Master at Arms - Boy Scouts Merit Badge Handbook

The missing manual

The Master-At-Arms merit badge was one of the first 14 original Merit Badges of Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys movement in the U.S. in 1910, but was then discontinued in 1911. Various versions of the original booklets and merit badge requirements continued in both British and US scouting. This is a reproduction of a 1925 version.


As many of the original scout activities had their roots in military scouting and fieldcraft, it was not surprising that this badge was based on then popular forms of martial arts of the era. The key requirements were to become proficient in several of the following: Single-stick, Quarter-staff, Fencing, Boxing, Ju-Jitsu, and Wrestling.


This booklet is a fascinating look at defensive arts training at the beginning of the 20th Century, and it is also still practical for those interested in learning the basics of these now more obscure martial sports.


Keywords: Boy Scout,merit badge, quarter staff, stick fighting, fencing,ju-jitsu