Last week I had the privilege of spending 3 days in Sierra Nevada National Park up in the wooded mountains outside Fresno, CA teaching a great group of youths and adults an introductory Renaissance Martial Arts course on longsword. It was a great opportunity, albeit an exhausting on (having ten or twelve kids chase you around with sticks for hours upon end over rocks and ground debris at that altitude is a challenge). They were all keen students with a great attitude. They purchased 50 wasters for the event intended to teach youth about character, ethics, and chivalric values. We plan to make the ARMA component an annual thing. Besides teaching, practicing, and doing general work on my projects, I even had time for a little rappelling and rock climbing along with the whole communing with nature” thing.
[One of the more amusing things we did along the way was hold an imprompt “Lord of the Rings” battle (the terrain matched perfectly) wherein a few chosen fighters equipped as the “Fellowship” (including a superb archer and a few of the smaller kids playing other appropriately obvious roles) was besieged and assaulted by the entire remaining group of “orcs.” Good silly fun.]
Next year I hope other members can join us for further training. Besides great camping there is an excellent resort up there.
JC
