ISMAC 2009

**DdlR** · Posted On: 2/28/2009 4:06am

The schedule for the upcoming International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Conference is now online at http://artofcombat.org/public/thespi...moschedule.htm .

ISMAC is one of the oldest and largest WMA conferences and consists of an action-packed four days of seminar training from top instructors in a huge range of styles and specialties. The '09 conference is being held at the Detroit Airport Westin Hotel between May 21-25.

**odysseus_dallas** · Posted On: 2/28/2009 4:42am

Great...

ANOTHER cool thing on the other side of the ocean...

Really have to get my sailing license and a good frigate by then.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 3/20/2009 8:32pm

The ISMAC schedule has now been finalized: http://artofcombat.org/public/thespi...moschedule.htm . Some of the more unusual seminars this year include Garrotte Larense (Venezuelan stick fighting), "Self Protection on a Cycle" (based on an early 1900s magazine article on defending yourself with a bicycle), "Down and Dirty: Ground Fighting with the Dagger" and "Navaja" (Spanish long-knife fighting). The event will also include the usual array of tournament contests in rapier, smallsword and knife fencing.

**265lbsfist** · Posted On: 3/20/2009 10:31pm

Grappling with daggers = ouch.

Origins of sumo came from grappling in armour with knives if I'm not mistaken. Probably prevalent in medieval Europe too what with all the heavily armoured dudes walking around trying to kill eachother.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 3/20/2009 10:39pm

Originally Posted by 265lbsfist

Grappling with daggers = ouch.

Origins of sumo came from grappling in armour with knives if I'm not mistaken. Probably prevalent in medieval Europe too what with all the heavily armoured dudes walking around trying to kill eachother.

The Japanese version of armored close combat is called Yaroi Kumiuchi. The European version is similar, as you'd expect; you can see a bit of it in the video clip in this thread Demonstration of judicial dueling - No BS Martial Arts .

The ISMAC class is described as:

This class builds on the relatively few surviving historical images of armored ground-fighting while armed with rondel-style daggers. We will explore methods of positional dominance, the skill of "riding" an opponent's movement and applying immobilizing holds to set up dagger thrusts to vulnerable targets such as the neck and underarms, as well as defenses and countering methods.

Recommended equipment; fencing mask, wooden dagger or 15-20" dowel with smoothed/padded tips. Any additional items of body armor (gorgets, gambesons, gauntlets, motocross/hockey/football/lacrosse torso and shoulder pads, etc.) will be welcome.