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Post by Cosmoline on Aug 10, 2015 23:27:32 GMT
In our local WMA groups we have periodic discussions about how to recruit new members, and the difficulties of getting people to stick to training for more than a few sessions. There are the usual pools of folks from SCA or LARPing who have some interest in what we do. Sometimes a lot of interest. But one thing that strikes me is that the folks who have swords or have an interest in swords seem to greatly outnumber those of us who do something with them or with sword-like-objects. It seems to have some reflection on these forums, where most of the activity involves swords but not so much sword training. So, if this is an accurate observation, I'm wondering if there are owners who don't train who might have specific reasons for not training. With an eye toward perhaps making ourselves more accessible and interesting.
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Post by DigsFossils-n-Knives on Aug 10, 2015 23:41:25 GMT
For me it's lack of time and money. I wish I could train but I have actually gave up on my favorite hobbies (grappling, powerlifting, and fossil collecting) because of lack of time and not being able to keep a routine. So now I only make blades and collect them.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Aug 11, 2015 0:49:48 GMT
Nothing unusual about collectors who don't train. If their main interests are history, or some movie or anime, or swords as art objects, why train? Not so much these collectors having reasons for not training, but rather not having any reason for training.
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Post by William Swiger on Aug 11, 2015 4:10:33 GMT
I am a collector. For me it is more of an age thing and wear and tear of 25-years in the Army. Did not get into collecting until I was older. The will is there but the body says otherwise. Maybe when I retire at 62, I might try some low impact type of sword related training.
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Post by JGonzalez on Aug 11, 2015 12:08:39 GMT
I am a collector. For me it is more of an age thing and wear and tear of 25-years in the Army. Did not get into collecting until I was older. The will is there but the body says otherwise. Maybe when I retire at 62, I might try some low impact type of sword related training. Mostly I'm old. Not army, but you don't need to be for the body to break down over time. I collect swords because I like swords.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2015 12:22:44 GMT
I am a collector. For me it is more of an age thing and wear and tear of 25-years in the Army. Did not get into collecting until I was older. The will is there but the body says otherwise. Maybe when I retire at 62, I might try some low impact type of sword related training. I got you there, Bill...i got you there... Besides that i dont have belief anymore in Martial Arts systems to be of any use; for a long long time now. And i have seen A LOT. For sports, sure. But my body is far too f****d up at the time being...
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Aug 11, 2015 15:37:32 GMT
I'm not old, or injured, but my thing is that I no longer have time to train. My schedule doesn't match up with the guy I was studying under. That aside, the style of MA that I was studying was different from the style of swords I liked. My teacher certainly didn't mind. To him, a weapon is a weapon is a weapon. But showing up to a Filipino MA class with katanas usually makes people laugh.
So I guess, for me, I do train but not in the style of swords I prefer to have just due to conflict of interest. I like katanas, but I have very little interest in studying JSA. I don't much like Filipino blades, but that style works better for me.
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Post by William Swiger on Aug 11, 2015 17:33:37 GMT
I am a collector. For me it is more of an age thing and wear and tear of 25-years in the Army. Did not get into collecting until I was older. The will is there but the body says otherwise. Maybe when I retire at 62, I might try some low impact type of sword related training. Mostly I'm old. Not army, but you don't need to be for the body to break down over time. I collect swords because I like swords. Agree 100% - everyone gets older and certain activities become too much for comfort. I actually miss playing basketball and other team sports. About all I can do anymore is walking which does not bother me. It's not like I cannot do anything but I have had some injuries that makes me cautious on how much I want to risk reinjury or aggravate it.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Aug 11, 2015 18:22:45 GMT
I trained in fencing when I was younger... feels like a different life now. Main reasons for not training with swords... no decent classes/teachers close to me... and while I love sword for the warrior culture they represent, I'm highly unlikely to get into a sword fight. My training time is better spent with my firearms and, when I get back in shape again, unarmed combat and knife training. I don't think I'm likely to end up with time and inclination to train with my swords... as I'm not likely ever to need such training.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Aug 11, 2015 18:32:26 GMT
I trained in fencing when I was younger... feels like a different life now. Main reasons for not training with swords... no decent classes/teachers close to me... and while I love sword for the warrior culture they represent, I'm highly unlikely to get into a sword fight. My training time is better spent with my firearms and, when I get back in shape again, unarmed combat and knife training. I don't think I'm likely to end up with time and inclination to train with my swords... as I'm not likely ever to need such training. One of the reasons I enjoyed the art that I took. It wasn't focused on a single blade, and turned just about anything in to a usable weapon. Seemed like it would apply more to an actual encounter than, say, a katana based MA.
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Post by Croccifixio on Aug 12, 2015 6:35:25 GMT
I'm lucky in this regard, because I train FMA and collect FMA weapons, both modern repros and antiques. I love other sword types as well (central european, japanese, chinese, vendel) but finding good instructors in those arts here in my country is hard, not to mention that those weapons are mostly impractical nowadays (whereas I can carry short swords in my bags and car).
