I run a small club out in East Texas. Both my partner and I have minimal HEMA experience but 8 and 7 years of martial background respectively. While most of what we work on comes directly from the manuals, I try to travel to the nearest instructor 2 hours away whenever I get a chance. And like you said the internet is an amazing resource for small groups like ours. I can honestly say that when I have earnest questions about a system I am able to ask some of the best instructors in the world for advice and get some great feed back. At some point I would like to video tape us going through Fiore's Largo and stretto plays to get additional feed back from these great instructors. Anyways my point is that even if you are an independent study group, you are not in a vacuum. This is a great community and most of us are willing to help the two guys in the back yard training with wooden swords and hockey gloves, cause most of us have been there.
+Will nonya Indeed, widespread access to the internet has without a doubt been the most significant development for HEMA. Back when we started in the mid 90's there was just almost no means to find and communicate with other groups and likeminded people. It was mostly just isolated pockets of small groups going at it alone. Things have changed an awful lot because of the web. Which is particularly amusing really, how modern technology is providing the core framework of reviving historical arts.
Id say it depends on you as a person and the quality of the book. If you already have good experience with say 2 martial arts already, learning a third one from a book is definitely more difficult than learning it from a trainer but if it is a good book with clear depictions of how to move, distributing weight etc. then id say it is entirely possible IF the martial arts are somewhat related (you wont learn HEMA with poleaxe from a book if you just know unarmed karate) In the end there is just so much a person can do with his body so many martial arts, in the end, use quite similiar stuff for similiar goals . If you are a beginner however, learning from a book is a huge mistake - you will very likely get 90% of the stuff wrong and actually learn how to be completly ineffective. You will miss out most details (and they are very important) and even get moves entirely wrong. So learning from a book is something that is really just for experts and those also would prefer learning from a teacher. Finally, if you want to really master a martial art you will need a partner to do sparring with so if you really want to become good with a certain martial art you need people around you anyway. No book can teach your muscle memory.
Jic Keepfer, I cannot reply to you directly, please adjust your settings. But no we do not have any videos on kali/escrima. We only practice HEMA now, and the two guys who were into that when we first started moved away a few years ago.
I'm a full time home student with special needs.I'm mentally challenged middle aged single man without kids.I'm a very private guy.I don't like loud places at all.I don't like crowed places at all.I'm both a homebody and introvert.I rather use online videos on martial arts than regular classes any day.I learn more at home than I do public classes.I'm an adult with add.College isn't for me at all.Old fashioned classes have too much drama for me.I'm not an old fashioned guy at all.I'm a high tech guy.
Well the point of the video is very much that you don't need one, but it makes it a damn sight easier. The biggest issue is the learning curve, and that is why people say you don't want to try an invent the wheel. Learn from what others have done. Some of the earliest documented European masters such as Lichtenauer and Fiore, they travelled far and wide to meet instructors from many countries to develop their skills and knowledge.
Great video, Nick. It would be awesome to train with you guys one day. Last year I went to Europe. Plane tickets were (in my opinion) a little bit on the expensive side, so I decided to skip some countries. In other words, I didn't go to Britain. I spend most of my time in Spain. I wanted to contact a HEMA group; sadly, my shyness and time got the better of me.
Where does one get ahold of source material? Having access to literature has helped me significantly on my martial arts journey and I'malways interestedin obtaining more.
Actually you can't learn a "martial" art in many martial art schools today. Go figure! This is what this new mind blowing book titled Myths and blind spots in the fighting arts’ world. - After the Bible, it’s the next gοοd bοοk for you! Nothing of the kind in my opinion and necessary for all practitioners, especially sincere instructors. PS. To answer your question, you can learn ABOUT martial arts from books and the book I suggest has it all covered, more than many would wish.
HEMA covers a vast array of time periods and weapons. What sort of style, weapon, or period do you fancy studying from? Or do you just want a recommendation of manuals I particularly like and think are good to work from regardless?
+Academy of Historical Fencing one last question, as I feel like I'm being annoying. I do apologize I'm just really excited to start studying and practicing HEMA. So, is your awesome jacket for sale or is it AoHF exclusive?
Yep! I replied right away base on myself actually! I do agree! You need a training partners or somebody very experience_Bruce Lee made it very clear in order you must know yourself_ you must know yourself though your opponent or partner.
I run a small club out in East Texas. Both my partner and I have minimal HEMA experience but 8 and 7 years of martial background respectively. While most of what we work on comes directly from the manuals, I try to travel to the nearest instructor 2 hours away whenever I get a chance. And like you said the internet is an amazing resource for small groups like ours. I can honestly say that when I have earnest questions about a system I am able to ask some of the best instructors in the world for advice and get some great feed back. At some point I would like to video tape us going through Fiore's Largo and stretto plays to get additional feed back from these great instructors. Anyways my point is that even if you are an independent study group, you are not in a vacuum. This is a great community and most of us are willing to help the two guys in the back yard training with wooden swords and hockey gloves, cause most of us have been there.
