Club Ranking System

Written by Michael Thomas

Tuesday, 15 July 2008 14:41

Our system is based upon the traditional Masters of Defence ranking system as used in England in the 16th century. In ascending order, they were: scholler, free scholler, provost and maister. The rank of "anciant maister" was reserved as a title of courtesy for acknowledging seniority within the organization. The AHF studieds a variety of armed and unarmed fighting systems that include the following:

Club Fighting Styles:

Longsword, rapier, sidesword, messer, dagger, grappling, quarterstaff, backsword, sabre

AHF Ranking System:

Member

Initial level of all AHF recruits. At least 6 months before member can challenge for Scholar.

Scholar (YELLOW SASH)

Basic level in dagger and one fighting style. Member for 6+ months.

Free Scholar (GREEN SASH)

Advanced level in two fighting styles plus dagger. Able to teach study groups, assist with classes. Scholar for 1+ years.

Provost - (BLUE SASH)

Senior rank, advanced level in four fighting styles plus dagger. Must teach at least one 2 hour class. A Provost is the lowest rank that can teach independently or run their own AHF School. A Provost must be Free Scholar for 2+ years.

Club Master - (RED SASH)

Leader of the AHF school and its associated club. May only be granted to a Provost by 2+ Club Masters. Same requirements as Provost.

Note: Sash system not currently in use.

Historical Background

The "Four Ancient Maisters" or later the Company of Maisters were an authoritive unit and quite powerful in the sixteenth century England, specifically in London. There is evidence of some elements of their power in the "Liber Albus" containing legislation that which applied to the Company of Maisters grants them total authority to actually imprison individuals who were rebellious or contrary to the Four Ancient Maisters. The history of the Four Ancient Maisters is convoluted with scanty evidence naming this authoritive unit explicitly. The history could be linked back to a warrant of 1540 in which King Henry VIII appointed the "Masters of the Science of Defence" as a commission, however, does not actually name the organization. Later, King James I, in his warrant of 1605 charged the "Masters of ye Noble Science of Defence" with the same duties as those of the Warrant of 1540. He too failed to name the organization explicitly. Although there is no concrete evidence proving that the maisters were members of a legally constituted company, the warrants mentioned strongly suggest that such was indeed the case. The Company of Maisters had both rules and constitution to govern its mode of operation.

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