Back from S.W.A.S.H

[pmel018]

Hi Guys
I spent last weekend at the Royal Armouries, Leeds attending SWASH 2009. It was a multi-disciplinary event comprising lectures, demonstrations, training, individual lessons and ....socialising
I attended lectures on "Understanding Weapon Trauma in Archaeology", The Dussack: a demonstration by Alex Kiermayer from the Ochs school in Germany, "Researching I.33" by a very enthusiastic norwegian woman who lives and trains in Italy, afinally "The Duel in Fact and Fiction a literary and technical analysis of some of the most famous duels in literature and their real counterparts.

Due to a chronic lack of gear and an injured knee(rotten English winter)I was only able to take two classes. Bowie Knife with John Lennox, who I had trained with before and Cane and Walking Stick with james marwood who is a regular at Fightcamp. Both were great experiences, and just downright fun.
There was a black ite Gala Dinner in the Armouries on the Saturday night whih included a performance by two of the Fight Interpretation team.Armoured Pole-ax at full power and full speed

All in all a great weekend
Next is I.S.M.A.C in Detroit,if I can get the leave
Will post a few pictures

The Royal Armouries signature image

One of the most impressive sights, it is 360degrees and five stories high

Bowie class


Half of the training area

Pre-dinner entertainment

Dinner amongst the exhibits, just waaaay too cool


Regards
Phil(reporter at large)

[Nathan]

B@st@rd!!!

One day I'll be there, one day.............

[pmel018]

Hi nathan
it is all looking a wee bit dated, the displays haven't changed much since I first visited in 2000 on my way to the Battle of Hastings re-enactment. The is also a nasty PC element emerging with much reference to "knife crime" and other social ills. Nevertheless it was a great place to hold SWASH and is a great place to visit
And technically I am a B@st@rd LOL
Phil

[Víkarr]

[Mad Jim]

that would be cool to go check out, all those weapons! and as for knife crime, I'd like to put my children through self defence, unarmed and armed, as tomany pricks carry knives, and I'd like to think that should ever they be cornered with nowhere to run, they will have a chance to save themselves and not be a victim....though I hope that all what they learn or have learned will never be used out side of controlled situations!

[pmel018]

Hi Vik
sorry no video, I have few more still shots but the shiny armour and strong lights made it a bit tricky. It looked to me like an interpretation of La Jeu de Hache. Plenty of use of the queue. The whole thing was a trial run as the R.A fight team wanted to demonstrate their work while wearing "tonlet" armour, thats the skirty bit, it all folds up and articulates as well. Happy to post the other pictures.
Hi Carl
not sure who told you the crims had lost their guns... More shootings every weekend, everything from WW1 Webley revolvers to MAC 10s. As for the knife crime "epidemic" well our Bowie instructor, John Lennox, lives in Detroit, he told us that they have more youn males killed in one weekend that in all of London for the whole year
The media has invented the epidemic and wastes no effort in keeping the profile high
This can be a very sad and sorry place to live day to day, but thigs like SWASH do make it bearable
Phil

[conal]

Yet another Vicarious Sicarius Holiday.

Fantastic Phil.

Cheers & Ta.

[pmel018]

Another picture or two
A favourite of mine

Diaorama of Battle of Pavia, the models are full size

Close up, all equipment is "the real fighting stuff"

RA fight interpreters again

Phil

[BigMac]

The RA fight interpreters, what weapons did they display and what fighting system(s) did they use?

Do you think that they got it right?

TTFN

[pmel018]

Hi Big Mac
the display put on for SWASH was only armoured poleax. It looked to me like a good interpretation of le Jeu d'Hache, the Burgundian manual. The fight team covers the many other periods and cultures represented in the collection. They work throughout the day presenting a number of display pieces, sometimes as solo performers, The Battle of Towton survivour is an excellent piece done solo and from the losers perspective. There are
straight combat displays, I have seen rapier and small sword and a nice pice on personal protecion in the 19th century. The weekend of SWASH there were Pirates(but no Ninja) and an excellent kenjitsu demo all in correct costuming with decent replica weapons. All the combat displays are at full speed and power but they are all fully coreographed, the Armouries dos not allow ANY free combat to take place.
As to the quality of the interpretations....well those I have seen all looked pretty good, but I am aware that there is what might be called an 'official" R.A interpretaion that is different to that of other groups
In addition they joust, do skill at arms and falconry, real multi-skilling.
Joram van Essen did work with them a few years ago, he might be a better commentator on the absolute quality of their work.
Phil

[BigMac]

Cool

TTFN

[stephan]

yeah i would belive
more in one week end than a whole year

me ol mum just got back from england and was shocked at how much it had changed