Historical swordplay, historical martial arts, theatre swordplay, fitness and character building. This weeks’ offering of press prove that WMA/HEMA interests originate within a wide of people, and can be used to achieve totally different personal and professional goals. It can also be used to demonstrate that ‘common sense’ amongst some travellers and air travel authorities has been flung over the walls into the moat!
Credits for Capo Ferro
NEWS-SENTINEL (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 18 January 13 Huntington University students get a lesson in combat (Ellie Bogue)
John Lennox continues to teach swordplay of various styles and stage combat at Huntington University.
“Chloe-Ann Shaw, a theater arts major, had a look of fierce concentration on her face as she moved back and forth across the stage. She admitted she took the class because it sounded like fun, but it has turned out to be some work, as well”.
Lennox said with the increase in movies that use these skills, like “Lord of the Rings,” there has been an increased interest in students wanting to learn the art.
Cold Steel, colder beer
STV (Edinburgh, UK) 21 January 13 Swords cross as Auld Reekie warriors get a taste of cold steel (Laura Piper)
There’s nothing like the hiss of cold steel whistling past your face to make you feel more alive ... or to make you pay better attention to what is going on around you!
In winter-cold Edinburgh Andy Taylor instructs on passes with colder blades with the students of Stork’s Beak School of Historical Swordsmanship as they learn the fine art of medieval swordplay.
Although no-one need be in any great form of fitness to try it, it does work all your muscle groups – limbering you up and toning your arms and thighs in particular.
“I’ve tried fencing once before,” Kiera says. “It was just the one class up in Dundee but I managed to smash a clock.
“It’s a slightly odd looking bunch, from student age to elderly, half male and half female.” {Comment: Sound’s like a snap-shot of an average group of 'normal' people to me.}
“We all like to pop along to the pub afterwards,” smiles Andy. “It’s always been a good way to round off a duel.”
Trust in your sword.
MACARTHUR CHRONICLE (Campbelltown, Australia) 24 January 13 Camden youngsters learn the art of sword fighting at Harrington Park Community Hall (Sean Thompson)
Karin Kennedy is teaching swordplay classes with the intent of boosting the confidence of young people while providing opportunities to become physically fit.
“The workshop helps build confidence through choreography and different methods of swordplay,” she said.
“It's also a trust-building exercise because the children have to work together in close quarters.”
Bartitsu Brollies
THE PROVINCE (Vancouver, British Columbia) 20 January 13 Bring an umbrella to a knife fight? Perhaps (Stuart Derdeyn)
Stage combat and martial arts instructor David McCormick instructed on how best to use the da-to-day dress accessories of the Victorian gentleman to defend oneself against the local thuggery … and to look elegant while doing so.
The mixed martial art of Bartitsu combines elements of English boxing, French Savatte, Japanese jujitsu and European cane (read umbrella) fighting.
“Personal self-defense is something everyone is more concerned about these days and I think that in Vancouver — where almost everyone has an umbrella — it makes a lot of sense to learn how to use it as a tool to keep yourself safe.
“Plus, it really is a lot of fun.”
Theatre of Round … One!
WASHINGTON POST (DC) 17 January 13 For Casey Kaleba, fight choreography means more than just throwing punches (Stephanie Merry)
For those involved in staging sword fights for a living, this item is an interesting report on just how much work is involved in getting safe, dramatic and believable representations of violence into a dramatic venue restricted by ‘boundary issues’ … and left-handed actors.
“I think of myself as a movement artist”.
Snippets
CBC (Vancouver, BC) 25 January 13 Novelty 'gunbrellas' provoke police warning in B.C.
A public service announcement about the problem of carrying ‘sword-handled umbrellas’ in a public venue.
STUFF (Auckland, New Zealand) 23 January 13 'Prepare to die' t-shirt causes stir on flight (Michelle Cooke)
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die"