October Newsletter

October 2013 newsletter.

Good morning Swords....

We are moving towards the end of one of the most remarkable summers in the history of Chivalrous Sword Handling.
Tournaments, weddings, faire demonstrations.  Oh my!  We HAVE been busy.
Pat yourselves on the back!

We had a perfect run at the faire, and a great demonstration as two of our swords were married!
The grace of the sparring on the rare occassions we can actually demonstrate it garners unfailing positive support!
Such grace and skill does not come without a LOT of practice!

However,  I am struck by the sheer wonderful quality of the armour which was on display. 
Am I blowing my own horn here about armour quality?
Well, maybe a little, but really the armour I am talking about is the armour that passionate swords have made right here in my shop.
My contribution is simply to make sure it gets done safely. 
Please drop into the web site of the Armoured Company of the Sword, and check out the Osgoode 2013.
The contrast between this year and years past shows a progression which warms the heart of this old blacksmith.

http://www.armouredswords.ca/ACOTS_Pictures.html

You will see what I mean! 
So, to this end, formal classes have resumed on Fridays. 
Limit of three students.
Materials cost applies.

Ths shop has new toy, a cabinet sand blaster has been installed. 
It turns black fourteen gauge iron into pretty well behaved matt finished steel in minutes.
Can you throw your armour in there and have it come out rust free and highly polished?
Well, it doesn't work like that.  But you know....we have plans! Ideas!
We are thinking "tumblers". Plans are tentative.
But maybe this winter, you could actually do that!
Worth a try.  Anybody want to help make it? 

The installation was, when all the fittings were installed, over five hundred dollars.
All paid for by the Swords themselves from the odd five or ten dollar bill tossed into the collection can.
So, what can I say, but THANK YOU, and of course, now we have it, guys...use it!
It is there for you to use.

Saturdays are getting crowded.  What do you think of me opening Sundays as well?

Up coming events?
Well, tournament on Saturday coming.  If it doesn't rain again. (insert frown here)
Oh the other hand, the oldest fall faire in Ontario is running just up the road from here!
So, if we get rained out again...well...
we can always go over to see some of the most magnificient horses in Canada in action!
(Metcalfe if famous for its heavy horses!) This is a real fair...old school. Wonderful.
Tonight is the demolition derby.  Not quite so old school.
Hot coffee will be available all evening at the Forge...and dress warm! 

Next big thing...

Mayor Watson wants us to demonstrate our stuff at the Osgoode table at his Seventh Annual Halloween Party.
Friday,
There is usually a very good cause involved. Food bank I think this year.
What evah....
Its a chance to show off our stuff.

Mayor Watson's Halloween Party, 26th Oct.  City Hall Lisgar side, start set up is at noon, set up and in place by 3:15.
Goes to seven.  
Access to electricity. 
We have a change room. Parking validation if we car pool, we will bring armour in our van same as for the Temple's demo. 
We are limited to fourteen people.
This is a publicity demo. 
We will probably make the national news. 

And that is the last demo before the Pumpkin slaughter in November, I think. 


I think I will need a few armour stands!!!!


Well, there you go, lots of stuff going on.
Anybody want to be a part of it, keep emailing me at MarshalBill@gmail.com.

disclaimer. 

This email is going out to people who have requested it.  If you want to be taken off the list, let me know.
Please don't just mark me down to go into the spam folder. Gmail may take action if too much stuff from me goes into spam folders.
 If you don't want to hear from me, then just say so.
I have broad shoulders. 


In Honour, Courtesy and Nobility....
Bill Fedun
Marshal of the Armoured Company of the Sword
Armour maker. 

Plante Grads July 2013

Summer class pictures 2013

click on the pic to embiggen.  The top group is of course, the advanced group at Plante.  The bottom is our Algonquin grads.  What a great group...I have NEVER had such an eclectic group of swords!  Every darned one of them has a future as a warrior!  Without exception.

Algonquin Times January 2013

I figured I would publish this on MY blog since I know that newspaper archives often vanish without warning.... 
This was an article published in the Algonquin Times, written by the Journalism Student Christopher Mines.  My comments are below. 

