Why are we in the Guild?

This was originally an email to the Guild Forum by Steve Tappin, in response to a question, why are people in the Guild. It also relates to the importance of the Foundation skills, of the Guild or any system.

Below a long reply to answer a few points raised recently ;-)) based on these questions and communication I feel further discussion is needed to ensure a way forward for the Guild but to do this let's also understand our past too.

You ask me why be in the Guild? It's because John, Jonathan and I Founded the Guild based on our experiences and shared understanding of principles/concepts. Jonathan and I trained in my garden most of the drills others now call basics. I had twenty years of weapon fighting giving sword seminars and demos all around the world from China to America and yet I did the basics again so we could remove confusion and advance members equally.

To teach we should all have a structure to help new members, especially those with no experience. As we advance we all have the right to train our own way for personal reasons but if we represent the Guild then the structure should be the Guild.
I went to John with a proven record and market to show that there was a genuine opportunity and interest to teach people our art. I gave many seminars in swords and was asked to form my own sword school/organisation but I was not happy to do this. I knew that many people were frustrated about swords - so what to do about it?

John Waller had access to the Tower of London and later the Royal Armouries' where people can see a variety of weapons and armour (and sometimes handle them), read manuscripts, go to libraries, watch film clips and also see live interpretation - everything they dreamed about was there but it was like saying here is what you could have but you cannot have it - I found this unfair. I on the other hand did teach many people (as did John and Jonathan) and to bring this together was unique. But people had to share our vision and principles otherwise there was no point. We all had met experts throughout the years and trained with them - but we felt we had something good in common that we tested and we proved a demand and so that's how the Guild started - like-minded people together to share knowledge without the main aim being about financial gain or creating masters - but a place to learn, grow, progress, research and have fun.

That is why we formed the Guild and we did this with the help of John's friends and mine - I will let John and Jonathan explain who helped from there side but from my side the main people who supported us (in the correct order) were John 'Budge' Dovey, Stephen Kinvig, Allan and Lars from Denmark - this is how Kristina and Jonathan met and how she became so good (he stole her away from Escrima ;-)). The Guild started and grew from the above, however not everyone continued with the same vision.

Recently I read comments (I hear my own words that have been on my web for years) - to be free you have to be free from something - this is a fact, even if there are a few experts/masters in our ranks or who may come to us - for experts to have training partners they have to teach basics so they can both develop you cannot teach from the top down. I often hear I'm bored I have done this exercise many times or I know this - well if this is true then it should be correct - if not then practise more. As an educator I enjoy training new ideas and developing people so if I see something done well I am inspired to give more but if I see things I have taught not trained then what is the point of giving more advanced information if the basics are not trained? I do not like teachers who show off or give away a system to impress or keep students as I would rather have 10 people who wish to learn and train than a 100 who want to mess around. From 10 good people it will grow.

In all systems some members are not willing to train and they learn a few things and become experts - beware those with a little knowledge. Jonathan has to teach and train the basics on a daily basis, as do I, if he is willing to do it for the benefit of members - why won't others?

The idea of the Guild is NOT to control or ruin personal choice but to teach people to a standard that they can do what they want - if your whole aim is to research manuscripts then its very, very important to know the basics first.

As an example of helping people without basic knowledge, Jonathan, Stephen Kinvig and I have designed, taught and given demos to others to help them under some very strange conditions, at short notice around Europe . We helped them and trained them in basics and did all the work - my point is we helped, not controlled, even though they were not Guild members but we did this in the true spirit of the Guild without compromising our principles.

I understand Dan in Leeds supports the Guild and also has an interest in the German side of things - he manages to enjoy both. I do the same with Escrima, Swords and Police training - there are differences and things that are common but in each case basics are taught and then developed. I have also helped Guild members in person and via email to help a greater understanding of basics and to ensure they don't get caught up with illusions. If people do not want to train in Guild basics or follow our principles then why are they here?

But if people/members do follow the simple things then the fun and training begins and strategy becomes important and then the manuscripts are easier to enjoy as you can follow them or improve on them - a life long journey. With basics and with more advanced work the Guild training will help people self-discover but some seem to want to fly through the system then complain that they are bored and as teachers we can see instantly who is training or who is trying to run before they can walk.
No one in the Guild or in any good art want to hold people back - we loved to be pushed to our limits and want everyone to surpass us but it seems to me that a few people either do not trust the basics, cannot do them or want to rush to the fight without putting the correct work in - that is everyone's choice but please do not complain if advancement slows down. The quickest way to learn is to start at the beginning - same goes for teaching.

I have not always agreed with Jonathan and same goes for him concerning me - but we have the right to question and after talking things improve. We discuss syllabus, training strategies and theories. We cannot always meet but on anything important we still discuss and if all our combined efforts and input helps our members then discussion, agreement or disagreement is good. Therefore if people do not understand, are confused or don't like certain things then express these views but if any objection is based on a lack of training then you will find any argument will have less impact.

I have met many people who train in ALL types of weapons ancient and present and noticed a common problem - some rush the beginning to get to the fun part or the killing/maiming techniques - but the simple truth is that if the beginning goes wrong then the fun part or killing may be only for your opponent? A weapon is an equaliser it rarely cares how big, powerful or fast you are - it takes skill and a clear educated mind to gain advantage and this is a small part of the fun but realistic side of weapon fighting.

How many people have just watched the masters gracefully and effortlessly move and show a few movements that demanded silence by the audience giving inspiration just to see perfect or near-perfect movement, timing and control where it was so good you don't know whether to applaud as you don't want to upset the harmony or bring it to an end? I have been lucky to see this a couple of times in different arts - but what impressed me most was what they did were the simple things done with passion, understanding, trust, feeling, experience and meaning - but it was still the foundation of the system shown - its basics done correctly.

Through correct training - one day everything becomes the basics! What do we do then?

The Guild clearly teaches the basics and principles that will help everyone and from this we can all develop into our personal goals - this is why I helped Found the Guild and still support its objectives even though I cannot be as active as I would like and why I can agree and disagree on certain issues because the Guild highlighted my arguments for me.

I'm sorry this may come across a bit harsh and long but I believe the Guild has a great future and deserves an answer and our future is worth a few long lines from us all.

BW,

Steve

Steve Tappin

Guild Senior Teacher and Founder Member