The Academy of European Martial Arts
Here at steelfighting.com and New Ulster Steel Fighting, we are proud to announce the formation of the Academy of European Martial Arts (A.E.M.A.) here in Waco, TX. The Academy is an off-shoot of N.U.S.F. where a full curriculum specifically designed for youth/children will be implemented to teach martial arts of European origin to students at a young age. Leadership training and character development, as well as physical fitness and the development of self confidence will be focusses. Adult classes are also available within the academy and will be held at separate times from the youth. The adult rank structure will fall under the guidelines of the Guardsmen Division described on the Rank Page of this site. The youth ranks will vary some with the use of white, yellow, and orange chevrons. Children will also have special patches that can be awarded to them for attachment to their uniform for noteworthy achievements during class and outside of normal martial arts class. Just as in New Ulster Steel Fighting, the live steel competitive martial arts school that is the parent school of the new academy, A.E.M.A. is no promotion factory like many other martial arts schools are today. Students will have to work to earn their ranks and awards. If they do not put in the effort, they simply will not see progression through the ranks. We believe in awarding earned achievement and thus rank within our academy is not given to students, it is earned by the students.
If you live in the Heart of Texas area and are interested in joining for yourself in our adult classes, or you are a parent and want to enroll your child/children, please contact us through our contacts page on this site. We will get back to you within twenty-four hours. Come join us and experience an extremely rewarded martial arts journey.
NUSF SMCA Represented at Texas Spartan Race Beast
By: Jeff Webb
Here at steelfighting.com and New Ulster Steel Fighting School of Medieval Combat Arts, we like to promote a martial artist being a well-rounded person. We like to focus on the whole person. We strive not only to set a good example in dedicated training within our martial arts school, but also outside of it both in academics and in physical fitness.
This past December 8th, Spartan Race held a Spartan Race Beast in Glenn Rose, Texas. This race in the Spartan Race series was a 13.5 mile, 30 obstacle course on the land of the Rough Creek Lodge and Resort. The Beast is one of the most challenging races Spartan Race conducts and it can push a person to their limits both physically and mentally. I decided to take on the challenge and I have to say it was one of the toughest, yet most rewarding physical challenges that ever I have undertaken. It was incredibly rewarding and leaves one with a great feeling of accomplishment once you have crossed the finish line. (more…)
Martial Arts Progression: Technical Skills vs. Proper Conduct
By: Jefferson P. Webb
Here is the scenario. You see a fellow martial artist within your school displaying what appears, and may very well be a natural skill and ability to quickly pick up on and employ the style that they are being taught. They do very well on the drills/katas. Perhaps this person managed to reach his or her third belt rank (or third chevron in the New Ulster Fighting System) and has started competing. This
person seems ready to take their next test, but the instructor does not appear to be giving the time of day for it. It may cause you to ask the question, “Why are they not getting to test as of yet?” For sure if you have thought about it, the person not being allowed to test has surely asked themselves the question, “Why can’t I test yet?”
There could be any number of reasons why the instructor is holding off on testing
the student. The first thing that a student must do is a self-evaluation to determine whether or not there is something that he or she is missing. More than likely the student will always look at the actual drills/katas or technique and style that they are using in attempting to determine why they have not been allowed to test. While
this is a legitimate area in which one should conduct a self-evaluation, there are several other areas that are very basic in which the student may have some deficits that could cause them to slow or even halt in progression through the ranks of his or her art of choice. One thing to also consider is that most often than not,
the instructor will call to your attention the areas of your techniques and execution of the various moves that you need to improve on. So, what could be the issue if not techniques and execution on moves? Here are some things to consider and give some thought towards in answering this question. (more…)
