Fightcamp is over, and we are both home in one piece!
Published: Mon, 08/19/13
Venetia and I got home last night from Fightcamp, in one piece but
tired and sunburnt. Great three days though. There was more
choice than ever in training opportunities which meant I was always
wondering if I had chosen the right class to take. My Stav session
was running at the same time as a Polish sabre class, a Backsword
class, Tomahawk and long knife and another one which I think was
about the psychological aspects of combat. All with first class
instructors of course. So I am very honored that around 18 people
supported my Stav workshop, but that is fightcamp for you.
Previously during the camp I had attended workshops on: British
military sabre, one with Matt Easton and one with David Rudd, both
fascinating. A staff session based on Pauernfeindt which was an
interesting contrast to Stav use of staff. There was a session on
learning methods with Colin Fieldhouse who is both a very
experienced HEMA teacher and an expert on pedagogy. Colin's
session gave me a lot to think about in terms of how I teach my own
classes and courses. Then there were two sessions with Pedrac
Nikolic, one on Dagger and one on German Wrestling, as usual these
were great fun as well as being highly instructive. The final
session was a dagger workshop with Wolfgang Ritter. Wolfgang
originally set me off on the study of dagger training at my first
Fightcamp four years ago and this year's session confirmed some
of what I have been working on and provided some great new ideas
for training with the dagger, I can't wait to share some of
them at Summer Camp. Also lots of great conversations in the bar
and other times, so a very stimulating weekend all round. I am
looking forward to next year already and I had a suggestion after
my workshop that there should be a Stav session each morning as I
take at Druid Camp and Mercian Gathering. It would make a nice
start to the day for those who want to join in. I don't know
if I could get the organiser to put it on the programme but it is a
nice idea. I might suggest it when I propose my workshop for next
year.
In the meantime I am available for Stav training next Saturday
afternoon (the 24th) in Crewkerne. Drop me a line if you are
interested. The following weekend is Mercian Gathering. Very
different in its purpose to Fightcamp but comparable in the quality
of organisation and in the knowledge and experience of the speakers
and workshop leaders. It is always a great honour to speak there
and to hold the morning Stav sessions which are usually very
popular. Then it is straight to Norfolk for the Stav camp which
Ivar will be teaching at over the Saturday and Sunday, training in
various aspects of Stav begins on the Thursday morning. Still a
place or two available for anyone intrepid enough to make it to
Norfolk. Stav Camp maybe be very small compared with the other
events I teach at but it is an opportunity to learn and practice
Stav at a level you won't find anywhere else. http://www.stavcamp.org/