HEMA, Study and learning.

It's been a while, but I'd rather say interesting things than fill this up with bollocks.

I have recently taken one of my inevitably expensive trips to Foyles. They're starting to stock a lot of books in 'military history'. Arguably, they should be downstairs in the martial arts section, but it's a start. There's the glossy hardback Silver interpretation, a Talhoffer reprint, some Huttons and Mayer/Mair's polearms.

I was well behaved. I left with one book, and I paid for it.

I'm not sure if I like interpreting work. My group has done it a few times, mostly with Cappoferro- there are enough people around with the knowledge and the manners to assist when we get stuck or make cock-ups (That, and Windsor's interpretation is well written and works well as a reference point).

Don't get me wrong, I like asking "why this" and "how that" but it's nice to put that all on hold and build up the mechanics. It's very easy to get distracted by what does that mean and forget that the point is to become a swordsman. Unfortunately the local experts are far too manly and butch to embrace the kind of weapons suitable for a pasty faced, frilly shirted, makeup wearing weirdo.

The "local" rapier school is somewhere close to a 6 hour round trip away. If you include the lesson and the socialising, that makes it 9 hours for one lesson. I want to learn rapier and the off-hand weapons. Especially rapier and buckler. I can learn I.33, the earliest known sword and buckler techniques- but the dynamics of a fight with an open hilt are vastly different to the closed hilt I prefer. I've seen the local I.33 teacher in action, I like his style and I can believe he is a Name. It's just a shame the weapon does not 'talk' to me.

I'm not sure if the necessity of interpretation is a good or bad thing. A bad habit well learned is still a bad habit. However, it opens up a world of debate. I can email questions to almost every person that has interpreted a manuscript. The good ones will be happy to help, will not get offended by a good question and through the community will build a 'true' system. (for given values of true).