Hi!

The Gathering of Wolves, in Cardiff last weekend, was a delight. It’s my first event in the UK for a decade (which is weird, right? I’ve literally attended more events in New Zealand than in the UK since I moved here). I taught two classes- one on I.33 sword and buckler, the other on Fiore’s zogho largo/zogho stretto distinction, and gave a lecture on solo training. They were all very well attended (about 40 students in each, I think), and each and every student was a pleasure to have in class. Here’s the crew from my sword and buckler class:

I managed to get some fencing in before my class on Sunday morning, and again, every bout was a pleasure. I also got to meet some legends of the UK historical martial arts scene, watch some of their classes, and in general connect with my people.

The event absolutely deserves a full and proper write up, which I’ll try to get to soon, but for now just let me say if you get the chance to attend next year, just do it. Hope to see you there!

The mysteries, revealed…

The wedged through-tenon is the base joint for these parallelettes, which my wife needed for her Pilates. They are taller than the usual parallelette design, hence the wedge.

And the one and only Domenico Angelo married Elizabeth Johnson in the St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, in 1755.

Speaking of Angelo, on my way home from the Gathering I stopped off at the National Fencing Museum to take even better photos of the plates in the gorgeous 1763 first edition of l’Ecole des Armes for my current Angelo smallsword project.

I also took about a billion photos of foils from the period. Those funny ones that we see in the plates?

Lovely in the hand, I must say :)

I’m home for less than a day though, as my Mum is not well so I’m going up to Scotland to see her this afternoon (on Wednesday 25th as I write this). We have five podcast episodes recorded, but I’ve postponed four or five interviews, and the Angelo smallsword video recording session. This newsletter may also become erratic for a while.

On The Sword Guy podcast: The pen and the sword of justice, with Ariel Anderssen

This episode sees the return of Ariel Anderssen, who is a model, actor, author, property investor, and is perhaps best known for her career as a BDSM model and performer. Of course, her principal claims to fame are actually appearing on episodes 93 and 102 of this very show.

We do talk about swords a bit… what sword would be a worthy reward for finishing a book, and my smallsword obsession.

Ariel is ostensibly on the show to talk about her new book Dirty. This is her second memoir. We talk about a lot more than just the book though, including taking part in hijack simulation exercises in Nigeria, the double standards for actors in drama and in porn, chokeholds, coping with change, being recognised by policemen, and more.

cheers,

Guy

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P.S. Just a reminder: the school’s 25th birthday sale is still on: use the code SWORDSCHOOL25! to get 25% off all digital products at courses.swordschool.com, and at swordschool.shop. And don’t forget to pick up your free Vadi facsimile while you’re there!

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