Shining knight swerves sword for students

By: Christopher Mines

Most teachers would get fired for hitting their students but there is one class where students pay to be hit with swords while wearing medieval armour.
Once a week medieval sword handling expert Bill Fedun teaches students how to parry, strike, takedown an opponent, basic shield tactics and how to use different forms of armour.
This general elective course offers students a glimpse into the past by offering accessible medieval sword handling workshops for students. Fedun teaches his students many forms of stick fighting and how to assemble chain armour.
Fedun and associate instructor Jeff Greenwood use several synthetic European broad swords and Japanese katana’s. “We don’t want anyone to lose an eye,” said Greenwood. Greenwood is a graduate of Algonquin’s print media program and has worked with Fedun for over five years.
The goal is to encourage students to take things in big bites and to become more passionate individuals said Fedun. Students exercise and become more confident in their everyday lives
The class is “meant to be honourable,” said Fedun. “I don’t want my sword fighting to be a poser.”
Fedun has taught this course for over 10 years and he emphasizes “How to be chivalrous and not an expert in sword handling,” said Fedun. “Some people lack respect and courtesy which makes them fearful.”
Fearful people overreact and look for places to hide. Fedun believes this leads to violence but if people learn the right symbol than they do not have to be afraid.
“The sword is a way better symbol than a weapon,” said Fedun. “It is a symbol of warrior ethos.” “If you are honourable and courteous then what the hell is there to be afraid of?”
Fedun served in the military and holds a black belt in Kenjutsu, which refers to the ethics and honour that comes with sword handling. “It means the gentleman’s way,” said Fedun.
Algonquin graduate Jason Russet has taken several courses with Fedun and keeps coming back. “It is pure fitness,” said Russet. “I love medieval arts and they use armour.”
Fedun said that Algonquin obviously likes his teaching style because “It fill seats and strikes a chord of humour and courtesy.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The usual errors of course,
We don't use steel battle swords in training and we require safety glasses because we don't want anyone to lose an eye. 
Christopher misheard or misunderstood or perhaps over edited my original line....  The class is meant to be "honourable, courteous, chivalrous, and accurate to the time period...I don't want my sword fighters to be considered "posers".  
 One or even two classes in sword handling will not make you an expert in sword handling, but it WILL help you to be Chivalrous and Honourable.  These, added to Respect and Courtesy are elements of knighthood, and as we all know, knights are not fearful.  The rest is a little awkward, but I don't mind letting it stand, clearly the young reporter had trouble with the concepts. 

I do NOT, of course, have a black belt in Kenjutsu.  Practitioners of Kenjutsu are not generally concerned with belts such as used in the Judo world, but of course, some take these awards very seriously, and I hasten to point out to anyone who might be offended...it was not I who claimed I had a black belt in this beautiful art.

The line "if you are honourable and courteous, what the hell is there to be afraid of?" is correct, but out of context here.  This may have been my fault...a very complex concept that the reporter simply did not "get".  Essentially, I told him that people to bad things to each other for only two reasons...because one is a bully, which needs no explanation, and because they are afraid, which leads to actions which are often violent.  A cognitive dissonance prevents people from recognizing that their actions are often predicated on fear...fear of the black ghetto resident, fear of the gay man, fear of the foreigner, fear of the Moslem man, even fear of the skateboarder or the gangsta.  This fear is spread and used by sensationalist media to sell newspapers (or advertising air time)  but the result is a fearful mindset which causes people to fire gay teachers without cause, or beat them up.  You can insert the ethnic-religious-nationality of your choice into that last statement.  If you get rid of the fear, you get rid of the stupid behaviour.  Building a set of ethics is a very good way to, well, perhaps not get rid of fear, but at least handle it appropriately.
This is a VERY difficult concept to get across, and I fear I failed in this case...the reporter valiantly tried to get the concepts across, and for that I must give him full marks.

But hey....how often do you get to state ANYTHING you believe in and have it published!

Now, get training for Osgoode Village Medieval Festival!

Guy Gabaldon

Beachcombing's Bizzare History Blog has the story of possibly the greatest US Marine in the second world war.  Before I send you off to his web site...  http://www.strangehistory.net/2013/06/28/the-greatest-marine-of-wwii/  I should point out WHY I find this man so interesting.

Years ago, I read a story about a fellow who went to Japan to get one of the elusive high number Dans you can only get over there.  He had earned the award, and was going home with his Sensei on the Tokyo subway.  A big son of a gun had been in his cups and saw him sitting over across the aisle, and strode over to get into the American's face. The American, the one telling this story, was thinking "hey, my Sensei is right here, now I can show him how much I have learned".  There was the usual give and take of annoying testosterone driven bullshit familiar to anybody who ever attended high school, and just as the American was about to take a round out of the bruiser, his sensei told him to "sit down".  Then he addressed the big guy respectfully, asking him what had happened that day.  Turns out the guy's wife had been unfaithful, and in anger he showed up drunk to work, and he had been given an unscheduled "vacation".  Firing is nearly never done, but such a "vacation" can have very long term career implications.  The man's life was in shambles, and he needed to lash out, preferably at somebody "different".  The "different one's" Sensei took the energy, turned it around into a healing moment and the big guy ended up sobbing his story out right there on the subway.  

