Hi!

Swordschool turned 24 years old last week, as you may know if you got the email. It’s a strange feeling looking back at photos from that time- we were all so young, and so keen, and, yes, I had a lot more hair.

Maybe as sword-knowledge went in, it pushed the hair out? Hard to say. In the spirit of nostalgia, here’s a photo from before I even started the school, in October 2000.

I challenged all comers at the DDS, and fought everyone in the photo at the weapon they are holding. Then got my head split open because sport fencing masks are not fit for fencing with longswords. You can read the whole story on my blog.

Bringing Vadi to life

I’ve spent this week preparing for and shooting the new Vadi course, which will include at the very least all of his longsword plays. I’m writing this the week before, because I’ll be too swamped with shooting etc., and the excellent Jo York (see episode 117 of the podcast) has come down from the North to assist me, and is sleeping in my study where the computer is. I’ve been thinking about whether to release this course in the normal way (with a limited-time launch discount), or make it only available through the Mastering the Art of Arms subscription (on teachable or Swordpeople).

On the one hand, it’s very nice to get a lump of cash up front. On the other, I’m trying to encourage the people who use my material to think of themselves as part of a larger whole, and to be in closer contact with me personally. What do you think? Launch or subscription?

I’m hoping to use some of the course material to update The Art of Sword Fighting in Earnest with videos of every play in Vadi. We’ll see…