Are there any places sto go to get training in western martial arts, particularly with the afforementioned sword and staff in the Washington DC area? If not, do you guys have any recommendations for self-training? I've enrolled in a fencing class, and while it's fun, it isn't quite what I want. I'd love to learn the art of staff fighting, short of that, swords would also be nice.

As a matter of fact, I happen to teach in that area. Well, Northern VA, actually, but close enough. I run the historical swordsmanship program at the Virginia Academy of Fencing. I'll shoot you a PM.

On a similar note: is anyone aware of a longsword fencing group in or around the Twin Cities in Minnesota?

Purpleheart armory has a book on staff fighting that they just got in. Check it out http://www.woodenswords.com/WMA/index.htm

-James

You might also try posting over at the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts (ARMA) website. The forum's url is www.thearma.org/forum. I know we have members in the DC as well as the Twin Cities areas.

Good luck.
David Kite
GFS, ARMA in IN

"Fighting with the Quarterstaff" by David Lindholm is very good whether you find a group or not. You should also see if there is an ARMA study group in your area.

Since we are on locations where to find one I am curious if there is a sword fighting class in the Colorado Springs Area?

Gentlemen, thanks so much. I've registered at the forum (Allen, perhaps I'll run into some of your friends there?). Look forward to learning more.

James,

ARMA DC is located in Northern Virginia and you're also welcome to drop by and practice with us. Our focus in longsword, but we occasionally do English quarterstaff as well. I'll PM you.

Ben Strickling
ARMA DC

Thank you all for the information, and for the PMs. I'm going to make an effort to drop in at a few of the nearby groups and scope things out. I'll be going away for winterbreak in a couple of weeks, but I'll almost definitely be enrolling somewhere come January.

I'm surprised how many schools and organizations there are in the area. I tried searching the web but came up empty-handed. Now my problem is in selecting which school to attend. No easy task.