Musketeer Highlights for November 2019 It’s that time again where we celebrate our wonderful Musketeers that continue to make the Sword Experience such a success. It is our pleasure to announce the top Musketeer for the month is none other than Darren Hayes. Darren is one of our most trusted Musketeers from Ireland. He has helped spread the word about our past events in Ireland and is currently assisting us with finding our next location in Ireland and we are incredibly thankful for his continued support as well as his insight. Thank you for your incredible work Darren. We cannot wait t ..read more

Marco Dragoje. In April 2019, comedians Kevin Hart and Jason Sudeikis engaged in a medieval sword fight. It was part of the two actors’ “knight training” for season 2, episode 10 of What the Fit, Hart’s Realscreen Award-winning comedy series that premiered in 2018. Here, Hart takes Sudeikis jousting – a popular medieval pursuit where knights showed off their skills while on horseback. ETCanada.com  reports that the series, described by Hart as “a show where I basically go and I get my friends to do things they normally wouldn’t,” took place in a Los Angeles-area Medieval Times themed rest ..read more

COVID-19 made last year difficult for all of us. For the Sword Experience, it meant that we had trouble bringing our brand of fitness and travel to you. Obviously, your health is our number one priority in our endeavors, so we’ve had to limit our in-person events due to the pandemic. We were still successfully held a handful of events in 2020 by following strict local, state, and federal guidelines set in place, but that being said, some events simply weren’t possible due to the obvious unpredictable nature of the past year. However, just like you, we didn’t sit idly by in 2020 waiting for thi ..read more

Interview with C. David Belt part 2 In our previous talk with C. David Belt, we discussed his weapons collection as well as his passion for history. In our second part, we learn more about Mr. Belt’s writing, his history classes, how to get into contact with him to learn more, and why he loves Renaissance Faires. Sword Experience (SXP): So, it seems like most of your classes are at Renaissance Faires. If people would like to experience your class, how would people know which Renaissance Faires you are attending, and how would people be able to take your writing class? C. David Belt (CDB): I no ..read more

An Interview with C. David Belt Part 1 We recently sat down with author and ancient weapon enthusiast C. David Belt. In this interview, we discussed his passion for medieval weaponry, his vast collection of ancient weapons, and the classes that he teaches while showcasing his impressive collection. So, enjoy our chat with C. David Belt and check back later for the second half of our conversation regarding his work as an author, how you might be able to get a peak into his collection, and more on his passion for Renaissance Faires. Sword Experience (SXP): You have a vast knowledge of medieval w ..read more

Highlight of Silat Melayu Silat Melayu or Silat is a traditional martial art that can be traced back to the Malay archipelago. Strictly speaking, the term Silat Melayu encompasses a vast array of knowledge related to combat tactics, war strategy, weaponry, and spiritual philosophy, culminating in the study and training of Silat as a martial discipline. While Silat Melayu primarily teaches hand-to-hand techniques, its training involving a variety of edged Malay weaponry makes it an integral aspect of any aspiring sword master’s journey. A Short History of Silat Melayu Throughout the centuries ..read more

After our wonderful interview with Zoë Bell, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at one of her biggest projects to date, Kill Bill Vol. 1 &2. While there have been plenty of articles written in regards to the various film influences Quentin Tarantino used as inspiration for Kill Bill, one film that stands out the most among these influences is the 1973 action revenge thriller, Lady Snowblood. The purpose of this article is not to criticize Tarantino in any way. In fact, while some people consider Tarantino to plagiarize from other films, this author recognizes that nearly eve ..read more

An interview with Zoë Bell   We here at the Sword Experience were able to convince the highly prolific and sought-after stuntwoman Zoë Bell to take some time and chat with us via phone call. In the following interview, we discussed her methods preparing for sword and fight choreography, her recent viral hit #BossBitchFightChallenge, and some of the different phrases that Kiwi’s have compared to Americans. Sword Experience (SXP): So, let’s start with your career. You got your first big gig as a stuntwoman with Xena: Warrior Princess, and quickly made a name for yourself. You’ve starred in ..read more

  Musketeer Highlights for November 2019 It’s that time of the month again where we turn our spotlight onto those Musketeers that have gone above and beyond in helping the Sword Experience continue to reach countless sword enthusiasts across the globe! Our top Musketeer of the month is none other than David Chandler. David has worked with us as a Sword Partner twice now. Once in Carbondale and most recently at our Kentucky event. David spearheaded our visit to Gilbertsville and was essential to the success of our event. As a Musketeer, he helped us secure a location for the event and was ..read more