Great time this past weekend sharing, learning, getting together with old friends and making new ones. Let me just jump right into the classes.

James Klock first gave us Ringkunst or Medieval German Wrestling…fun class. James is a teacher by trade and it shows through in his ability to get an idea across plus he makes a wicked mead!

Josh Little then taught Obsessio & Schützen – Bringing the Gap in I.33. This was my first class ever with sword and buckler. I enjoyed much more than I thought I would and wish I would have looked into this earlier…much fun.

Next up Meyer’s Dussack with Randal Gustitis…nice class with about a years worth of information crammed into it. I just wish I was able to absorb all of it or at least more than I did. Some new insight gained regardless of how much I missed.

Next Blackwatch Tomahawk with Chris Thompson. Anti-pugilism manual performed with the hawk. Violent and to the point, just how i like it.

Kirk Lawson, Military saber to bowie. Kirk took us through three military saber manuals first with sword then with bowie. We got to see what translated well and what did not and what needed tweaked. Great idea for a class.

Last class for Saturday- Dan Kanagie took us through Paradosiakos Pagratio Kato…basically controlling our opponent on the ground and beating the crap out of him. What more could I ask for in a class?

Sunday’s classes were all one hour and there were fewer and we were thankful.

Jointlocks and Other Body Distortions with Randal Gustitis. Randal took the Buza he showed us last year and used it as an entry point for some interesting joint locks and body manipulations from ROSS. I have been working the Buza some this last year so it was nice to put it into action.

Meyer’s Rapier with John Enzinas. Both John and Craig Shackleton (who was assisting him) took us through some of the basics and a few plays from Meyer’s rapier section…like with the earlier I.33 class, i was surprised by how much I enjoyed this class.

Next up Close quarter knife with Tim Anderson. Just as it sounds…we were up close and personal working the knife in one of the most fun classes of the entire weekend. A few of us came out a little worse for wear but it was well worth it.

Last class was me teaching sambo. Since most of the people who were able to stay till the end were of the swordy variety, I decided to work mostly standing grappling at the jacket so it would be more useful to them. It was scheduled to be the first class of the weekend but I swapped out since a few people had to leave earlier than planned. I tried to tone it down but just by the nature it turned out to be fairly demanding but hopefully some people were able to take something home.

The weather was nice for a change and the alcohol consumption was up…but I think it was mostly due to my wife’s accelerated consumption. Our highland cattle made to break outs during the weekend. Chris Thompson and I caught her the first time but on Sunday it took, Randal, Chris, Craig and I quite some time to corral both cow and calf. I am sure a you tube clip should be showing up any tme now thanks to Mr Little.

Overall a good weekend, no injuries worse than a bruise,scratch or two, lot’s of new takes on things and more conversation than can be digested in a lifetime. of course we are already talking about next year.

Meyer Dussack

Pagratio

Military sabers link to bowie knife

Tomahawk according to Anti-pugilism manual

Irish sparth axe in 10 lessons

Confirmed instructors: Ken Pfrenger, Randal Gustitis, Chris Thompson, Dan Kanagie, Kirk Lawson, Josh Little.

More to come shortly.

Dark – thirty PM Fun with shillelaghs [Ken Pfrenger and the whole Cumann Bhata crew]

Sunday
10:00 AM Buza; Russian Fisticuffs [Randal Gustitis and Matt Sparks]
11:30 AM Unarmed Highland Defense [Christopher Thompson]
1:00 PM Lunch break
1:30 PM Test cutting [Kirk Lawson]
3:00 PM Jacket Wrestling [Ken Pfrenger]

Fee: $15

Confirmed instructors this year:

Kirk lawson

Dan Kanagie

Ken Pfrenger

Chris Thompson

Randal Gustitis (Almost confirmed)

Matt Sparks (again, almost confirmed)

Allen Reed

This year we are focusing on knife and empty hand. Some classes in the works…combat knife throwing, test cutting, Russian knife play, Russian fisticuffs, catch wresting, unarmed defense using highland broadsword principles…more to come soon.

We thought it would be nice for a change to only have to carry a minimal amount of gear, this should make for a different sort of week end and an interesting one as well.

We also want to make sure we have time for some Broadsword League bouts…  hopefully Saturday night.

If there is an interest I would like to run a Irish cudgel class on Friday night or Saturday night.

There are several motels and bed and breakfasts in the area as well as camping including cabins and yurts. I also have an extra house that is as good of a place as any to throw a sleeping bag on the floor and crash. Last year we had a lucky 13 crash in my training area for the night.

Keep an eye on this site for further updates.

Sat:

9:00 AM to 10:20 AM Shashqa –  Taught by Randal Gustitis.

10:30 AM to 11:50 AM Pole Axe – Taught by Josh Little

12:30 PM to 1:50 PM Tomahawk and Long Knife – Taught by Steve Huff

2:00 PM to 3:20 PM 1813 cutlass exercise – Taught by Chris Thompson

3:30 PM to 5:50 PM – John Lennox

Sunday:

9:00 AM to 10:20 AM Carpathian Mountian Axe – Taught by Ken Pfrenger

10:30 AM to 11:50 AM Silvers sword – Taught by Allen Reed

12:30 PM to 1:50 PM Grappling at the Tomahawk – Taught by Kirk Lawson

2:00 PM to 3:20 PM Messer – Taught by Josh Little

3:30 PM to 5:50 PM Entrenching tool – Taught by Randal Gustitis

We will also have plenty of activity in the evening with singlestick being played and hopefully some impromtu work being done on anything else of interest if time permits. We will also be doing warm ups at 8:30 for anyone interested.

 Shashqa -  Taught by Randal Gustitis.

Silvers sword – Taught by Allen Reed

Tomahawk and Long Knife – Taught by Steve Huff

Pole Axe – Taught by Josh Little

Messer – Taught by Josh Little

 1813 cutlass exercise – Taught by Chris Thompson

Grappling at the Tomahawk – Taught by Kirk Lawson

Entrenching tool – Taught by Randal Gustitis

There is a chance it will be held on my property, but since I am in the middle of a move I am not sure if that is going to work out yet. I will keep everyone updated.

Nice line up of instructors this year:

Steve Huff, Kirk Lawson, Allen Reed, Josh Little, Randal Gustitis, Chris Thompson and Ken Pfrenger

Confirmed classes:

Mountain axe, Pole axe, messer, cutlass, Tomahawk and longknife, shasqua..yes 3 axe like classes and possibly 4!

We are still working on some details for the rest of the classes, should be a great time.

Cost:If this is held again at Pymatuning the cost will be $20 for both days if held on my property $10 for both…really the only goal here is to cover expenses and have fun.