The first 30 copies hit the USA and were delivered to Ashland today specifically
for the book release and seminar. So hot off the presses that the publisher
hasn't even seen them yet....... If you don't want to wait for your copy (and I
don't know how long the wait will be) this is the only place to get them! They
look great.

Much thanks to Brian Price and Greg for coming through.

Don't miss the free lecture and book signing on Friday night or the seminar over
the weekend. There is still room.

Friday Nov. 3rd at 7:00 p.m at the Medford Barnes and Noble a free lecture and
demonstration will be presented on a rare and unique system of historical
swordplay. The translator of the text will be giving a lecture on the history
and philosophy of this unique system of using the sword long misunderstood by
historians. In addition Medford's historic fencing school Academia Duellatoria
will provide a demonstration of selected techniques for using the sword drawn
directly from this text.

This work is a book of firsts. The Academy of the Sword, published in 1630 was a
monumental project that culminated the life's work of one of Europe's most
renowned swordsmen, it is a massive catalog of techniques and insights, a
systematic manual of swordsmanship intended, as Monsieur Thibault himself
mentioned, "for use by students without access to an instructor." This
elaborately illustrated tretise on the use of the rapier is highly sought after
by rare book and art collectors. For the first time this book is now available
in English translation complete with all of the original detailed illustrations.
But it is also one of the first works to clearly incorporate both techniques and
the esoteric magical philosophy, embedding incredible amounts of coded messaging
within the text and the extraordinary copperplate engravings.

The engravings themselves area first, for each is clearly different, massive
two-page spreads with unbelievable detail not present in earlier drawings,
painted figures, or woodcuts. They are detailed enough to be modern paper
currency!

John Michael Greer, the talented and prolific writer of esoteric writings,
brings his considerable knowledge of French, fencing and esoterica together to
produce a superb introduction and translation to this monumental work. It is a
beautiful and readable translation, one that is clearly enough presented to
stand as a modern training manual.

The Spanish Circle itself distills Pythogrean geometry into a system of
swordsmanship and esoteric function that has intruiged generations of students
and passionate enthusiasts. This is the first complete English translation that
unlocks these secrets for the first time.

Academia Duellatoria is pleased to work with Mr. Greer for this presentation.
Academia Duellatoria, operated by instructor Jeff Richardson, is a school
dedicated to teaching the noble art of defense as found in the surviving
manuscripts of the fencing masters of Europe written between 1300 and 1700 A.D.



A weekend of study on the philosophy and Practice of the Mysterious Circle
According to the work of Gerard Thibault d'Anvers 1628

Instruction by Matthew Howden
And
John Michael Greer
Hosted by Academia Duellatoria

November 4th and 5th, 2006

Seminar will include lectures by John Michael Greer on the esoteric and
philosophical influences of the hermetic sciences and sacred geometry and their
application to fencing with the rapier. Lectures on the history and development
of the style. Two days of hands on instruction with the sword under the
instruction of Matthew Howden.
Saturday will cover history and the use of the single rapier vs. the single
rapier, the hallmark of Thibault's system. Saturday night lecture and optional
dinner will cover philosophy and the content of the plates which Thibault
himself does not discuss in the text. Sunday will continue the hands on study
of the rapier and include how to use the system to defeat the Italina style
fencer especially the system of Fabris. We will also cover Thibault's use of
the rapier vs the longsword.

The Seminar will be held at the Medford Elks Lodge in Medford Oregon.
Class size is limited.
Cost $50.00 per person.
Contact Jeff Richardson for details and registration forms at jeffery@...



In addition to the seminar there will be a free lecture, book signing and
demonstration held Friday night at 7:00pm by John Michael Greer and members of
the Academia Duellatoria (Medfords historic fencing school)at the Medford Barnes
and Noble. This will be your first opportunity ever to purchase the full
hardcover translation.


The Teachers:
John Michael Greer is a widely published author on esoteric traditions -
published by Llewellyn books, Weiser or under his own company Fir Mountain
Press. He's been a student and practitioner of geomancy and sacred geometry for
more than twenty years, and is fluent in Latin and medieval French.
Greer has studied geomantic texts and the art of memory from the Middle ages
and Renaissance. He's a member of the Golden Dawn, is the head of the Ancient
Order of Druids in America and is responsible for the translation of Gerard
Thibault's book on the Mysterious Circle. After a ten year long process this
translation is being published by Chivalry Bookshelf and can be purchased in
it's entirety for the first time at this event.
Articles on the subject of the Mysterious Circle by Mr. Greer can be found
in the summer 1996 issue of GNOSIS issue number 40 and volume 9 number 2 of the
Journal of Asian martial arts by Via Media Publishing company.


Matthew Howden has been studying the rapier since the mid 1990's and has been
studying the works of Gerard Thibault for the past 7 years. Originally
beginning his teaching career at the club in Ashland Oregon Matthew now is a
member of the Tattershall School of Defence and runs an independant practice in
Portland, Oregon. Matthew has helped further the research of Destreza in
several capacities over the years and assisted with the instructional video "La
Verdadera Destreza, The True Art and Skill of Spanish Swordsmanship" featuring
Anthony Delongis and the Maestro's Martinez by helping to supply the still
images used in the video.

Promoter:

Jeff Richardson - head instructor of Academia Duellatoria began studying
Eastern martial arts in 1982 in Eugene Oregon until moving to Ashland in late
1986. In Ashland Jeff studied modern fencing under former U.S.A. Olympians Gay
Jacobsen-D'Asaro and Michael D'Asaro until moving to Phoenix Arizona to attend
trade school in 1988 . He returned to Ashland in the summer of 1990 and
continued to train periodically with Gay until 1993. In early 1992 he became an
assistant instructor for The American Karate Academy and helped run and promote
the local school Until 1998, in 1995 he earned the rank of Black Belt in
American Open Style Karate under Shihan Jerry Piddington. During this time Jeff
also cross trained with Sifu Tom Spellman in Daimon Ryu JuiJitsu working as his
assistant.

Since the late 1980's Jeff has spent time doing rapier and epee stage
choreography for local theatres and working with independent film. Jeff came to
historic fencing in the early 90's and has pursued it avidly ever since. He has
been teaching historic fencing to the public in classes and at public
demonstrations with a primary focus on the rapier. A continued involvment with
WMA has led Jeff to be a founding member of the Northwest Historical Fencing
Association and to join the Association for Historic Fencing where he serves on
the board of directors. Jeff currently teaches with a primary focus on rapier
from his school Academia Duellatoria located in Medford Oregon.


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