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Post by bladesparks on Oct 20, 2010 0:14:14 GMT -6
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Post by vraptor on Oct 20, 2010 12:46:34 GMT -6
Hmmm. That's my home town and I'm trying to figure out exactly where that is. I have a suspicion that the main street on the left his Hickory.
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Post by K ON on Oct 20, 2010 21:34:41 GMT -6
Looks like it's on the square to me. Isn't that Evers Hardware in the background?
K O'N
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Post by vraptor on Oct 21, 2010 11:42:06 GMT -6
Nope, there's not that much shade on the Square and you don't see the parking spaces surrounding the court house. I suspect it's the northeast corner of the UNT campus where Fry street hits Hickory.
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nemo
Blademaster
mobilis in mobili
Posts: 729
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Post by nemo on Dec 10, 2010 9:57:25 GMT -6
My find and contribution to this little thread. I had many comments, but think the vid says everything I would and more.
;D
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Post by vraptor on Dec 10, 2010 13:29:30 GMT -6
And watermelons won't parry. That's particlarly useful when your blade control is lacking.
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Post by LongBlade on Dec 13, 2010 0:39:37 GMT -6
And... "watermelons provide more resistance then (sic) water bottles while simulating soft tissue." Gotta love 'em!
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Post by phillipmj on Dec 14, 2010 14:18:29 GMT -6
Hah! Ricky Jay can do that with a playing card. And he's more entertaining.
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Post by armadenton on Apr 1, 2011 14:13:03 GMT -6
Hello! I'm Parker Brown, the study group leader of ARMA Denton! I am noticing some criticism of our videos that have been posted on YouTube and I thought I would provide some clarification. These videos were posted originally on our organization's website: www.armadenton.com as a means of critiquing our own performance. While I have no problem with respectful criticism, I do ask that you keep the level of vitriolic and snide remarking (trolling) to a minimum. The first video was shot in Denton on the shady corner of Fry and Hickory St. We have since moved our practice location. If you are interested, our location can be found on our website. The video was shot by a visiting member from Abilene and was posted primarily for the benefit of our fellow ARMA members. The sparring was indicative of an average study session where we are either trying new, unfamiliar techniques or are simply exercising and developing already learned techniques with the aim of improvement. As such, this sort of sparring is not meant to be exhibitionary and should not be taken as such. The second video of the test cutting of watermelons shows one of the means by which we test the cutting effectiveness of live steel weapons on benign targets. No, test cutting targets do not parry.....if we wanted to test our skills against a parrying target, we would spar with blunt swords wearing protective gear against another live opponent (see first video). Yes, watermelons are relatively easy to cut using proper edge alignment (or a deck of playing cards, apparently). One of the purposes of testcutting is to familiarize ourselves with the importance of edge alignment and technique. Entertainment is not one of the goals of test cutting. We are martial artists, not performers. Part of learning how to successfully practice a skill as allowing for failure and learning from it. Such failures can be analyzed and learned from. These videos are part of such analysis. Please take them for what they are and give constructive criticism. I welcome you to visit our study group's website at: www.armadenton.comor our organization's website: www.thearma.orgfor more information regarding our work in rediscovering and researching historical martial arts techniques of Renaissance Europe. Thank You Parker Brown ARMA Denton Study Group Leader
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Post by vraptor on Apr 1, 2011 21:55:29 GMT -6
I wasn't being snide at all. I just made a good guess as to your location.
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Post by armadenton on Apr 2, 2011 15:25:19 GMT -6
"And watermelons won't parry. That's particlarly useful when your blade control is lacking."
Your comment has nothing to do with our location. It is a broad and uninformed criticism that is snide in that it degrades our efforts through the insinuation that we lack technique and ability. Admittedly, there are some of our cuts that are lacking in edge alignment, but if you read my previous entry you would understand that the purpose of test cutting is to develop the same blade control you criticize us for lacking. As for watermelons not parrying....I never expect to meet animated resistance against inanimate objects, do you?
Parker Brown ARMA Denton Study Group Leader
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nemo
Blademaster
mobilis in mobili
Posts: 729
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Post by nemo on Apr 3, 2011 23:28:06 GMT -6
At ease, guy. It's just banter.
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Post by schlager7 on Apr 4, 2011 8:39:04 GMT -6
Perhaps I can phrase that better. I know that I apologize if anything posted you felt demeaned your work. In fairness, that's a big club, though. Those of us in the modern fencing world take odd shots from folks who know nothing of fencing.
My advice is correct it, roll with it and move on.
I know that has made my life easier.
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Post by phillipmj on Apr 4, 2011 14:13:23 GMT -6
Man with thin skin should not play with bladed weapon -- ancient proverb
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Post by godzillaben on Apr 4, 2011 14:17:05 GMT -6
just to make a quick comment here. i am another fellow ARMA Denton member. the only reason that me or parker are posting on the forum is to reply to some of the criticisms on this post. i have only been practicing rma for about two years and am in no way stating that i am better than anyone. parker has said most of what i was going to say so i wont repeat it. what i will say is if you see things that we can improve on tell us, but do not set back rma by being petty. Our study group does not operate that way and only seeks to obtain a greater understanding of rma. if any of you wish to trade frendy blows and discussion feel free to contact us.
thanks.
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Post by schlager7 on Apr 5, 2011 8:30:47 GMT -6
This is a fencing board. The people here are all about exchanging friendly blows.
I would add that many of those here have been involved in various types of fencing. All jokes aside, I think you would find this a fairly friendly place if you want to stay and post about what you do...
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Post by vraptor on Apr 23, 2011 17:33:16 GMT -6
My point is that NOBODY has good blade control with weapons like that. Most replica blades are so poorly balanced that it's very hard to hit the spot you aim at. Perhaps I could have been clearer but a lot of us also handle "heavy weapons" for demonstrations and the like and if you're actually trying to cut something with a sharp, you might or might not hit your aim point.
Even knights of the period found using the sword to be difficult. That's why their primary weapons were hammer, axe, or mace when mounted or afoot. Lances got used when mounted. It is a modern fiction that had them reaching for the sword first.
This isn't to say that you can't develop good control, but for most of us that means we have to have wrists and forearms like Popeye.
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Post by JCR on Apr 28, 2011 16:40:32 GMT -6
Another ARMA Dentoner here. You are right, a lot of reproductions are awful. The weapons we are using in the video are accurate, durable, properly-weighted and balanced replicas. Medieval and renaissance weapons were not clumsy. Any problems I've had with cutting accuracy are due to my lack of training or conditioning, not clumsy training tools. I've been pretty lucky in that respect. I don't have statistics on hand, but most of the historical fencing manuals I've seen from the period we study focused on two-handed sword techniques (armored or unarmored), dagger fighting, or straight-up wrestling. The other weapons you mentioned were useful and would have had their place on the battlefield, but if they had a supreme advantage over the sword, I am not aware of it. If the sword was not a primary weapon, why was it the preoccupation of most of our historical martial arts treatises? Why was it also centrally featured in these and other records of martial arts schools throughout the renaissance? Schlager7, I appreciate the words of welcome. I look forward to sticking around for future discussions. It's always fun to spar (verbal or otherwise) with fellow sword nerds.
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