Aide from a brief stop-over in the nation’s capital, We’re in Europe for this weeks round-up.
We do find it modestly frustrating that there are some truly excellent WMA/HEMA-related events being conducted on both continents, but there’s no ‘central, one-stop-shop’ of these sort of things that would assist the WMA traveller in making or amending travel plans.
Oh yes; before We forget: Everybody chant: “A WMA-inspired furore normannorum libera nos domine!”
Good Fights for a Good Cause (The ‘No-Crusades’ edition)!
METRO (Ottawa, Ontario) 10 September 12 HIV takes a beating at the hands and swords of modern-day knights (Jessica Beddaoui)
And in my back yard, Les Maîtres d’Armes was involved in a community service initiative; conducting their “Fight for Life” swordfighting event in support of the AIDS Walk for Life in Ottawa.
Old School Fights – New School Fans.
TV2 (Odense, Denmark) 08 September 12 Forskere studerer ridderslag (Ole Holbech)
In Nyborg Castle, a group of local historians and university academics interested in Danish medieval heritage observed a WMA event as they attempted to better understand what actually occurs during ‘ridderslag’ or ‘knightly combat’ – and how swords, bows and lances actually ‘worked’. Their intent is to make Nyborg Castle the center for Danish study of medival history, culture and combat.
What was ‘Old’ is ‘New’ again.
SOL (Saarbrücken, Germany) 26 August 12 St. Wendel: Aufbauten zum Ritterspektakel beginnen
TRIERISCHER VOLKSFREUND (Germany) 30 August 12 Wenn Schwerter klirren
WOCHEN SPIEGEL (Saarbrücken, Germany) 10 September 12 Das Mittelalter authentisch zum Leben erweckt
A fortnight ago, ten of the “best knights” from Europe , the USA, Australia … and New Zealand … competed over three days in jousting and mounted mêlées within an early-renaissance, ‘Maximilian-style’ tournament attend by 11,000.
Fighting technique, armour authenticity, horse-training and physical fitness were all featured as the ten ‘stars’ and 200 ‘supporting participants’ went through their paces in various daily challenges. At the end of the featured ‘massed battle’, the living-in-the-Netherlands Kiwi was awarded the tournaments Sword of Honour – a $6,400 hand-forged blade out of England.
Concurrently, the city historical museum had a special program featuring medieval days of joust!
Snippet:
PORTEN (Årdal, Norway) 16 August 12 Hobbyfektaren frå Lærdal
We realise that this is not WMA/HEMA, but We think young Mr. Brørs Petterson is on the right track if We want the youth of any area to become interested in what our community practices.
Graduating from hitting his brother with broomsticks, Mr. Petterson now conducts his "Deng in Laerdal" events during which the local youth (and apparently some tourists) are invited to pick up a (mock) sword and have at each other … under controlled circumstances naturally.
If the items photos are any reliable indication, the next generation of Vikings in due to appear (in a large, rowdy group doubtless) in a salle near you sometime soon.