+Will nonya Indeed, widespread access to the internet has without a doubt been the most significant development for HEMA. Back when we started in the mid 90's there was just almost no means to find and communicate with other groups and likeminded people. It was mostly just isolated pockets of small groups going at it alone. Things have changed an awful lot because of the web. Which is particularly amusing really, how modern technology is providing the core framework of reviving historical arts.
Id say it depends on you as a person and the quality of the book.
If you already have good experience with say 2 martial arts already, learning a third one from a book is definitely more difficult than learning it from a trainer but if it is a good book with clear depictions of how to move, distributing weight etc. then id say it is entirely possible IF the martial arts are somewhat related (you wont learn HEMA with poleaxe from a book if you just know unarmed karate)
In the end there is just so much a person can do with his body so many martial arts, in the end, use quite similiar stuff for similiar goals .
If you are a beginner however, learning from a book is a huge mistake - you will very likely get 90% of the stuff wrong and actually learn how to be completly ineffective. You will miss out most details (and they are very important) and even get moves entirely wrong. So learning from a book is something that is really just for experts and those also would prefer learning from a teacher.
Finally, if you want to really master a martial art you will need a partner to do sparring with so if you really want to become good with a certain martial art you need people around you anyway. No book can teach your muscle memory.
Great video, once again. Thankyou!
Jic Keepfer, I cannot reply to you directly, please adjust your settings. But no we do not have any videos on kali/escrima. We only practice HEMA now, and the two guys who were into that when we first started moved away a few years ago.
I'm a full time home student with special needs.I'm mentally challenged middle aged single man without kids.I'm a very private guy.I don't like loud places at all.I don't like crowed places at all.I'm both a homebody and introvert.I rather use online videos on martial arts than regular classes any day.I learn more at home than I do public classes.I'm an adult with add.College isn't for me at all.Old fashioned classes have too much drama for me.I'm not an old fashioned guy at all.I'm a high tech guy.
if i can learn how to have sex by watching porn then u can absolutely learn Martial Arts online/dvd or books no problem!
If you NEED an instructor, who was the FIRST instructor? I guess we'll leave that one for the guys on "Ancient Aliens" to figure out... >.>
Well the point of the video is very much that you don't need one, but it makes it a damn sight easier. The biggest issue is the learning curve, and that is why people say you don't want to try an invent the wheel. Learn from what others have done.
Some of the earliest documented European masters such as Lichtenauer and Fiore, they travelled far and wide to meet instructors from many countries to develop their skills and knowledge.
Great video, Nick. It would be awesome to train with you guys one day. Last year I went to Europe. Plane tickets were (in my opinion) a little bit on the expensive side, so I decided to skip some countries. In other words, I didn't go to Britain. I spend most of my time in Spain. I wanted to contact a HEMA group; sadly, my shyness and time got the better of me.
+mechupanlamonda Next time definitely get some training in! Always welcome here.
Where does one get ahold of source material? Having access to literature has helped me significantly on my martial arts journey and I'malways interestedin obtaining more.
I agree.
You mentioned kali and stick fighting, do you have any videos about that?
Actually you can't learn a "martial" art in many martial art schools today. Go figure!
This is what this new mind blowing book titled Myths and blind spots in the fighting arts’ world. - After the Bible, it’s the next gοοd bοοk for you!
Nothing of the kind in my opinion and necessary for all practitioners, especially sincere instructors.
PS. To answer your question, you can learn ABOUT martial arts from books and the book I suggest has it all covered, more than many would wish.
Any recommendations for books?
HEMA covers a vast array of time periods and weapons. What sort of style, weapon, or period do you fancy studying from? Or do you just want a recommendation of manuals I particularly like and think are good to work from regardless?
+Academy of Historical Fencing sabers, rapiers, and longswords, katana would be nice. I'm really interested in these in particular.
Manuals you particularly like would be wonderful as well.
+Academy of Historical Fencing one last question, as I feel like I'm being annoying. I do apologize I'm just really excited to start studying and practicing HEMA. So, is your awesome jacket for sale or is it AoHF exclusive?
No problem, but yes that hoodie is our club model and not for sale. We do have others available here though shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/swordfight/
Actually you can learn from books! But, first you must have a firm understanding in martial arts and a background in it.
I guess you didn't watch the video then. Of course you can learn from book, or we wouldn't have HEMA. It is just tough.
Yep! I replied right away base on myself actually! I do agree! You need a training partners or somebody very experience_Bruce Lee made it very clear in order you must know yourself_ you must know yourself though your opponent or partner.
poor sound. make sure before uploading something. a good content may get stray if the sound is not good