          I think the story is so unlikely that it must be true.  The next day the American continued his training, to learn the power of words, diplomacy and emotions.  These are, in my opinion, MUCH more powerful than mere kicks, elbow smashes and hammer fist punches.  I am sure that anybody who thinks about these things will agree that the study to become effective in the art of verbal Jujutsu would really take a lot of years. 

Then we need to go to the case of Guy Gabaldon.  

It is hard to imagine how effective verbal Jujutsu is until you are presented with a scenario like the one that Guy Gabaldon was presented with.  His crowning achievement was when he single handedly brought in (took prisoner) 800 fully armed veteran soldiers, dug in with plenty of ammunition, and with a history of suicidal attacks.  I'll let him tell it in his own words.

This is reality.  Not Rambo bullshit. 

(beachcomber says...) His greatest moment of triumph came 8 July 1944 as the Saipan campaign was rolling up. After an insanely brave and insanely ineffective banzai charge the last of the Japanese troops on the island had taken to hiding in caves and cliffs on the coastal fringes of the island. GG went to work talking to two Japanese sentinels. 

I pointed to the many ships we had lying off shore waiting to blast them in their caves. ‘Why die when you have a chance to surrender under honorable conditions? You are taking civilians to their death which is not part of your Bushido military code.’ The big job was going to be in convincing them that we would not torture and kill them – that they would be well treated and would be returned to Japan after the war. I understood that their Bushido Code called for death before surrender, and that to surrender was to be considered a coward. This was going to be a tough nut to crack. It was either convincing them that I was a good guy or I would be a dead Marine within a few minutes. I knew that there were hundreds of die-hard enemy at the bottom of the cliffs and if they rushed me I would probably kill two or three before they ate me alive. This was the final showdown. Can I pull this off? I had beat the odds so far, but now the odds are almost insurmountable against being able to get these suicidal Nips into surrendering.  I finally talked one of my two prisoners to return to the bottom of the cliffs and to try to convince his fellow Gyokusai Banzai survivors that they would be treated with dignity if they surrendered. I kept the other one with me, not as a hostage, but because he said that if he went to the caves with my message and they did not buy it, off with the head. I couldn’t help agreeing with him. The one that descended the cliff either had lots of guts or he was going to double-cross me and come back with his troops firing away. Who was the prisoner, me or the Japs? This was the first time that I was caught in this type of predicament. I had many close calls in shoot-outs and forays into enemy territory, but this was mixing it with those bent on killing seven Marines to one Jap.

 This passage tells you all you need to know about Gabaldon. On the one hand, we have this bluff LA-er who seems to think he is in a war movie rather than a war and who uses all the clichés of his trade, not least rather insensitive language for ‘the Nips’. But read this again and you’ll see that GG understood the Japanese – ‘Bushido Code’ etc – and as importantly he didn’t feel that visceral hate for the Japanese that many US servicemen honed through their battles: take his respect for the prisoner who goes down to negotiate and his understanding of the man who refused.

Here he comes with twelve more military personnel, each with a rifle. This is it! This time I can’t tell them to drop their weapons, I can’t tell them they are surrounded. I am now a prisoner of the fanatical Manchurian campaign veterans. They don’t say a word. They just stand there in front of me waiting for the next move. They’re not pointing their weapons at me, but on the other hand, they don’t have to. If I go to fire they would have the drop on me. They’d chop me down before I fire a round. I must keep my cool or my head will roll. ‘Dozo o suwari nasai!’ (Please sit down). I must make them feel that I have everything under control. This is the first time that I think of being too young to demonstrate authority, but what else can I do? ‘Tabako hoshi desu ka?’ (I offer them cigarettes). Okay, let’s get down to serious business. I’m building up courage within myself. ‘Heitai san,’ (Fellow soldiers!). ‘I am here to bring you a message from General Holland ‘Mad’ Smith, the Shogun in charge of the Marianas Operation.’ ‘General Smith admires your valor and has ordered our troops to offer a safe haven to all the survivors of your intrepid Gyokusai attack yesterday. Such a glorious and courageous military action will go down in history. The General assures you that you will be taken to Hawaii where you will be kept together in comfortable quarters until the end of the war. The General’s word is honorable. It is his desire that there be no more useless bloodshed.’ The Japs didn’t know General Smith from General Pancho Villa. But they respected the word, ‘Shogun.’ ‘Heitai san, Amerika no Kaigun no Kampo de anata tachi minna korusu koto ga dekimas.’(The American Navy with its firepower can kill all of you). I point to the hundreds of ships off shore. I am making headway. They mumble among themselves, but the very fact that they came to talk with me shows a breakthrough. They could have easily shot me from behind the rocks on the edge of the cliffs. This scam has to work or adios mother. The one in charge is a Chuii (First Looey). He reaches over and accepts a cigarette, a break. They’re coming around. I try something else, the Japanese adage I learned in East L.A., ‘Warera Nihonjin toshite hazukashii koto o shitara ikemasen.’ They smile, probably at my poor pronunciation. They know that I am not Japanese. I look like a typical Chicano. The Chuii asks me if we have a well equipped hospital at our headquarters. Madre mia, they are going to buy my proposition. I tell him, ‘Tabemono, nomimono, chiryo o agemasho. Amerika Oisha takusan orimasu. Anata no heitai ga kegashita ka?’ (we have fine, well equipped doctors – do you have many wounded?) The Chuii gazes at the ships just a few hundred feet off the cliffs. He has to know that to resist is sure death for all, me included. I can see that this guy does not want to die or he would have done himself in last night during the Gyokusai attack. ‘So da yo! Horyo ni naru!’ (So be it! I become your prisoner!) My thought was, ‘Guy, you short-ass bastard, you did it!’

