Kilted at the Western Martial Arts Conference

**Monkey@Arms** · 25th August 08, 02:55 PM

I attended the 9th Annual International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), held in Detroit MI, earlier in the month, and I am pleased to report that kilts were well represented. During the training classes participants wore appropriate athletic/protective gear, but in the evening after people cleaned up, at least five kilt wearers (including myself) were in evidence. One, was Maestro Paul Macdonald, of the Macdonald Academy of Arms, Edinburgh. (The signs were a joke from another instructor)

I am not a sword player (my interests were elsewhere) but I was fortunate enough to take his basket hilted backsword seminar. I learned enough to know that I never want to be in a sword fight.

Here's a picture of me relaxing in my SWK.

int:

Other nights I wore my UK Original. There were two other UK Original wearers in attendance, one from Southern Ontario. (I told him about XMTS and SOKS).

Lastly, one of the organizers, fight director John Lennox of the Art of Combat, can be seen seated to the right wearing a traditional. (The bottle is Dalwhinnie Double Wood, which I brought to get things going.)

If you want to see pictures of some of non-kilted activities you can find them here.

Best regards,

Jake

**cessna152towser** · 25th August 08, 03:04 PM

Cool pics, looking good.

**Panache** · 25th August 08, 03:06 PM

Jake,

It sounds like a lot of fun! Glad to here there were other kilted folks about.

Cheers

Jamie

**Freelancer** · 25th August 08, 03:29 PM

Very cool...way to go!

**Monkey@Arms** · 25th August 08, 10:55 PM

It was a fun time. One of my favorite classes involved using live weapons including this horseman's axe

and the flail and large axes pictured here against an armor plate bolted on to a wood frame.

The weapons were supplied by Arms & Armor nice folk.

Best regards,

Jake

**JRB** · 26th August 08, 06:18 AM

Sounds like a cool event. I love to hear about a non-kilt related gathering where kilt wearers are present. Plus, I have a few swords made by Arms & Armor. They are top notch makers and great guys.