Next stop, Chicago
Published: Wed, 05/15/19
I first met Allen Reed at Fightcamp a few years back. I think he was teaching a workshop on tomahawk and knife, or it may have been the bowie knife. I have trained both weapons with Allen on more than one occasion. Allen also came to my workshop on using the cudgel or walking stick. We got to know each other and Allen developed an interest in Stav. A couple of years ago he got me over to his home in Illinois, USA to teach a Stav seminar. Allen is a retired Deputy US Federal Marshal so he has a lot of good stories to tell. Allen was also a firearms and baton instructor, so when I held my HEMA Diversity Camp last year I invited Allen to teach some basic law enforcement skills and his contribution was much appreciated by those who participated.
Tomorrow I am flying to Chicago again to teach a Stav seminar which Allen is hosting. There should be six of us training and I will have a chance to meet Scott Hansen who is coming over from California with a friend to take part. Scott has done Stav for many years and I have communicated with him online from time to time but this will be the first time we have met and trained together. The others I will be meeting for the first time too. We have been discussing what we want to cover over the weekend and I think it is going to be pretty full on for two days. I expect that it will be tiring but a lot of fun. If still want to come I think we could still fit in another person or two, see http://iceandfire.org.uk/usamay2019.html
I have been a bit slack on the email broadcasts, sorry about that. I have been writing consistently for my Ice and Fire Stav members and a pattern seems to be getting clearer on what I am providing. I am producing and sending out a paper copy of the Web of Wyrd on a consistent monthly basis. The WoW provides updates on what has been happening, details of forthcoming events and an article on how I see the principles of Stav relating to the modern world. In recent editions I have addressed topics such as: What the history of the motor vehicle reveals about the web of society. How to uncover basic principles. What kind of people can build a better world. Freedom, choice and consequences. And, Is Stav a Religion? When you join Ice and Fire Stav you receive my foundation programme which I have been delivering via email over a period of nine weeks. However, this will be revised into twelve modules sent on paper over 12 months. For
those who have completed the Foundation Programme I have started trialling a programme I am calling Philosophers, Warriors and Healers. I am still seeing how this programme works out but the idea is to look at how knowledge and understanding of the mythology and Stav teaching can enable us to be effective human beings in the 21st century. The third module goes out this month and it will consider what it means to be a warrior in today’s world. There is also a substantial amount of material on a members only website including an archive of past editions of Web of Wyrd and quite a lot of video material. I need to update the joining page to more closely reflect how the membership scheme is now working and I will do that when I get back next week.
Looking ahead a bit, I am hosting another HEMA event in Beverley by teaming up with two instructors from York. The idea is to try and generate some interest in European Martial Arts in East Yorkshire. Date is 2nd November, you would be very welcome to come and if you know anyone who might be interested please forward them the link http://beverleystav.uk/hema02112019.html
Better go, got a lot to do before I travel across the Atlantic.
regards
Graham
PS next training opportunity in Beverley is on the 1st of June, details here https://www.iceandfire.org.uk/train.html
Rune Retreat in Norfolk at Mid-Summer, still got room for one more person if you would like to come, it will be a unique and very special experience. More details here http://rr.stavcamp.org/