[Christopher VaughnStrever]

The primary question here is… Do you have any suggestions for me?

I was originally going to wait in order to include more details about the group known as the MMAC; Medieval Men at Arms Combat. However, since this company of people here from myArmoury.com have helped me to attain an acute understanding of history; I would like to further learn of the insight and suggestions many of you have; in order to put forth a mature group with a proper goal to achieve.

I am scheduling the start of the group to commence in May- June of 2010. Currently I have not began to market or make the MMAC known locally. Here in Texas… Dallas and Houston each have historical groups respectively while San Antonio does not. I would like to start a historical organization in San Antonio.

The primary teachings (At the least to start) will be from the art of the pollaxe. Then to move onto other avenues such as wrestling and dagger use. Then up towards the use of swords. The art of the pollaxe will be the main focus of the group. That is before the other items are to be taught.

The goal of the MMAC is armored combat. I will be wearing a full suit of armor for every class held. I will step in, so that people may train (In certain attacks) against an armored opponent; this will be in conjunction with the following information. I have also established, created, and crafted a specific “training arm” so that students are able to perform a series of attacks while being able to move from training arm to training arm and have myself interject as an opponent. I would like to teach, not simply to perform the precise attack, though to be able to use that attack while moving about sort-to-speak. Just a realistic situation would occur.

I desire to produce an organization such that historical accuracy of the teaching is fore most, yet holds a continuing open mind to learn something we have not learned before. Not to allow a persons mind to think they are dominate in all knowledge, but to realize we are all learning something new each day. I will not allow the MMAC to become a group known for bickering or discontent. The purpose amongst the afore mentioned; is to attain a peaceable setting (Of people within the group) amongst learning an art of warfare.

One aspect that I will be interjecting is to allow anyone to come and see the presentation and/or teachings. Only members will receive the intimate training from the teacher. Thus a group with members, yet can be enjoyed by anyone.

As the first question posed… Do you have any suggestions for me to improve and make adjustments to lead such a group? If you have any questions for me, please ask. I find that if I have not been asked a question, I will not be prepared to answer the question in the future.

Thank you all for the continued help.

[Greg Coffman]

Are you saying that there are already MMAC groups in Houston and Dallas and you want to start a third one in San Antonio? Or are you saying that there are already WMA/HEMA/RMA groups in Dallas and Houston and you want to start MMAC in San Antonio? [BTW, there are also ARMA groups in Abilene and Austin].

Poleaxe, and armored combat in general, seems an odd place to start with teaching. Most all of the skill, abilities, techniques, principles, etc. to be used in harnissfechten were first taught in blossfechten and most with longsword. Even the poleaxe sees quite a bit of instruction time out of armor. The fight masters must have taught it that way for a reason. And it is hard to get a feel of how to fight in harness without actually wearing a harness, which of course is fairly expensive. To each his own, I guess.

[William Goodwin]

you may wish to have a look at and join the new formed HEMA Alliance for support to the group.

http://hemaalliance.com/



cheers,

Bill

[Christopher VaughnStrever]

Greg Coffman

[James Head]

[Christopher VaughnStrever]

Ah, thank you James. I will be sure to make that distinction of HEMA Alliance and HEMA.

Le Jeu De La Hache will be the main focus of the teachings for the primary classes. Along with perhaps a second class (Sort-to-speak) on Hans Talhoffer I have instructions that apply principles from other sources including, though not limited to Paulus Kal and Leichtenauer. I am currently putting much work into the precise structure of teaching with strict regard to keep such lessons and priciples seperate or couped together.

This is one situation I do not have a fully fixed decision made. I do know that no matter the outcome I will always cite to the students exactly what is taught, whom the material is originally from, and which manuscrit the material was taken from.[/code]

[Bill Grandy]

Hi Christopher,
Good on you for taking the plunge into the world of western martial arts.

The best advice I can give you is to try to make it to some sort of WMA event if you can. For example, there's the 4W event coming up: http://www.4wseattle.com/

(I realize its probably short notice for you to attend that specific one, though I bring it up as a potential example of the type of event you may consider going to in the future.)

If the event has *any* class dealing with the Liechtenauer tradition, whether poleaxe or not, you should go. Poleaxe wasn't taught in isolation, and the more you learn about the tradition as a whole, the better you will understand the poleaxe. Also, going to any of these events will allow you to talk shop with like-minded people which can help broaden your horizons to various different approaches and help you develop your own curriculum.

Good luck!

[Christopher VaughnStrever]

Bill, thank you for that link. I am planning to attend one if not atleast two events such as you mentioned. Currently I do not have concrete plans to attend. I would like to be a bit more educated on understanding the studies of Leichtenauer and Talhoffer (and refined in a few other areas) So that when I do attend such an event. I will be able to have some refined questions to inquire about and be able to catch-on to the lessons much more fluently.