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25-569: ARMA was formed in 2001 under director John Clements as a continuation of the Historical Armed Combat Association (HACA, since 1992). As of 2006, the ARMA claimed a number of close to 500 paying members. They also list a number of "Academic Consultants". The ARMA began in 1992 as the Historical Armed Combat Association (HACA), a group led principally by Hank Reinhardt , an avid sword enthusiast. Reinhardt's objective

50-596: A Prize Playing . Free Scholar testing may be administered by any Free Scholar. Free Scholar certification requires the oversight of two or more Free Scholars or the Director; by custom, as many Free Scholars as can be gathered are present to oversee such a test. Unlike rankings in most martial arts organizations, Free Scholar rankings must be renewed; if a scholar has not advanced to a higher rank within four years of playing his prize, he must be retested in order to retain his current status. Free Scholar rankings are earned in

75-456: A given area may have the opportunity to attend at least one annually. Senior students and expert instructors are invited to present classes, lectures, and seminars to attendees. ARMA members are given priority in these events, and non-members may be prohibited from participating in certain Workshops. However, one- and two-day "open workshops" are offered in which non-member may attend. Outside

100-549: A number of awards in recognition of his fan activity and promotion of medieval weaponry, including the 1973 Rebel Award, DragonCon's 1990 Georgia Fandom Award (of which he was the inaugural recipient), and the 2006 Blade Show in Atlanta's Industry Achievement Award. Provost (martial arts) In the 16th-century, London -based Corporation of Masters of the Noble Science of Defence (or "Company of Masters") Provost

125-581: A number of jobs before joining in the 1980s with Bill Adams, president of Atlanta Cutlery, to establish Museum Replicas Ltd , a mail order firm specializing in recreations of medieval weaponry and armor. Thanks in part to Reinhardt's access to the Tower of London Armories, facilitated by his friendship with Ewart Oakeshott , the Armories' head curator, the firm was able to produce quality replicas, many made and tested by Reinhardt himself. He remained connected to

150-588: A reconstruction of historical techniques, avoiding "borrowings" from living traditions of martial arts or classical fencing. Wooden wasters and steel feather swords ( Federschwert ) are used for basic drilling and technique work.. Padded contact-weapons, along with helmets and appropriate padding, were previously used for more intense free-play, including sparring at full speed and power, though these have fallen out of favor. Sharp replica swords are used only for testcutting and to teach students proper edge control and cutting technique. The ARMA curriculum encompasses

175-403: A specific weapon, and a candidate must achieve a rank with the longsword before testing for any other weapon. Above Free Scholar are the ranks of Provost, Senior Provost, and Master. The ARMA considers it highly inappropriate at this juncture to consider naming any ARMA practitioner a "Master" of these extinct arts, as the ARMA believes that the restoration of Medieval and Renaissance martial arts

200-430: A variety of weapons and weapon combinations, armored and unarmored, including longsword , greatsword , single sword (cut & thrust), sword & buckler , sword & dagger , Messer , rapier , rapier & dagger, single dagger, polearm , and short staff . Kampfringen , a historical system of unarmed combat, is also taught, both as it relates to fighting with weapons and as a separate discipline. Upon joining

225-562: Is still in its infancy and no modern practitioner has contributed to the art enough to claim the title of "Master". Outside of this system, there is a purely academic distinction called "Senior Researcher" that is granted to ARMA scholars who contribute significantly to the general body of knowledge on historical fencing. The ARMA also has over a dozen "Expert Consultants" from different fields who have offered their knowledge and expertise to its efforts. Hank Reinhardt Julius Henry ("Hank") Reinhardt (January 18, 1934 – October 30, 2007)

250-741: The 1950s. He later lived for many years in Alabama . He was married twice, first to Janet, who predeceased him and with whom he had two daughters, and second to Toni Weisskopf. He died in Athens, Georgia at the age of seventy-three of a staph infection contracted in the wake of heart bypass surgery. He was survived by his second wife, daughters Dana and Cathy, and two grandchildren. Interested in knives and swords from an early age, Reinhardt furthered his education in arms during his Army service and through visits to various European museums. Back in America he held

275-449: The ARMA consists of a red T-shirt and black sweatpants. Non-members who practice with ARMA study groups are encouraged to wear a white T-shirt and black sweatpants. ARMA members of Provost rank wear instead a black T-shirt with red pants. (Senior students may also assume this uniform when offering instruction at official seminars.) There is also a recognized but optional ARMA formal "dress uniform," which consists of period-style clothing in

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300-554: The ARMA membership a new curriculum for the Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe (MARE), referred to within ARMA as the " Rosetta Stone ". Clements intended this new curriculum to be based on "how the historical masters were teaching the art". In September 2010 the ARMA became an official representative for the Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe (MARE) to the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU). The ARMA aims at

