Members of the Okanagan Combat Guild duel in Ben Lee Park, Aug. 25.
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
August 27, 2022 - 7:00 AM
Step back in time to medieval times and learn how to use a longsword with the Okanagan Combat Guild.
The group first formed in 2012 and works hard to recreate historical European one-on-one combat.
“We take historical sources and learn the martial arts from them,” guild master Adam Ritz said.
They study a book called The Art of Combat and recreate poses and actions using a longsword, dagger, rapier, polearms and dussack.
You don’t have to have any martial arts experience to join. In many Asian martial arts, teachings are passed down from student to master but since the medieval European martial arts weren’t taught this way, the lessons left behind in books are up to interpretation, Ritz said.
For beginners, the first steps to learning how to use a sword are the basic grips, different postures and cuts before learning how to parry and combine sequences of poses. Helmets and gloves are used for protection and as learners become more advanced, additional protection is used “since we are swinging swords at each other,” Ritz said.
Despite the swords and weapons being dulled, they can still cause injury so additional padding is necessary.
“I got into this because I’ve always loved the medieval time and renaissance and played with swords growing up,” he said.
His favourite is the longsword, saying he likes using a two-handed weapon.
“A lot of people tend to fall into either the one-hand sword or two-hand sword camp,” he said.
Tournaments mean guilds can test their interpretations of the teachings against others who may have different ideas about the stances. While there are variations to winning, points are typically earned in tournaments when the combatant is able to hit the other person. Point counts depend on where the target is hit.
“I just love fooling people in thinking I’m doing one thing and hitting them somewhere else they’re least expecting,” Ritz said.
Members train to participate in tournaments across Canada and around the world. COVID-19 has made it difficult for members to travel but Ritz is hoping they will be able to partake in more as restrictions ease.
The guild is participating in a tournament in Coquitlam, Oct. 30, called the Spooky Scary Messer Showdown.
Members of the Okanagan Combat Guild duel in Ben Lee Park, Aug. 25.
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
He also stressed this isn't LARPing, or live-action role playing where people dress up in costumes and act out a storyline, similar to Dungeons and Dragons. It's focused around learning how to use the medieval weapons.
The guild has roughly 15 regular members. Drop-in fees include $20 per class or a punch card for $100 for six classes or a monthly fee for unlimited classes.
For more information, visit the Okanagan Combat Guild’s website here.
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