We've just finished our fifth week of Knight Camp this summer. If you're unfamiliar with Knight Camp it is this super-awesome kids summer day-camp that we run weekly during July and August. In the camp kids learn swordplay, pole weapons, and grappling as well as non-martial knightly skills such as medieval games, heraldry (the science of coats of arms -- they even make their own heraldry and paint it on their own shields!), dance, and of course knightly virtue.
Every time that I'm involved in Knight Camp (I oversee the opening and closing ceremonies and pop in through the week), I think about how much I would have loved to do this as a kid… or really now! I also get asked routinely by adult members in our school "when is adult Knight Camp?!"
Well I can tell you...
It's called Cascadia North Accolade Tournament and its coming up August 30th to September 2nd. This year it takes place on Newcastle Island, a beautiful marine park just off the shores of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. This event is three days of camping, camp fires, martial arts workshops, and of course lots of swordplay! The theme of the event is "accolade". Which is essentiality the celebration of your peers endeavours in WMA. Throughout the weekend we encourage people to practice swordplay and the associated arts through sparring, feats of skill, and more. The event essentially celebrates passion for the art. At the end of the weekend people cast ballots for those they felt best represented the passion for the art through their excellence in sparring, teaching, practice, or any other activity you feel represents love of western swordplay and martial art. Those who receive the most accolades are then celebrated through a tournament and display at arms in the final ceremony. There are prizes too!
If you've been looking for a great weekend to celebrate historical European Swordplay and the company of an excellent group of people. I recommend that you make it out to adult Knight Camp: Cascadia North Accolade Tournament! You can sign-up through our website workshop sign-up form here (it's only $75).
The event is super easy to get to by transit and there will be many people going over on foot and carpool opportunities as well.
Join our Facebook event to coordinate with other attendees and keep apprised of event developments.
Feel free to contact our front desk with any questions you may have 604-568-9907, info@academieduello.com
See you there!
Devon
Devon Boorman is the Co-Founder and Director of Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay, which has been active in Vancouver, Canada since 2004. Devon’s expertise centres on the Italian swordplay tradition including the arts of the Renaissance Italian rapier, sidesword, and longsword, as well as knife and unarmed techniques. Read more from Devon Boorman.