The Armour Archive

Trystan of Anglesey wrote:we should all start pushing right now to take WMA to the Olympics.
if they can have TKD and 'fencing' why not mounted and unmounted WMA?

You do realize that's what killed fencing, right?

iomtalach wrote:Well....yeah...but weren't thinking of a big business as much as a private club for fighters. First blood duels get a free pint, that kind of thing. No families.

Friends of mine used to do something like that in Edinburgh. It's not as amusing as you seem to think it is.

Sorry about the blunt statement, but I realized today that I don't really have much desire to visit this board anymore. I'm uninterested in repeating my views over and over and engaging in cyclical debates and conversations. It's boring for me and for the poor bastards that have to read it. Love you guys.

Ken Mondschein wrote:

Trystan of Anglesey wrote:we should all start pushing right now to take WMA to the Olympics.
if they can have TKD and 'fencing' why not mounted and unmounted WMA?

You do realize that's what killed fencing, right?

Had no idea. Don't really follow fencing.
I do know that the Olympics are full of politics and pinheads. (like most groups)
I just want WMA to get it's day in the sun. It doesn't necesssarily need to be Olympic to achieve that.

Jester - Anything on a horse draws a fan base. Girls love the horses and boys love the combat. A real 1-2 strike combo.
The mounted melee last Sat. was an immense crows pleaser. Imagine polo but the ball is on the other guy's head and it's every man for himself.
If American Gladiators can do well in the ratings (and it did) then so can what we do. Who can ignore the rise of MMA from ignoble obscurity seemingly overnight?

Ken Mondschein wrote:

iomtalach wrote:Well....yeah...but weren't thinking of a big business as much as a private club for fighters. First blood duels get a free pint, that kind of thing. No families.

Friends of mine used to do something like that in Edinburgh. It's not as amusing as you seem to think it is.

To watch? Probably not. I'm still surprised people would have paid to see the old english prize fights. But I suppose the audience was better educated.

To do...I'm up to my third. I wouldn't say it's fun, exactly...but it sure is *something.*

Its going to be hard to go mainstream. One of the hurdles is a lack on consistency between the schools.

You get three WMA "experts" in a room and ask them a question. You get four different answers.

They can compare their different combat stylings in the lists, with their weapons. The crowd should dig it.

cblackthorne wrote:Its going to be hard to go mainstream. One of the hurdles is a lack on consistency between the schools.

You get three WMA "experts" in a room and ask them a question. You get four different answers.

Don't worry, going mainstream will kill that. People will pay hard-earned money to a McTeacher who will present a curriculum based on interpretation and they will walk away with that interpretation engraved in stone. Ask questions and perform tests? Pfff! That sounds too much like thinking, give me my garter so I can brag I'm a Free Scholar.

Watch for it. The first schools will be pretty straightforward, but once the McDojos get hold of it you'll see hybrid schools that combine Spanish rapier with Filipino martial arts, a lot more of the 'revealed ancient knowledge of the Norse' melding D&D fighting with Victorian myths about Norse mythology, and 'recently discovered surviving traditions' (the Georgian sword and buckler guy).

Trystan of Anglesey wrote:They can compare their different combat stylings in the lists, with their weapons. The crowd should dig it.

The crowd can't understand the differences. Dude, you, of all people, should understand the difference between earnest fighting and staged combat. They have different goals and use different means.

Lighten up, Francis! (you know durn well that I am formally trained in all 4 of those ways, mounted & ground both for stage and full-contact)

So if the crowd doesn't know the difference, won't it be just as exciting, esp. when they are told it's for real? Unarmored even?
Melee upon the ground with rebated steel? Have you seen those Russian/EastEuro vids of that? Did you think that was boring? Joe Everydude might not think so...

You are also just talking about ground fighting when the main WMA fan magnet will be the mounted sports, both melee and joust. That is also what will forever difference us from EMA as it is 'interpreted' in the Western Hemisphere.

There is also the "Cirque du WMA" spectacular pageant tournament style that peaked under QE1 and Inigo Jones. Was quite eye-catching and pleasant to gaze upon, or so I'm taught.

Also I'll say it one more time: Do not underestimate the power of marketing (pandering) to people's "Heritage".

When are y'all gonna stop fussin about studios/dojangs and visualize the World WMA Championships? Let them all be tested and purified by the "Fire of Martial Travail". That will be something to see.

Another write up.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_8443416

I remember when the SCA actually kind of hazed newcomers to see if they really wanted it. We thought it would ruin the SCA if it got big. Now everyone is on recruiting drives.

Back then real armour was scarce at best, heck my first suit had elements of carpet armour worked in. Now good harness is not only plentiful, it is also affordable.

McDojos will hapen with WMA. The potentially worhtwhile students will be dissatisfied and will look for a more legit school. The legit schools will do what they always have done, burn off the dross "Whaddya mean I can't freeplay until I'm a Scholar? That takes YEARS!!!"

So there are a bazzilion people out there who THINK they are doing the same thing as you. So what? Their misguided enthusiasm will help encourage and support arms and armour makers and book dealers, and they in return will put out more gear, some of it bad, some better than what we have now, 1000 books on the topic will be made of which at least 900 will be crap, but the other 100 will be gold we would not have had if not for the unwashed masses bringing WMA to the capitol systems attention.

Like I tell my kids, we just have to make sure that WE are doing whats right, and not sweat what others are doing or might do.

LeeC wrote:Like I tell my kids, we just have to make sure that WE are doing whats right, and not sweat what others are doing or might do.

QFT
you just won tha intarwebs.

Trystan of Anglesey wrote:Lighten up, Francis! (you know durn well that I am formally trained in all 4 of those ways, mounted & ground both for stage and full-contact)

Which is why you should be aware of the differences. I'm not saying broader exposure for WMA is all bad. But I am saying that a lot of folks are going to jump on this bandwagon the way they do with everything else. This is the latest flavor of the month rolling down the pike. Sambo? Krav Maga? Tai Bo?

http://www.amazon.com/Forza-Samurai-Sword-Workout-High-Intensity/dp/1569754780

I can SO see that with Lichtenauer.

"Ancient German longsword techniques to sculpt your abs and tighten your glutes! Ever wondered how the Germans managed that sculpted butt look with their pants? It wasn't clever sewing, we can guarantee you!"

jester wrote:

Trystan of Anglesey wrote:Lighten up, Francis! (you know durn well that I am formally trained in all 4 of those ways, mounted & ground both for stage and full-contact)

Which is why you should be aware of the differences. I'm not saying broader exposure for WMA is all bad. But I am saying that a lot of folks are going to jump on this bandwagon the way they do with everything else. This is the latest flavor of the month rolling down the pike. Sambo? Krav Maga? Tai Bo?

Then it is up to people like us to keep this horse in the proper paddock.
Those in position to guide this movement must do so responsibly and professionally.
...so let's all try not to be such dicks to one another for a while, at least until our 15 minutes of fame is over.

Saritor wrote:http://www.amazon.com/Forza-Samurai-Sword-Workout-High-Intensity/dp/1569754780

I can SO see that with Lichtenauer.

"Ancient German longsword techniques to sculpt your abs and tighten your glutes! Ever wondered how the Germans managed that sculpted butt look with their pants? It wasn't clever sewing, we can guarantee you!"

Killing me. You're killing me!