Steel Tiger
Senior Master
While investigating some thoughts about European martial arts I came across this fine little group with a rather excellent name.
For those of you who thought you had it tough with powerful overarching organisations, you're not alone. This group was founded in the 16th century and did what we see so often these days. They had official ranks for their members (which had to be held for a minimum of 7 years each), issued certificates acknowledging a member's rank and level of training, trained members, and required dues and obedience to superiors.
There are some nice elements to this organisation too.
The ranks they issued were - Scholar, Free Scholar, Provost, and Master. Only Masters were allowed to instruct independent of the company all others had to pay dues to their instructors within the company.
The company required a rank be held for a minimum of 7 years. So, to be a Master would take a minimum of 21 years, and there was no guarantee one would be promoted to Master after that time. No simple time-serving here it seems.
The company was governed by four senior Masters.
It is notable that George Silver was not a member and was not considered a professional instructor of fencing and defence.
The Company never became a guild and it was brought undone by the anti-monopoly laws introduced by James I.
For those of you who thought you had it tough with powerful overarching organisations, you're not alone. This group was founded in the 16th century and did what we see so often these days. They had official ranks for their members (which had to be held for a minimum of 7 years each), issued certificates acknowledging a member's rank and level of training, trained members, and required dues and obedience to superiors.
There are some nice elements to this organisation too.
The ranks they issued were - Scholar, Free Scholar, Provost, and Master. Only Masters were allowed to instruct independent of the company all others had to pay dues to their instructors within the company.
The company required a rank be held for a minimum of 7 years. So, to be a Master would take a minimum of 21 years, and there was no guarantee one would be promoted to Master after that time. No simple time-serving here it seems.
The company was governed by four senior Masters.
It is notable that George Silver was not a member and was not considered a professional instructor of fencing and defence.
The Company never became a guild and it was brought undone by the anti-monopoly laws introduced by James I.
