Challenge for the Free Scholler Rank Challenger: David B. Murphy April 13, 2003

About the Test

David B. Murphy's free scholler test covered a large number of areas and fighting styles, including grappling, dagger, unarmoured longsword, arming sword, spear, pollaxe and armoured longsword. The test also included two challenge fencing bouts, the first being the unarmoured longsword fencing bouts followed later by a pair of armoured fencing bouts. David successfully achieved his free scholler designation on April 13, 2003, and joins the ranks of free scholler along with free schollers and IMAF AI's David M. Cvet and Brian McIlmoyle.

Free Scholler Overview

A free scholler is a student of the historical martial arts that has developed scholler level skills in a multiple number of fighting disciplines (no less than three), such as armoured longsword, unarmoured longsword (Italian), unarmoured longsword (German), pollaxe, quarterstaff, sword & dagger, sword & buckler to name a few, as well as accumulated a minimum of 3 years experience and time as a scholler with the Academy. A free scholler with skills in any of these weapons types is also in a position to provide instruction to students in any or all of the weapons skilled in. A student is automatically designated a free scholler should he/she acquire a designation of Acknowledged Instructor by the International Masters at Arms Federation (IMAF) in one or more weapons type. The free scholler may often be requested to provide a supporting role of teaching assistant (TA) provided a letter is granted by the academy/schools governing body to those who had successfully achieved the prize of free scholler. The free scholler must abide by the rules and constitution of the academy and must have in possession all of the relevant arms & armour for those weapons types that the student has skill in.

In order for the student to achieve a free scholler rank at AEMMA, he/she must first pass the test for the free scholler rank. The test encompasses an oral component in which the student is posed questions pertaining to the history behind the martial art, conceptual/theoretical aspects of fighting, parts of the sword and the physics behind them. Following the oral examination, the student then demonstrates his/her skill and familiarity with the foundations of abrazare (grappling), daga (dagger) and spada longa (longsword) techniques, as well as at least two other fighting styles, such as armoured longsword, pollaxe, spear, sword & buckler, etc. These are demonstrated against a partner which would typically be an existing scholler. The candidate then proceeds to test his/her capabilities in a number of fencing challenges against all free schollers or above who are present. At the conclusion, the candidate is then announced as a new free scholler and is accepted into the rank by the rest of the free schollers present.

Photos and Videos

The free scholler test is conducted at practice in the presence of the membership and students. The tests are scheduled by the AEMMA exec at the request of the free scholler challenger. The free scholler test is open to everyone at AEMMA, including invited friends and family. Any student can challege for the free scholler test provided the requirements are met (see requirements described in the free scholler page online).

Video segments accompanied with a brief description of the context of that video segment are provided below for reference. These video segments are taken of a free scholler test challenge by David B. Murphy, a long time AEMMA student. The video file sizes range from 1.2MB - 3.2MB. The files will require QuickTime and are compatible with most Windows and Mac systems.

No.	Segment	Description	Video
1		Academic/Theory Portion: Here, the candidate undergoes a verbal examination on his familiarity with the material that makes up the scholler training. Questions posed to the student includes querying his in-depth knowledge and understanding of the principle historical source at AEMMA, i.e. Fiore dei Liberi's Flos Duellatorum which is the foundation of the training at AEMMA. Other areas tested is the student's knowledge and understanding of the principles behind the fighting techniques desribed by Liberi - something which is not explicit defined in the available texts.	(3.2MB)
2		Abrazare (grappling): The candidate is now tested for his abilities with the grappling portion of his training. Random Liberi plays are requested and detail plays covering many of the plays described by Liberi. Here, the candidate is also requested to deliver a series of counters after demonstrating the various remedy master plays.	(2.2MB)
3		Daga (dagger): Now, the candidate demonstrates his in-depth knowledge and skill with the many dagger plays described by Liberi. In this segment, the candidate demonstrates various arm bars, key locks and disarms of the attacks thrown by his opponent.	(4.4MB)
4		Spada Longa (longsword): The candidate demonstrates his skill of longsword with the numerous manners of parries, evades and disarms learned during his scholler days of training. The candidate clearly demonstrates the depth of his skills performing them with little or no hesitation.	(2.6MB)
5		Meza Spada (half-sword): Continuing with the unarmoured portion of the test, the candidate demonstrates his capabilities with half-sword techniques against his opponent, showing important elements such as traps, binds, hooks and evades.	(2.0MB)
6		Spada (arming sword): Moving to arming sword, the candidate demonstrates his abilities with unamoured arming sword, showing the classic parries and evades and repostes with the sword. The arming sword is an extremely quick weapon making it in some ways, more deadly than the longsword.	(2.3MB)
7		Lanza (spear): Shifting to pole weapons, the candidate demonstrates his skill with the spear, clearly showing the classic posta and the manner of deployment of both defensive and offensive maneuvres.	(1.4MB)
8		Azza (pollaxe): Continuing with pole weapons skills, the candidate takes on the pollaxe, demonstrating his knowledge of the classic posta, and then demonstrating his fighting skill with the same.	(3.8MB)
9		Unarmoured Swordplay Challenge Bout with Arming Sword: This is the first of a number of challenge bouts the candidate has with the free schollers in attendance. This first freeplay bout is with arming sword between the candidate and free scholler Brian McIlmoyle.	(2.5MB)
10		Unarmoured Swordplay Challenge Bout with Longsword: The second unarmoured fencing bout uses longswords and the candidate challenges free scholler David Cvet to the bout. The candidate demonstrates good distance and judgment given the relatively long reach that David has.	(4.2MB)
11		Daga in Arme (armoured dagger): The candidate now progresses to the armoured portion of the free scholler test and continues with a freeplay armoured bout with daggers.	(2.0MB)
12		Spada Longa in Arme (armoured longsword): Continuing with the armoured challenges, the candidate now challenges for armoured longsword. What is being observed are the deployment of various techniques as described by Liberi.	(3.7MB)
13		Azza in Arme (armoured pollaxe): The last challenge is armoured pollaxe. The candidate must deploy one or more techniques demonstrated during the unarmoured pollaxe portion of the test.	(2.1MB)
14		Free Scholler Designation: At the conclusion of the test, the free schollers leave the testing area to discuss the free scholler candidacy and conclude that David Murphy has successfully exhibited all of the qualities and requirements for the free scholler rank and is therefore presented with the free scholler symbol, a gold garter.	(2.9MB)