I'm a complete noob so I may be wrong on some things about the Adrian Empire, but I'll post up what I know from my knight and what I've read here:
http://www.adrianempire.org/documents/manuals.phpnoobs start with shinai, heavy t-shirt material, cups, and hard elbows and knees with a WMA mesh helm
after that,
you get to start working with live rebated steel, think Hanwei's, BKS, Albion's I:33 and Messer, etc etc for "armoured combat" and you also have the opportunity to fight "ren"
Ren is for renaissance combat which has two categories:
1: is rapier combat, but they do allow cuts with the edge, and use a slightly heavier and earlier period of design. Think authentic 16th-17th century type stuff. Also the armor requirements are more towards gentleman duels, lots of layers of good fabric.
My Spanish kit is textbook:
hose, braies, and shirt followed by
doublet, and trunks
and finally a jerkin over that
with a gorget for safety hidden at my throat and a cup hidden as well
2: is cut and thrust, earlier renaissance rapier (think 15th century, like Medici Italy) and later Scottish broadsword and backsword, with heavier blades and more armor but not as armored as armored rebated combat.
It's interesting to note, the video I posted up is actually at an Adrian Empire event with Puck fighting that Scottish guy. Basically, for cut and thrust you can use a good later rapier as well, as long as it has a blade that can hold up to it. Puck uses a mid 15th century Espada Ropera by Darkwood Armory.
Basically, they start you from scratch and look at what kind of experience you have. For example, I know quite a bit, but nothing that easily translates into what's called "points" within the Adrian Empire. So for me, I'm starting at the beginning with a shinai, and loving it, and my knight says after the first few tourneys I enter I should be able to make next higher list and start working with those weapons. He figures, depending on my making events, that I can start working Rapier in 3 events, and rebated armored combat in as little as 6 but realistically 9. Also, it's cool to note these "events" are every month, required by the Adrian Empire.
We also have set up a training day, every Sunday as well, but nothing that happens there goes towards points. Only events, wars, etc count for that.
I really like it. But again, I think it all depends on the group a person ends up working with and associating with. Just like the military, where if a kid hangs out with downers, he becomes a downer, he hangs out with squared away guys, he becomes a squared away guy and might a career out of it.
I'm fortunate we have the group of knights here in the local area. Sir Thorn, our Archery instructor, can instinctively (he brings the bow to bear for maybe 2 seconds) shoot 2" groupings at 20 feet!
Sir Ian is the knight I'm training under for combat. He has over 40 years experience with just about everything. He laughed and loved working with my destreza, only afterward telling me he knew Puck so at least knew our quirks. I still got him though three times, which in itself was amazing. His baby is longsword, so that's what I've been working on with him in shinai, and once I get my kite and heater shields made, we'll move to sword and shield, but he wants me to earn that.
Sir Ian is also a great archer and can get amazing groups too. When they first were showing us how they shoot and how they would train us, Sir Ian barely looked at the target, shot, and got two arrows touching at 10 feet. They all work together, cohesively like a team, and help others mature in their own martial arts. At least in combat, Sir Ian shows what works for him, we practice it slow, and do drills to muscle memory, and then has us practice those techniques. The fact we work with him, and then the other half work with each other, is awesome. He trains the BOTN guys and knows plenty of as he says "techniques and methods." He also believes a "trick" is a one-show pony, with little skill, whereas learning the techniques and methods actually used to produce that "trick" are priceless and can be carried out throughout our martial career.
Also, about armor.
One word: AWESOME!!
they require either plate for armored combat, or transitional splints
with mail. The mail is there for a reason and is required if not wearing full plate. So, I'm going to Home Depot today to buy some annealed rebar wire and get cracking on my riveted hauberk so it's ready for me when I attain that level.
In short, Adrian Empire works for me. I'm not into politics, which in AE, you don't have to be. In a very cynical way of putting it, the Adrian Empire's "paths to knighthood" can be construed as "attendance." But a cynical way of putting it with the SCA is a "popularity contest" too. They both have their merits, and for me, Adria fits me very nicely.
Also, for throwing shots, as it is still termed in the Adrian Empire as well as SCA. Adria focuses on speed and dexterity, rather than all out power. My lady did her first combat practice last Sunday, and Sir Ian spent about 15 minutes on just how to properly grip a longsword through the cut. He showed her on Shinai and his bastard sword. It's really important
not to throw hard shots. I'm even continually asked to look out for my power, because of my recent time being a Pirate and a Jedi and mainly for show. They want really fast shots, that barely touch the opponent, be it with shinai, rapier, or rebated steel. Control is key for this. For me, I enjoy this style more than SCA hardsuiting just because of my injuries, my knee can't take the kind of shots the SCA does.
But hands down, for me, this has more to do with Sir Ian and Sir Thorn, rather than the group they're a part of. Sir Ian tells me he knows of this group as well.
I'd say this was shot, about 50 feet, on day by Sir Thorn. Basically he has a nice long driveway, and this was shot from the street up into his yard and berm.
