Boston Sword Gathering currently hosted by Schola Saint George Metro Boston Sunday, Feb. 21st, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., $10 with RSVP to ssgforum@comcast.net 57 Stanley Ave, Watertown MA (directions below) The
BSG is an ongoing series of events where sword (and other weapon)
practitioners gather every few months in the Greater Boston area to
cross blades, share training ideas, and enjoy the camaraderie that
comes from enjoying the pursuit of swordplay and the Western martial
arts (WMA). If you are interested in seeing practical swordplay in
action, please come check us out! Schedule: 11 to 12 Free play 12 to 1 Workshop: One-handed sword of Fiore dei Liberi, c.1410 1 to 2 Free play 2 to 3 Workshop: One-handed sword of George Silver, c. 1600 3 to 4 Free play 4 to 5 Tourney development Event descriptions Free play These
are open periods where the floor is open for participants to cross
blades with anyone they can convince! Rules to be agreed upon by
opponents, though all participants are expected to hold control and
safety as the highest priorities. Workshop: One-handed sword of Fiore dei Liberi, c.1410 Take
that second hand off your sword! Almost exactly 600 years after
Fiore’s only dated work, this workshop will look at some techniques of
the Spada a Una Mano and give participants a chance to try them out in
an instructive environment and possibly the tournament as well. Workshop: One-handed sword of George Silver, c.1600 Drawing from Silver’s Brief Instructions,
this workshop will illustrate some theories and techniques of Silver’s
backsword, and how they can apply to analyzing and optimizing
techniques in other traditions. Theory will again be followed by
general training scenarios to allow participants to try these out in a
controlled environment, and if all goes well, try them out in the
tournament. Although a basket-hilted sword is recommended (e.g. SCA
rattan), any one-handed simulator will do. Tourney development Here’s
where participants get to simultaneously practice swordplay while
contributing to the development of practical competitive WMA! This is
an ongoing effort to test and vet various tourney rules to see what
works well and what needs improvement. Details on specific rules will
be provided at the event, though questions are welcome at jeff@fortewordplay.com . Basic equipment guidelines can be found below. Equipment Required: Protective gear: head protection (e.g. fencing mask), hand protection (e.g. LAX gloves), groin protection for men Weapons: modified shinai, steel federschwert Recommended: Protective gear: back of head protection, arm/forearm/elbow protection, knee protection, mouth guard (if you wish to grapple) Weapons: anything else you’d like to play with -- please send questions/requests to ssgforum@comcast.net Directions: The
venue for the event is at 57 Stanley Ave., Watertown, MA -- look for a
big red school and come around to the right hand side. Click here for
direct directions off I-95. (Google
Maps has now been corrected to show that you can only reach Stanley Ave
from Waltham St, not Pleasant St--watch out if you’re working from
older maps!) |