Swordfighting for nine-year olds.
May 9, 2011 12:40 PM Subscribe
My nine-year-old little brother has fallen for SCA-style swordfighting in the park! Please help me help him get his Musashi on.
My little brother and I were flying kites in the park yesterday afternoon when we ran across an Empire of Medieval Pursuits tournament. The EMP is an SCA-type group that does full speed rattan-on-steel heavy weapons fighting (plus associated arts, craft, performance, etc.) My little brother was captivated by the fighting and I want to capitalize on this enthusiasm and see if there's some kind of semi-organized sword hobby that's suitable for nine-year-olds, something we can try out without much obligation or ramp-up time.
Neither the EMP nor the SCA seem right for this. I had some experience with SCA back in my distant twenties, and it those times it was much, much more about adults than children. It was also more of a lifestyle than a hobby and was difficult to explore casually -- one needed garb, feast-gear, and attitude buy-in. I don't know much about boffer larps, but my impression is that they're aimed older than nine-year-olds. Kendo's another possibility, I think.
So, does anyone have any suggestions for me? We are in Seattle, so advice specific to the Pacific Northwest would be lovely.
(If any of the EMP people are reading this -- we spoke to a couple of your fighters and one of the culinary guildmistresses and you were all very kind and approachable and you represented your hobby superbly! Thank you!)
My little brother and I were flying kites in the park yesterday afternoon when we ran across an Empire of Medieval Pursuits tournament. The EMP is an SCA-type group that does full speed rattan-on-steel heavy weapons fighting (plus associated arts, craft, performance, etc.) My little brother was captivated by the fighting and I want to capitalize on this enthusiasm and see if there's some kind of semi-organized sword hobby that's suitable for nine-year-olds, something we can try out without much obligation or ramp-up time.
Neither the EMP nor the SCA seem right for this. I had some experience with SCA back in my distant twenties, and it those times it was much, much more about adults than children. It was also more of a lifestyle than a hobby and was difficult to explore casually -- one needed garb, feast-gear, and attitude buy-in. I don't know much about boffer larps, but my impression is that they're aimed older than nine-year-olds. Kendo's another possibility, I think.
So, does anyone have any suggestions for me? We are in Seattle, so advice specific to the Pacific Northwest would be lovely.
(If any of the EMP people are reading this -- we spoke to a couple of your fighters and one of the culinary guildmistresses and you were all very kind and approachable and you represented your hobby superbly! Thank you!)
Fencing, and Seattle is a wonderful place to try it as there is no shortage of clubs. Sign him up for beginner lessons.
posted by COD at 12:52 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by COD at 12:52 PM on May 9, 2011
Best answer: Games of Adventure ("GOA") is a live-action role-playing group in Seattle. They use foam-and-duct-tape swords, and it's very kid friendly. Back when I used to play in the mid-90's (middle school/high school), they met at the picnic shelter area at Ravenna Park every Sunday and played all day. Not sure where/when they meet now, but if you can't dig up any contact information feel free to memail me and I'll get in touch with some people I know who are still involved with it.
Here's an article about GOA, and there are probably lots of youtube videos that can give you an idea of what it's all about.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 1:20 PM on May 9, 2011
Here's an article about GOA, and there are probably lots of youtube videos that can give you an idea of what it's all about.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 1:20 PM on May 9, 2011
Was going to say fencing. I wanted to learn to fence so badly around that age, but there was nobody who taught it in my small town.
If he doesn't mind putting a twist on the medieval-Europe inspiration, he might really dig Kendo.
posted by willpie at 1:21 PM on May 9, 2011
If he doesn't mind putting a twist on the medieval-Europe inspiration, he might really dig Kendo.
posted by willpie at 1:21 PM on May 9, 2011
Organized sports sound like a good (possible) option. Besides fencing and kendo you could check out eskrima, and see if there is anywhere close to you where your son can get age-appropriate training.
posted by bjrn at 1:39 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by bjrn at 1:39 PM on May 9, 2011
Kendo and fencing are both options. If Kendo, he may also find Iaido interesting.
posted by Hylas at 1:57 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by Hylas at 1:57 PM on May 9, 2011
The Shoreline YMCA has fencing for kids.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:38 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:38 PM on May 9, 2011
Wrong coast, but these programs exist if you look for them.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:26 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:26 PM on May 9, 2011
Boffer weapons are the way to go. You can make them out of PVC pipe, pool noodles , and duct tape. They are lots of fun and very customizable.
Of course, you'll need someone to fight with, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem. :)
posted by 47triple2 at 6:25 PM on May 9, 2011
Of course, you'll need someone to fight with, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem. :)
posted by 47triple2 at 6:25 PM on May 9, 2011
Oh, but make sure that you don't stick the PVC pipe all the way down the pool noodle. You want several inches of pool noodle at the end of the PVC so that poking doesn't actually poke.
posted by 47triple2 at 6:26 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by 47triple2 at 6:26 PM on May 9, 2011
As the age of the average SCA member goes up there is increasingly more stuff for children because a huge percentage of its members have children. I'm not sure how they run childrens combat activities in the Pacific Northwest, so I'm not going to be a whole lot of help there.
The real thing to remember about SCA, or various boffer and larp groups is that different chapters can be so very different that, apart from the jargon, you'd be hard pressed to tell they were part of the same organization. So shop around if you decide to go that route.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 10:02 PM on May 9, 2011
The real thing to remember about SCA, or various boffer and larp groups is that different chapters can be so very different that, apart from the jargon, you'd be hard pressed to tell they were part of the same organization. So shop around if you decide to go that route.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 10:02 PM on May 9, 2011
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Stage combat is a unique skill set -- it's all about how to make fights look real and dangerous and violent, without actually being so. The classes I took gave a lot of lessons on what actual swordplay was about, but specially adapted so even if something went wrong you wouldn't accidentally hurt each other for real. There was also a lot of pointers on how to make things look real.
And they were hella fun. Even though in stage swordwork you're aiming at a spot about two feet above someone's left shoulder, it's very tempting to go all Inigo Montoya when they get out the rapiers and let you practice picking them up in the middle of a shoulder roll and stuff.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:52 PM on May 9, 2011 [2 favorites]