NoVA Assalto at the Virginia Kenshinkai Swordfest 13-15 May 2011

May 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Virginia Kenshinkai is pleased to present our Sixth Annual Swordfest and an outstanding opportunity to reach Mixed Art Edged Weaponry, Japanese Community, and East | West Sword Art practitioners and enthusiasts 13–15 May 2011. Swordfest is an annual event held  by the Virginia Kenshinkai at Capital Area Budokai in Alexandria Virginia (Metropolitan Washington Region). This year we are also featuring training on Friday May 13th and Sunday May 15th for nominal fees.

Steven Reich Lead Instructor and Steve Hicks Assistant will be performing embu on Saturday 14 May 2011. NoVA-Assalto is a school of swordsmanship run by Steven and Kara Reich which is based in Northern Virginia. We focus on a system of swordsmanship practiced in and around Bologna in the 16th century.  This system covers the use of the single-handed sword, alone and with various companion weapons, including the dagger, cape, buckler, and rotella (a large round shield). In addition, this system covers the use of various polearms, including the poleax, halberd, partesan, lance, spetum, and ronca, and the spadone, a large two-handed sword with a length often exceeding five feet. There are also techniques for an unarmed defender who is attacked by an assailant who is armed with a knife or dagger.

While a student of these arts would have been expected to be able to apply his skills on the battlefield or for his own defense, the primary aim of the system as described in the source texts is the preparation for the judicial duel. As such, nearly every common weapon of the 16th century is covered to some extent, all based upon a cohesive and consistent set of underlying principles.

The primary sources for this system are the Italian treatises of Antonio Manciolino, Achille Marozzo, Giovanni dall’Agocchie, and the Anonimo Bolognese, all works written in the 16th century. We also utilize works which are contemporary with the primary sources to provide additional material to aid in our understanding of the core texts.

Steven Reich is one of North America’s premier instructors of the Bolognese school of swordsmanship, a system he has been actively practicing and interpreting for eight years. Steve’s experience in western swordsmanship began with collegiate fencing in the 1980s and includes Classical Italian Fencing and the Italian systems of swordsmanship of the seventeenth century. Steve is also a student of Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo and Nakamura Ryu Battodo.

Kara Reich has been a student of historical swordsmanship for nearly eight years, including Classical Italian fencing along with her experience in Bolognese swordsmanship. Kara is also a student of Nakamura Ryu Battodo.

Join the 2011 Swordfest in Alexandria Virginia (15 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA) on the 13th through the 15th of May. These are "indoor events." Saturday 14 May is FREE - all demonstrations and exhibits take place on Saturday. The rock stars of the Mixed Sword Arts and Edged Weaponry from the East | West will be featured throughout Saturday's demos. Friday 13 May and Sunday 15 May are training sessions and while they are filling up quickly - some seats remain available. Observational seating at reduced fees will be available at the door. So don't miss this, our Sixth Annual event.

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On Saturday 14 May all demonstrations and exhibits are "FREE," there are donation boxes for a) Japan Relief in Aide and b) Virginia Kenshinkai 501 (c) (3). Please reach out to us for a training schedule to ensure your seat at "nominal" rates ($10.00 to $20.00 per hour-long session) for Friday evening 13th of May or Sunday morning 15th of May.

Our basic itinerary is presented for your reference here:

Friday 13 May 2011 – Training Schedule
05:45 pm   06:00 pm   Welcome to 2011 Swordfest Training Session #1
06:00 pm   06:30 pm   Shakuhachi Flute
06:30 pm   07:30 pm   Nakamura Ryu Happo Giri Toho
07:30 pm   08:30 pm   Shin Shin Sekiguchi Ryu Iaido
08:30 pm   09:30 pm   NoVA Budokai Kendo
08:30 pm   09:30 pm   Aratashii Naginata
10:00 pm   12:00 am   Washington DC Activities | Sedan Service City Tours

Saturday 14 May 2011 – Exhibitor Schedule
09:15 am   09:30 am   Welcome by Sensei Drawdy
09:30 am   09:50 am   Northern Virginia Budokai, Kendo - Brian Sherry Sensei
09:50 am   10:10 am   Northern Virginia Tendokan, Aratashii Naginata - Fran Vall Sensei
10:10 am   10:30 am   Capital Area Jodokai, Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo - Dan Pearson Sensei
10:30 am   11:00 am   New York Historical Fencing Association - Michael Edelson Lead Instructor
11:00 am   11:30 am   Shin Dojo, Mugai Ryu Meishiha - Rob Rivers Sensei
11:30 am   12:00 pm   Yagyu Shinkage Ryu Hyoho - Paul Manogue Sensei
12:00 pm   12:30 pm   Lunch Break--------------Lunch Break
12:30 pm   12:50 pm   Shakuhachi Flute Playing - Raymond Sosnowski Sensei
12:50 pm   01:20 pm   Virginia Kenshinkai Nakamura Ryu Batto Do - Dave Drawdy Sensei
01:20 pm   01:50 pm   Byakkokan Dojo, Toyama Ryu, USBDF - Sang Kim Sensei
01:50 pm   02:20 pm   NVA Assalto - Steven Reich Lead Instructor
02:30 pm   02:50 pm   Shutokukan Dojo - Meik Skoss Sensei
02:50 pm   03:20 pm   Shin Shin Sekiguchi Ryu - Dan Keupp Sensei
03:20 pm   04:05 pm   Hobyokan Dojo - David Hall Sensei
04:05 pm   04:35 pm   Northern Virginia Kyudo Kai - Bill Reid Sensei

Sunday 15 May 2011 – Training Schedule
06:30 am   07:30 am   Exhibitor Registration and Move-In
07:45 am   08:00 am   Welcome to 2011 Swordfest Training Session #2
09:00 am   10:00 am   New York Historical Fencing Association
09:00 am   10:00 am   Toyama Ryu, US Battodo Federation
10:00 am   11:00 am   Gekken Sparring
10:00 am   11:00 am   NoVA Assalto, Spadone Large Sword
11:00 am   12:00 pm   Sekiguchi Ryu Kenjutsu
11:00 am   12:00 pm  NoVA Budokai Kendo
12:00 pm   12:15 pm   Closing Thoughts (Ketsumatsu) by Sensei Drawdy
Washington DC Activities | Sedan Service City Tours (late evening)

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About the Virginia Kenshinkai: a 501(c)(3), Virginia Kenshinkai provides student training and education, sponsored trips to international and national venues, and facilitates appreciation of Japanese culture and history centered on Japanese Sword Arts. Invitations are extended to elicit further tradition, participation, education, community awareness and market capabilities. This year we will be accepting donations to aid our friends in Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. These are to be remitted to affiliate organizations within Japan to use at their discretion in restoration and renewal.

We appreciate community support and look forward to your participation. Join us in Alexandria for an outstanding 2011 Swordfest. If you have any questions regarding exhibition, training, sponsor, vendor, marketing and literature distribution opportunities - please contact Ms. Donna L. Quesinberry at dp@donnaink.com.

See you 13-15 May!

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