Consulting Swordsman
Many years ago, while I was teaching at the Dawn Duellists Society, I fenced rapier with a visiting student. He was not a very experienced swordsman so I managed to stab him five times in the chest in quick succession. That did not stop him from closing in, and, being an experienced wrestler, getting me … Read more
I love seeing sword-themed art being created, and so far this year my eye has already been caught by two fantastic, and quite different, approaches. I’m not affiliated to either, and get no commission from anything you buy. I just like their stuff. What do you think of these? On the left we have classically … Read more
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