Consulting Swordsman
I was recently contacted by a reader asking about teaching left handed students. It’s a common and relatively complex problem, so rather than confine my answer to an email I thought I’d post it here. The Question How do you teach left-handers? Why it’s a problem Left handers are relatively rare (about 10% of the … Read more
There is a heady pleasure only authors know: the moment when the book you’ve been sweating blood over for the last many months or years, is finally done. Here’s the moment captured on video for you: transferring the folder from “Writing” to “PUBLISHED!” (this is probably the least exciting video you will ever see. Unless … Read more
I don’t usually read books with sword-fights in them. There is always something that annoys me. A clear case of an author using sport-fencing experience to write about longsword fights, for instance. Or making swords do things that they just don’t. It’s especially awful when it’s supposed to be set in a particular historical period. … Read more
I remember the Cold War, when we were taught that the Russians were the bad guys, the Americans the good guys, and it seemed impossible that they would ever communicate across the deep political, doctrinal, and cultural divide. And yet, as Sting sang in 1985, “But what might save us, me and you,/ Is if … Read more
On January 23rd 2018 in an office overlooking George Square in Edinburgh, three professors agreed that I ought to have a PhD for my work recreating historical swordsmanship from historical sources. “How on earth did that happen?” you may very well ask. What happened was this: After Veni Vadi Vici came out, my dad read … Read more
This article by Claire Dederer raises an interesting question. What do we do with the art of monstrous men? In other words, does knowing that the artist is a horrible person invalidate their art? She addresses Woody Allen as her primary monster, for his appallingly disgusting sexual antics (such as having an affair with (and … Read more
A few months ago I decided to take part in the Isle of Wight Challenge, a 106km walk done over the first weekend in May. This is totally unlike any other physical thing I have ever done, so I am approaching it with caution. (Props to Joanna Penn for suggesting it; I’ve joined her Creatives … Read more
I really don’t like New Year’s resolutions. I’m also not a fan of treating this time of year as the beginning of anything. A commenter on this blog once mentioned that he does his ‘New Year’ adjustments in April- when life is returning. It struck me as very sensible. This is the middle of winter, … Read more
I’ve set this post to go out automatically on Christmas day, so as not to spoil the surprise (in the unlikely event that my nieces actually read this blog). Don’t worry, I’m not sat at my computer right now! My nieces were thrilled with the broomsticks I made for them four years ago, and they … Read more
It has been a very long time since I showed up to a martial arts club as a beginner, but over the summer I found myself looking for a regular martial arts class that fit my schedule, and in which I had no experience. I stumbled upon Jushinkan, here in Ipswich. I asked about beginners’ courses, … Read more