And he had. Within half an hour eight hundred Japanese soldiers and civilians had surrendered to a single American marine.  It is difficult not to admire Guy Gabaldon. By the time the battle was over, he had persuaded 1500 soldiers and civilians to surrender. 

Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
Headquarters & Service Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division
Date of Action: June 15 - August 1, 1944
Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Guy L. Gabaldon, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism while serving with Headquarters and Service Company, Second Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan and Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands, South Pacific Area, from 15 June to 1 August 1944. Acting as a Japanese Interpreter for the Second Marines, Private First Class Gabaldon displayed extreme courage and initiative in single-handedly capturing enemy civilian and military personnel during the Saipan and Tinian operations. Working alone in front of the lines, he daringly entered enemy caves, pillboxes, buildings, and jungle brush, frequently in the face of hostile fire, and succeeded in not only obtaining vital military information, but in capturing well over one thousand enemy civilians and troops. Through his valiant and distinguished exploits, Private First Class Gabaldon made an important contribution to the successful prosecution of the campaign and, through his efforts, a definite humane treatment of civilian prisoners was assured. His courageous and inspiring devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.^[10]

Sun Tsu said  For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

Learn this well.

 

June Newsletter

June-July Newsletter

Good morning swords!

This newsletter is being sent to all the latest additions to our cozy company of martial artists, sword handlers, pirates, and assorted reprobates.
For some, this may be a bit of a repeat of the one you got last week.  
This newsletter is now being sent to 22 MORE people!  Wow. 
These are the wonderful people who just finished up our Wednesday class on the 12th, and are looking forward to the advanced one on the 19th.
And yes, you are in good company with the Friday class people, many of whom will be joining you as well next week!
Some of you already know each other.
There is no problem with the overlap...the incessant review on the advanced classes will do nothing but boost your confidence.

As we get into the summer months, we noticed that there is a conflict at the City classes. 
As you know, we also teach this class for the city of Ottawa at the Plante recreation centre at Sommerset St. at Preston. 
The conflict is in the first day, which totally conflicts with the Osgoode Medieval Festival AND on the last day which conflicts with Fan Expo. 

We successfully filled three classes of basic sword handling through May and June. 
This was through successful advertising and promotion. 
Seems that people really do want to take these courses IF they know about it!
Allow me to pat the backs of all the people who "told their friends" about us.  It worked!
  
And of course, the advanced classes are just waiting to be filled with eager warriors.  
Should be no problem...Algonquin has an advanced Chivalrous Sword Handling course for June 19th to July 31st. Wednesdays.
And as of 13 06 2013, it is running!
But there is still room for people who wish advanced training.  A dirty trick every class!  Armouring all the time.  Whats not to love?

We should probably just take August off, at least at Algonquin. 
We have Fan Expo in Toronto, and a couple of birthday tournaments to keep people interested and fighting.
On the other hand, if we let things slide for a month, they could well vanish forever.
But I think it is better to start the next series of beginner's classes in September.   
What do people think of that plan?  email me with your thoughts....  marshalbill@armouredswords.ca 
(oh wait, does that email even work?  Well, my backup is this one...MarshalBill@gmail.com)


The price is the same at the College's usual ten bucks an hour (plus taxes).
You can sign up on line by going to here  http://xweb.algonquincollege.com/pdi/courseDetail.aspx?id=GEN0105
And of course, the Plante Recreation Centre is happy to accomodate us for a summer course in about another month.

