A Weekend of Swordplay and Service
It’s been an inspiring week here in Taiwan from presenting at the Chimei Museum to teaching in Kaohsiung, and now preparing for another full weekend of workshops in Taipei and Taizhong. Meanwhile, back home in Vancouver, our community is getting ready to “Beat the Crap Out of Cancer” in support of the BC Cancer Foundation.
From Knight to Gentleman — Chimei and Kaohsiung Highlights
My lecture on the evolution of European martial arts at the Chimei Museum went superbly well. With Tai Lee translating and members of the THEF Guild assisting, we demonstrated sword and shield, sword and buckler, poleaxe, armoured combat, sidesword, rapier, and more.
The audience of over 200 museum staff and volunteers was deeply engaged, asking thoughtful questions. Afterward I led a sold-out tour of the museum’s medieval and Renaissance arms collection along with two hands-on workshops one on rapier, one on longsword for Chimei patrons. This was the museum’s first event of its kind, and it could not have gone better.
The next day in Kaohsiung, I taught a longsword fundamentals and tactics workshop, exploring mechanics, movement, flow, and control in the morning, then diving into tactical problem-solving in the afternoon. The students from several local groups were keen, inquisitive, and a joy to teach.
This Weekend in Taipei (and Taizhong)
This weekend, I’ll be teaching a series of workshops on wrestling (with and without weapons), rapier tactics and control, and longsword mechanics. There may still be a few spaces left, but spots are limited. If you’re in Taiwan and want to train, now’s the time!
Beat the Crap Out of Cancer — November 9th at Academie Duello
This Sunday, our community at Academie Duello joins forces with Maelstrom Martial Arts for Beat the Crap Out of Cancer, a day where martial artists from a diversity of schools come together to spar, celebrate, and raise funds for the BC Cancer Foundation.
I’m proud to be part of Haley’s Honour Guard, a team founded by my student Jeremy in memory of his daughter Haley, who passed away from cancer at just 20 years old. Jeremy started the team to honour her courage and continue her fight through community, action, and love.
Haley’s Honour Guard has already raised thousands for cancer research and we’re back again this year to keep her spirit alive: fighting with swords and with heart.
If you’d like to help, please consider donating through my fundraising page. Every contribution makes a difference.
http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/btcoocdevon