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Aug 12, 2015 8:44:06 GMT
Similar to Sean, in my case, it's a lack of decent classes in the area. I think there's a HEMA club in Dallas, but that's about two-and-a-half hours from where I am; even if I could drive (and, honestly, I have something of a phobia in that regards) and had my own car, 5-6 hours on the road even a couple times a week would be tiresome enough to make whatever classes I attended not really worth it.
Beyond that, I deal with chronic pain in my left knee thanks to an old injury that has left me with the ability to predict the weather; if I wake up feeling my knee is about to flambe my skin, it's either cold out or it's raining. It's not much of a problem day-to-day and I've lived with it so long, the pain wouldn't prevent me from training if not for the fact my knee threatens to give out under me at any movement that's not directly forward (or backward on a good day). The spirit is willing, but the body's telling me to "piss off", so collecting is about all I can do.
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Post by Robert in California on Aug 12, 2015 17:04:45 GMT
Practicality among other reasons. I like swords and enjoy the flow of doing sword exercises and forms when done in a non-"I just drank 6 Red Bulls" manner. But am not a regular nor frequent practitioner. Why? Am doing MMA at a local dojo...one or two times a week....am the oldest guy there and end up sore and aching after a vigorous session. Then doing sword cuts/forms with sore and stiff shoulder muscles is not enjoyable. But empty hand skill is more practical these days since while I COULD spend large chunks of my very limited free time becoming a "samurai"...the problem is the same that the real samurai had after they were put out of business and forbidden to carry swords in public back in the late 1800's in old Japan...is becoming skilled in a weapon that one is not allowed to use outside the house or dojo, a good use of time? Or honing unarmed fighting skills more practical? For sure, if I had more time, I would do more sword practice. Just for the stress-reduction and enjoyment of using historic if obsolete weapons. RinC
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Post by Afoo on Aug 12, 2015 17:53:28 GMT
Mainly time and effort. Also the fact that I enjoy swords for their history, whereas martial arts emphasize physical activity, mental fortitude, strategy and precision - all of which are admirable pursuits, but don't really connect that much with the concepts which draw me to swords.
Its like why people who like gardening don't necessarily like cooking. Sure they both involve plants and vegetables, but for different reasons. I may be more interested in the training aspects if they incorporated more history - both about the design of the weapons, as well as specific examples and context as to the use of various methods, but that may make it less appealing for the more physical-minded students. Its a ballance
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Post by Cosmoline on Aug 12, 2015 19:54:10 GMT
Great responses!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 19:54:47 GMT
Yeah, two different interests that may coincide but don't have to. There are people who know a lot about swords but can't do anything with them, and people who are technically incredible at their art that can't tell you anything about a sword except "it feels ok".
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Post by Cosmoline on Aug 12, 2015 22:12:36 GMT
It can be a rough business physically. I've gotten some injuries, though not from being hit with swords. I tore up my shoulder doing one-armed pushups and really ripped up my hip this spring. But on the flip side it's a pretty good workout, esp. when you're doing freeplay or full speed sparring. I like it because it changes the way I see swords. But I suppose that might be a reason not to for those more interested in collection for its own sake.
That said, there are a lot of aspects to sword study that don't involve hard physical activity. About a third of the upcoming WMAW weekend is going to be lectures, for example. And another third are relatively moderate mixes of demonstrations with some drills. Only a minority of the people will be doing full bore sparring.
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Post by Afoo on Aug 14, 2015 14:43:19 GMT
There is a local club here, and I am thinking of joining them come September. I can let you know my impressions and feedback then if you are interested
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Post by pokey on Aug 16, 2015 12:51:11 GMT
i collect and train! its interesting that people say they dont train with swords because its an obscure and not practical skill, but this same thing is what makes it awesome imo.
like you could learn to drive modern cars, on a racetrack, which is nice and practical/useful. or you could learn to drive a hovercraft. simply cos its awesome!
the impracticality of the activity elevates one from the mundane and literally makes it an art.
i dont really understand how one could collect swords and have no interest in their historical use... you can learn quite a bit on your own, with the internet and maybe a book, with very little physical effort. if i have to work for X hours to buy some sword or another, then it makes sense to me to devote some time to training how to use it... and it has enhanced my appreciation of swords in general
jmo
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Post by patrick kelly on Aug 16, 2015 17:21:27 GMT
I've been collecting swords for well over thirty years and have trained at various periods in the past. I also fenced (saber) for over fifteen years and was an Olympic hopeful at one point. I don't train now for various reasons, mainly the lack of a good organised training group in my location. There's also the factors of time and age. I have other things that require my time and energy. Also, at nearly fifty years old and after nearly a quarter century of cop work, I have several old injuries that talk to me when I get out of bed, I don't know if I need any more.
When I have trained in the past, it wasn't in anticipation of using the sword as a weapon. Frankly, I think anyone who actually trains with the notion of really using a sword in the 21st century probably has a few screws loose. Consequently, I've never been concerned about issues of actual use and practicality. For me it's always been about the history behind it and furthering my knowledge base on one of my favorite topics.
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