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We are now accepting inquiries for membership into our, private, Historical European Martial Arts School. If you live in the Waco, TX area or within driving distance, and are interested in experiencing what may be the most rewarding martial arts experience of your life, we may be the group for you!
If you are a minimum age of 16 years old (with parental consent) or 18 years or older, have a great interest in learning Historical European Martial Arts, and are willing and motivated enough to dedicate the time to attend training regularly, contact us here.
We will be happy to get to know you, and have you get to know us so that you can see if we are right for you, and so we can see if you are right for us. Unlike the majority of martial arts school, application is not automatic admission. We put great emphasis on dedication to rigorous training, service to God, and in the quality of character of recruits we accept.
If you believe you have what it takes to join us, and accept the challenges of our historic art. contact us. Perhaps you will join the fellowship and family that is Art of Combat European Martial Arts.
There is no reenactment here, just pure martial arts!

Our first ever rapier combat tournament was a great success, and we want to thank all of our fighters, our Tournament Marshal, Scholar Charles Dunwoody for officiating, and Kultofathena.com for sponsoring the tournament by providing swords to award along with the gold medals. The results of the tournament are as follows looking at the picture from the viewer’s right to left:

Mr. Travis Walker (unaffiliated) won Gold in Single Rapier, Rapier & Dagger, and in the All vs All Melee.

Bro. Jeff Webb, A.O.C. European Martial Arts won Silver in Single Rapier, Rapier & Dagger, and in the All vs All Melee.

Armsman II Nathan Laney, A.O.C. European Martial Arts won Bronze in Single Rapier, Rapier & Dagger, and in the All vs All Melee.

All of the other fighters that took part in the tournament are also to be commended for a job well done. We are already looking forward to our next tournament, so keep a look out and check back with us for coming information.

A few years ago I was blessed to meet Grand Master Heinrich Jost of the Affiliation For Contemporary Swordsmanship and Medieval Martial Arts South Africa. What started as a simple contact from our school to his through his club’s web site rapidly developed into a lasting friendship.  During my time knowing him, his chivalrous character is evident, and he has, according to French Knight, Geoffroi de Charny in his mid-14th Century work, The Book of Chivalry, achieved the highest level of Chivalrous honour, and certainly Grand Master Jost continues living a Chivalrous life in the service of his family, community and nation.

On the night of Sunday, March 11, 2018, as a member of his sector’s Community Police Force (an irregular or auxiliary-like force attached to the state police force) Grand Master Jost took part in operations against a well-armed gang that attacked the administrative offices of a golf course in Kyalami, Gauteng, South Africa. The gang’s apparent objective was the blow open the safe with explosives and then leave with the contents of the safe. The gang over-charged the explosives and virtually destroyed the offices.  The gang was armed with AK47’s and 9mm pistols. Grand Master Jost took part in the pursuit of the suspects as they fled the scene of the attack. His pursuit took place on foot and over a distance of approximately 15.5 kilometers that night. During this pursuit, Grand Master Jost was personally responsible for the capture of three of the well-armed gang members.

For his actions at the risk of great personal harm, Grand Master Jost was awarded a commendation for bravery by the South African Police Force. His actions not only proved a vital service in keeping the people of his community safe, but also bring great honour upon himself, his family, and the Affiliation For Contemporary Swordsmanship and Medieval Martial Arts. We want to congratulate him and his achievement in the service of his community and country.

A revised article from The Grand Master’s Herald, April 2010

Article by: Bro. Jeff Webb

Founder/Grand Master, A.O.C. European Martial Arts

 

So, you see a fellow martial artist within your martial arts school displaying what appears, and may very well be a natural tendency to quickly pick up on and employ some elements of the style that they are being taught. They do very well on the drills/katas. Perhaps this person managed to achieve two or three promotions within the minimum allotted time to do so. They’ve even competed some and may or may not have earned a medal in the process. 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 that student to ask the question, “Why am I not getting to test?” One thing is for sure. If a student does ask this question of an instructor, it needs to be respectfully asked with the motivation to find what the student needs to work on rather than with a tone that conveys to the instructor that the student feels wronged. Continue reading “Why Haven’t I Progressed? The Self-Inflicted Knockout of a Martial Arts Career.”

I’ve returned from a fantastic trip to South Africa! The ACSMMA tournament was wonderfully organized and was an absolute blast! The fighters in South Africa are skilled. They are amazingly friendly. A couple of the guys there are guys that I consider brothers and family now. I want to give my thanks to Heinrich Friedereich August Jost and his wife for hosting me in their home for a week while I was there. He and his family treated me as if I were part of the family
I’m thankful to The Lord for the new friendships developed during my time there with guys like Stuart Mckenzie Bennett, and Grant Hart and rest assured I am keeping each of them in my prayers.
As a number of the members of my school have expressed their great desire to go and compete in South Africa in 2018, we will begin preparations presently and will be ready when the time comes.
As for my part in the tournament, I’m honoured to have earned the silver medal in Longsword and Sword & Buckler duathlon. Earning such an award in the company of such great martial artists is an incredible feeling, yet due to the great friendliness of their fighters and camaraderie formed with them, the medal cannot help but take a back seat to the friendships formed, and things learned while I was there. If you are a martial artist in the HEMA community, go to the ACSMMA tournament in South Africa, compete and meet some great “Oaks” there. You’ll have a wonderful experience!