Pirattitude

With International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD), September 19, coming up soon I thought I would post a quick note about a book put out by John Baur and Mark Summers, the creators of ITLAPD.

The book is a very funny look at how the authors got ITLAPD started and how you too can join the fun of ITLAPD.

To pick up your copy look for "Pirattitiude: So You Wanna Bea Pirate? Here's How!" published by New Amercian Library.

Of course if you have _never_ heard of ITLAPD before you need to go to www.talklikeapirate.com

Ragweed Forge

Like anyone who regularly throws tomahawks I eventually crack and break the handles.

I have found that Ragnar at Ragweed Forge is an excellent source for new handles. He has several sizes of handles and works with you on getting what you need.

Ragnar also sells different styles of 'hawks and throwing knives. Based on his customer service I would recommend looking at his site, www.ragweedforge.com, if you are looking to purchase a new 'hawk or knife or are just getting into throwing.

New Throwing Target

With the help of some friends and inspiration from www.throwzini.com I recently built a new throwing target.

The new target is much smaller than my old one and is set up about five feet off the ground. On average I would estimate I am hitting the new target four out of five times and sticking the target three out of five times.

Of course as an admitted believer in the Mallard theory of knife and axe throwing I feel close is often good enough.

Paddy Crean Workshop

I am honored to have been invited to be a Guest Artist at the 2007 Paddy Crean International Art of the Sword Workshop. The workshop will take place in Banff, Alberta, Canada from Dec. 31, 2006 to Jan. 6, 2007.

Instructors on stage combat, historic swordplay and contemporary martial arts will present short classes all week.

Keep watch at www.IOSP.org for more information about this exciting workshop.

Italian Rapier DVD's

This is another set of DVD's that have been sitting in the pile by my desk waiting for a full review.

Instead, I will just say that if you have an interest in learning 17th century rapier and have no one to learn from this would be a place to start.

The one major complaint I have is that the instructors are wearing black so it is sometiems difficult to see their actions agaisnt the dark background.

If you want to pick these up look for Palpable Hit Productions at www.delongis.com/PalpableHit

Catching Up

Whew, I am way behind in posting here.

I wanted to review a whole bunch of stuff and post info on upcoming WMA events.

Well, it is too late to post a reminder about going to ISMAC (International Swordplay and Martial Arts Convention) in Lansing, MI the first weekend of August. However, I can tell you it was a great convention. Once again the organizers, Jared Kirby, John Lennox and their staff, did a bang up job.

If you have any interest in WMA and are in the Midwest I can highly recommned consider going next year. So keep watching www.ArtofCombat.org for info.

Now, for other upcoming WMA events. The annual Western Martial Arts Workshop (WMAW) is taking place the second weekend in Octoberin the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. I plan to be there to teach a class on Swetnam's Rapier and Dagger. Other excellent instructor's from all over the world will also be there.

Here at Gallowglass Academy we have scheduled a weekend seminar at the end of October on German Medieval Martial Arts. If you have any interest punch up our website at www.GallowglassAcademy.org.

I want to let anyone who is into knife arts know about "Modern Knives", the quarterly video magazine that Pete Kautz at Alliance Martial Arts is putting out.

I have seen the first four issues and highly recommend the magazine. Each issue is on a different aspect of the knife arts. Pete and James Keating have a segement in each issue and then a special guest also does a presentation.

For more info on this magazine go to www.ModernKnives.com

That's it for now but watch this space for lots more in the near future.

Allen