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Author Topic: WMAW 2011  (Read 20881 times)

Sir Edward

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WMAW 2011
« on: 2011-09-07, 21:03:33 »

The Western Martial Arts Workshop
http://wmaw.us/2011/

Well, this event is next week, so I get one more renfaire weekend before I go. I'll try to remember to take a bunch of pictures again. I usually do. It's hard to get good shots in the classes, but I usually get a few. The site is gorgeous, and the weather has been good the last few times I've gone.

The event draws in practitioners and instructors from all over the world.

This year they're having an "Armoured Deed of Arms" event on Friday. I'm asking about it now. The schedule has it, but I couldn't find any other info on the website. I've been guessing it's invitation-only, but I got the registrar to send me the PDF about it, and it implies it's open to all challengers (subject to safety inspection and assessment of character). I'm bringing my harness anyway, since I'm taking an armored combat class (which is immediately before it on the schedule). But now it looks like I'm bringing my banner too, since apparently that's required in the rules for this Pas d'armes.

Here are my photos from my previous trips:

2007: http://ed.toton.org/cgi-bin/gallery.pl?g=2007.wmaw

2009: http://ed.toton.org/cgi-bin/gallery.pl?g=2009.wmaw
Sir Ed T. Toton III
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Sir William

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #1 on: 2011-09-08, 14:12:10 »
Where IS that place?  It is, in a word, beautiful.
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Sir Edward

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #2 on: 2011-09-08, 15:02:40 »

I think it's some sort of former monastery or something. It's right on the bank of one of the great lakes, up in Racine, WI (about an hour north of Chicago).
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Sir Brian

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #3 on: 2011-09-08, 15:31:53 »
*sigh* one of these days I'll make one of the Western Martial Arts Workshops.  :'(
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Sir William

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #4 on: 2011-09-08, 15:34:34 »
Same here...if for no other reason than to visit such a gorgeous locale.  Milady and I have decided to try and visit one new place every year, just a short getaway.
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Sir James A

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #5 on: 2011-09-09, 02:50:08 »
I was conflicted on it since it was so close to our originally scheduled honeymoon trip to England. By the time "we" decided we could push back the trip to England a bit so I could go to WMAW, registration was already closed. :( I cheered myself up a bit by spending the registration money on armor, but it's not the same.

Sir Edward, have a great time!
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Das Bill

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #6 on: 2011-09-13, 20:29:28 »
Phew, I'm stressing out getting all of the last minute things done for WMAW. Not only am I teaching two classes, but it turns out I'm going to be taking over Tom's Bolognese classes because he isn't able to go, and I still am preparing my class notes for those. I'm heading out tomorrow morning at 5.

The Deed of Arms was invitation only, as this is the first year it's being done. I suspect future events will have it open to anyone who wants to participate. I'm one of the challengers for the Deed, so I'll be fighting in it.
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Sir Edward

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #7 on: 2011-09-14, 00:59:29 »
The Deed of Arms was invitation only, as this is the first year it's being done. I suspect future events will have it open to anyone who wants to participate. I'm one of the challengers for the Deed, so I'll be fighting in it.

That's what I assumed, but I never got a straight answer. Greg never replied, and John O'Meara simply replied with the PDF announcement.

I packed my banner just in case, but I've been assuming I'll be watching... in full harness. lol :)
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Sir William

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #8 on: 2011-09-14, 15:04:13 »
Is there any other way to watch such an event but in full harness?  You never know if you might be called in...
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Leganoth

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #9 on: 2011-09-16, 03:45:16 »
Where do you guys go to get this "training" you speak of, I keep hearing you guys say you take sword fighting classes etc. Where at? I am interested.

Sir Brian

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #10 on: 2011-09-16, 11:53:41 »
Leganoth,
Several of us are students of Western Martial Arts. Some of us like myself are novices while others are far more advanced or even instructors such as forum members Das Bill and Swordchick. Sir Edward posted a link to a HEMA alliance map:
http://modernchivalry.org/forum/index.php/topic,916.0.html,
however I didn't see any affiliates west of the Mississippi, which doesn't mean there are no schools or groups in the greater LA area, just that you'll have to do some searching after all AFAIK my school isn’t part of the HEMA alliance but is fairly prolific and stable.
I took the liberty of doing a quick google search of the LA area and got this hit.
http://academyofarms.com/info/location.html
« Last Edit: 2011-09-18, 13:20:09 by Sir Edward »
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Sir Edward

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #11 on: 2011-09-18, 13:24:03 »
Well, we're about to start our 4th and last day at WMAW. Classes start late on Sunday since the Saturday night partying tends to run late into the night.

I have lots of pictures to share, etc, which I'll work on when I get back. I even got some pictures of actual 14th century armor bits. They're small fragments, like plates from a CoP and a besegew, but cool in any case.

And Sir Brian, I need to show you the "reverse grip" stuff we did in one of Christian Tobler's classes. It's not what you're thinking from the name. But it's cool.
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Sir Edward

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #12 on: 2011-09-19, 12:48:15 »
I'm about to start the return trip home.

Just thought I'd take a moment and say that the Deed of Arms was really a great event. I didn't get to fight of course, but some folks want me to in the future, I think. Bill will have more to say since he fought in it. I think some people recorded it, so I hope to see it on youtube before long. I got several pictures from each bout.

That was an awful lot of great armor, and chivalric behavior in one place. They had tournament tents set up, with the stone church as the backdrop. The list was roped off, and each bout was heralded with the fighters banners placed at the list's gate.

The fighting was really good. You could tell at times that people were having equipment malfunctions or limited vision issues, but their fighting instincts and training filled the gaps. It looked great from the sidelines.

And yes, I walked around in full harness, armed with a camera. :)

The one odd thing was that when they had a poleaxe malfunction, and needed to find one quickly, apparently they grabbed mine without asking. I'd have gladly offered, but I also could have warned them that the thrusting tip would come off, since the retention ring broke the day before. So of course, mine malfunctioned too. I may just duct-tape the darned thing in place at this point.

All in all, a great event! More to come.
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Sir Brian

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #13 on: 2011-09-19, 15:19:42 »
Quote
And Sir Brian, I need to show you the "reverse grip" stuff we did in one of Christian Tobler's classes. It's not what you're thinking from the name. But it's cool.

Cool! Man I can't wait to see it, but by my estimations you won't be able to show me until your wedding day!  :o
Well I'm sure Kat will understand why we'll be late!  ;)
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Sir William

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Re: WMAW 2011
« Reply #14 on: 2011-09-20, 19:14:36 »
Can't wait for the pics and vids.
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