325-423: The ARMA, new members receive learning material. Lone members are Associates and three or four members who work together locally may apply to form official Study Groups. Non-members are allowed limited practice with members and Study Groups but are encouraged to join the organization. In addition, regional Study Days, member Workshop events, and National Training Program Seminars are frequently held, and members in

350-552: The USA, there are Study Groups in Poland, Mexico, and Greece. The National Training Program acts as the core instructive curriculum of ARMA, offering basic fundamental knowledge to participants so that they may study and progress on their own. The program content is a composite approach derived from the teachings of a variety of historical masters, and specifically designed for students and practitioners over extended distances who are without

375-596: The benefit of competent instruction or practice partners. The National Training Program provides training in six main areas, each featuring some subsets. These are the Longsword, the Sword and Dagger, the Rapier, unarmed fighting, dagger fighting, and armored fighting. However, the ARMA currently focuses on the Longsword, Sword and Dagger, and the Rapier as foundational instructional principles. The uniform worn by members of

400-409: The company as a consultant until his death, and also served as a consultant to other sword makers. Reinhardt was a prolific author of articles on swords and knives, and wrote a column on swords in the movies for Blade magazine. Together with Gerald W. Page he edited the anthology Heroic Fantasy ( DAW Books , 1979. He had a book on the history of the sword in progress at the time of his death. It

425-662: The curricula, and the implementation of the basic philosophy and methodology used by the ARMA today. The ARMA's conceptualization was also influenced by the work of Sydney Anglo , as presented in his work, The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe ( Yale University Press 2000), which is hailed as the first academic treatment of Western martial arts to be written in English. During the ARMA International Event in August, 2009, ARMA Director John Clements introduced to

450-772: The earliest science fiction club in Atlanta , Georgia, in 1950. He subsequently co-founded the first such club in Birmingham, Alabama as well. He served as a guest speaker, panelist on arms and armor, and demonstrator of medieval fighting techniques at many science fiction conventions. He also founded the Historical Armed Combat Association and branches of the Society for Creative Anachronism in Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana. Reinhardt received

475-422: The rank of "Scholar Adept". Scholar Adepts who demonstrate considerable expertise in all areas of the ARMA training program and an advanced knowledge of the source material are considered for "Free Scholar" rank. Testing for either rank involves an extensive oral examination and the physical demonstration of technique, as determined by the instructors conducting the test. Qualifying for Free Scholar rank also requires

500-569: The same color scheme. ARMA ranking is somewhat informal and is based on the four-tiered system employed by the London Company of Masters , "Scholar", "Free Scholar", "Provost" and "Master". All ARMA members are considered to possess the rank of "Scholar". Scholars who achieve sufficient command of the Armatura and basic principles of the ARMA program, and a matching knowledge of the fighting manuals and historical masters, are advanced to

525-471: Was an American author , editor , science fiction fan, and noted armorer and authority on medieval weaponry. He wrote as Hank Reinhardt, the nickname by which he was widely known. He was the husband of editor Toni Weisskopf , formerly married to publisher Jim Baen , whom she succeeded as publisher of Baen Books . Reinhardt was born and raised in Atlanta , Georgia . He served in the U.S. Army in Europe in

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550-447: Was believed would be a more effective educational organization for the study and practice of Medieval and Renaissance fencing. A supposedly more efficient study curriculum for practice had also been developed at this time using the source literature. As one of the changes, the organization was renamed "the ARMA." 2001 also saw the introduction of a "national training program" (a series of seminars and workshops), ranking and certifications in

575-734: Was published after his death by Baen Books as The Book of Swords . He also produced two videos on the sword with Paladin Press . In addition, he played an integral role in Reclaiming the Blade , which includes an in depth interview detailing his experiences in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). A pivotal figure in Southern science fiction fandom for more than half a century, Reinhardt helped establish ASFO,

600-491: Was the third of four ranks, the others being Scholar , Free Scholar, and Master. A Free Scholar could not be accredited as a Provost until they had studied under a registered Master for seven years (though this time requirement was occasionally shortened). Acquiring the rank of Provost required a gruelling Prize Playing with a variety of swords and other weapons , followed by a formal oath . Provosts were allowed to accept students and open their own fighting schools. Provost

625-535: Was to provide an umbrella organization for individuals interested in Western swords and historical weaponry. After John Clements took over the organization in 1993, the HACA saw the beginning of a series of reforms. HACA began focusing more intently on the study and interpretation of the historical source literature of Renaissance Martial Arts. In 2001, the decision was made for the HACA to expand and evolve into what

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