I think Jeff should teach a Ken Jutsu class at the Plante Recreation centre.
I have put in a proposal for an extra two hours at Plante devoted to KenJustsu.

This will have to be a paid class, in order to be covered by the city insurance.
If there is interest, we will run it.  If not, well, no harm done by asking if there is enough interest.
Again, if you want a KenJutsu course enough to pay seven bucks an hour for it, email me at marshalbill@gmail.com
What do you get for your money?  The finest Japanese sword handling training in the world!
(okay, finest in Ottawa!)  Free parking, heat in the winter, air con in the summer, and somebody ELSE cleans the toilets.

I personally believe that Ken Jutsu makes a very nice addition to the sword arts.
What do you all think?  If there is interest, Jeff has agreed to run a formal Kenjutsu course from 10:30 to 12:30 at Plante on Sundays.
An option would be ONE HOUR instead of two.  Cheaper, and easier on students. 
Again, we need your feedback.  email me if you wish to commit to a Japanese sword handling course on Sundays

Marshalbill@gmail.com  and let me know if you want the one hour or the two hour kick at the cat.
This will be in addition to the two hours of European. 
I need 10 people to say they want it before they will run it. 
If I don't get 10 names, the concept is dead in the water, and there will be NO Ken Jutsu on Sundays.


(Yes, Dmitri, I have you on the list....)
 

Five more students are trained and safe to work in the shop. So we will be seeing them on Saturdays.

Two more battle ready armours have been finished at the armour shop in Metcalfe by inspired fighters.
We saw them in action last Sunday.  They sure look good!

But, there has to be more than just training...there is "doing" as well.
We are planning a spring tournament 22 June 2013
Spring tournaments traditionally have been problematic because of course everybody is so busy in June!
And those spring showers put the mockers on outdoor tournament plans.

I am looking for warriors who want to put their carefully hones skills to work.

Brenda loves hosting tournaments when she has help. 
So we will need volunteers to tend the bonfire, haul tables around, erect canopies, that sort of thing. 

So if you are willing to volunteer, Call Brenda at tudorlady@gmail.com and she will find you something to do.
If all you want is to fight, then great.  email me at marshalbill@gmail.com and let me know.
There will be prizes.
(prettiest fighter, most chivalrous fighter, most unlikely fighter, that sort of thing.)
(consider this a call for prizes as well!  All donations gratefully accepted)


With a rain date of a week later.  I know...somebody always has something on the go no matter what date I pick. 
As usual, RSVP is required only if you want to get in on the barbeque ribs deal from the D & S.  

(And I know this newsletter is going as far away as Malta and Latvia...so I understand you guys not showing up!  But we will raise a toast to ya!)

email me marshalbill@gmail.com with your thoughts on this matter.

Upper Canada Village show weekend is June 8 and 9.  Osgood Village Medieval Faire is July 13 and 14.
Big tournament at Andrew Beere's place on 20 July. 
This party is to celebrate Andrew Beere's birthday, John Piche's birthday, and Dan Piche's birthday.
So you KNOW it will be well attended by some of the finest fighers in Ottawa.
RSVP directly to lisa@beere.ca
Her exact words were ...  come one come all.
This is what it will look like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkteEFI-PBs&feature=related

BYOB 

A knight in Edinburgh

This May, researchers have found a family crypt of a knight and his family under a car park in Edinburgh.  Why it should be a surprise that they would find skeletons under a known ancient monastic building is anybody's guess, however this is the whole article from the Daily Mail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2317097/Researchers-family-knight-Middle-Ages-buried-Edinburgh-car-park.html

Click on the image to embiggen, then click "beside" the image to come back here.

Why do I find this interesting?  Well, being a knight was more than just being a random soldier.  A knight was the law, the kings representative, the dispenser of justice...a lot more than being just a man at arms.  The cracked sand stone grave marker above shews a great sword.  Such a sword is not really made for fighting...it is a "great" sword, a symbol of the hand of royalty on the person under the stone.  Such "great swords" were used in judicial combat because they represented royalty.  "you gonna fight amongst yourselves boys, then you use these swords".  Often they were blessed by representatives of the church, and consequently, people felt they invested a lot of "right" on their side.  No doubt swinging such a big heavy sword would slow the hand of the guilty...a psychological effect which must not be overlooked!

The knight himself did not seem to have had much in the way of injuries...and the skeleton is of quite a small man...cause of death undetermined at this time.  What is poignant is the skeletons of the kids.  Death was never far away in those days.