both have good goals that are worth striving for, I have my own and I never impose my preferences on others. The beauty of the Art is that anyone can make it their own, the individual can take it to their preferred level or they can take it to incredible heights.
Actually I have noticed that about fighting you and I am most appreciative otherwise I'd NEVER get a 'kill' on you! ;)
:D
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Something you'll notice when I'm fighting is that I don't always care if I "die", as long as I look good doing it. It's part of that personal style. I want to look clean and fluid, even if I pick the wrong technique. :)
Actually I have noticed that about fighting you and I am most appreciative otherwise I'd NEVER get a 'kill' on you! ;)
Oh, don't be so quick to discount your own ability. You're not a beginner anymore. You're doing quite well!
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Oh, don't be so quick to discount your own ability. You're not a beginner anymore. You're doing quite well!
I second Sir Edward! ;)