Hello,

I am happy to announce that the tentative schedule is now posted for the 7th
Annual ISMAC in Lansing, MI and can be seen at
http://artofcombat.org/public/thespis/Convention/schedule.htm

-There are over 60 classes offered during this 4 day weekend. We will
repeat the 5 tracks of classes every day. There are many exciting new
classes this year (some of which have never been taught at a WMA workshop
before) and many of the old favorites are back with new perspectives.

-The 'Master Class Blocks' were a great success last year. They give you
the rare opportunity to concentrate on a specific principle of combat with
one weapon for the entire day. This year’s themes are:
The Offensive use of Tempo in Italian Rapier Play
Controlling Measure in Staff and Polearm weapons
Entering the fight in Italian and German Longsword

- We will repeat the Boarding Actions class which gives you the chance to
board a 100 ton, 110 foot long paddlewheel boat traveling down the river to
learn Cutlass, Boarding Axe, Bowie Knife, Sabre, and more!

-Once again, we will repeat the Rapier/Smallsword and Singlestick
tournaments as well as private lessons with the instructors!


AND AMAZING NEW ELEMENTS THIS YEAR:

- Thursday we will have 4 hour classes on the popular Fundamental Principles
theme. There will be Knife, Longsword and Rapier for those who wish to hone
and refine these skills. There will also be classes on Measure and Time for
those wanting to examine one of these complex principles with a variety of
weapons.

- We have added a Knife tournament on Friday night for the first time, which
will be sponsored and run by Raven Arts Academy.

- Saturday night prior to the Rapier/Smallsword tournament, you will witness
the first ever Instructors’ tournament!

- Have it your way. Stefan Dieke’s Liechtenauer Longsword class will be
designed based on what YOU want to know. Those registered will send
questions to us and Stefan will build a class which answers at least 1
question from each participant!

-The World Premier PRACTICAL Duelling Shield class. You may have seen this
strange dueling weapon demonstrated before, but you never had the chance to
wield it until now (we will provide the Duelling shields). You will even
see how these techniques are quite applicable today if you need to defend
yourself with a 6 foot table top ;)

-There are many exciting new classes including: ‘The Dueling Bowie”,
“Parkyns Cornish Smallsword? and Wrestling”, 4 ½ hours of the “Universal
Principles of Flexible Weapons”, and many more.


Registration will be available soon. If you have any questions please let
me know. This promises to be an amazing year and I am quite excited to see
how it is shaping up. I look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,
Jared Kirby

http://artofcombat.org/public/thespis/Convention/aocflyer.htm