Hi!

I was doing some woodwork in the shed this week, and for the first time in 25 years, the bandsaw bit me. Just a friendly nip on the thumb to remind me to pay attention to what I’m doing, fixable with a band-aid and a lot of foul language. A salutary warning to avoid complacency. I thought I’d pass the reminder on: every gun is loaded, every sword is sharp, every weight demands correct mechanics, and every other driver on the road is blind. Safety comes from mindfulness, more than anything else.

But the wedged through tenons turned out well enough for something that will not be visible in normal use:

---

What I've been working on

I get asked about equipment a lot, and so (as you may know) I have a page on my blog dedicated to recommendations. I even have a swanky form to collect readers’ own experiences, and I’ve recently updated the page with reader recommendations. You can find it here: https://guywindsor.net/equipment​

---

This week is supposedly ‘mental health awareness’ week. I don’t set much store by these things- every week should be mental health awareness week, and Pride, and cancer awareness, and looking after the elderly, etc etc etc. But just this once I thought I’d get on-trend, and so have posted an excerpt, in text and audio, from The Windsor Method, on the four roots of mental health. Read it or listen to it in good health! https://guywindsor.net/2023/05/the-four-roots-of-mental-health/​

---

I have just this very day ordered a print proof copy of the full-colour hardback of The Duellist’s Companion second edition. So, the pre-orders will be closing soon. If you do pre-order it, you will also get the ebook version immediately (it’s not available anywhere else yet, and won’t be for some weeks).

You can order it here:

Pre-order The Duellist's Companion

Speaking of books, I would be remiss not to let you know that two Swordschool-friendly authors have released books in the last couple of weeks. I pre-ordered both, and have now read both, and they are both delightful in their own very different ways.

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway is a kind of Chandleresque noir detective novel, with an entirely original sci-fi twist. It’s brilliant, and very Harkaway, though it’s totally different to his previous works (Gnomon, Tigerman, etc.). The fight in the cage is worth the price of admission alone.

The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell (who you may recall from episode 68 of the podcast) is the start of a new series, based on the adventures of a wizard with very low self-esteem. It’s fascinating and fun. I personally preferred both of his other series (the Greatcoats, and the Spellslinger series), but if you like his other works you’ll almost certainly like this.

---

If you’re going to be in the Midwest USA in July, you can now sign up for my very exciting seminar with Chris Vanslambrouck here: http://www.livingmeyer.com/weekend-with-guy-chris/​

It’s called “Meyer versus the Italians: a weekend with Guy Windsor and Chris Vanslambrouck”, and it’s our plan to compare and contrast Meyer’s rappir with Capoferro’s rapier, and Meyer’s longsword with Fiore’s longsword, and in general have a damn fine weekend of it. Join us if you can!

The trip to the USA was originally to work with Jessica Finley on a medieval wrestling course, and I’ve spent quite a bit of time this last couple of weeks getting the preparation done: transcribing and translating the relevant sections from Fiore, and organising the overall course plan. I’ll probably share some details here next time.

---

Cool stuff on Sword People

I have created a new service on Sword People: you can now have your own private club forum. Just message me on the platform with the name you want, and I’ll set it up, making you the host, so you can upload your club’s logo, and let your people know…

We also have an in detail review of the Gabriel 2.0 gauntlets, and another on training heads for polearms (billhooks etc.), and a discussion about historical training equipment. How do we know what was used for practice back in the day?

But the very best thing has been, oh when your dagger strike’s turned right back in your eye, that’s Fiore…. Paul Wagner at his best…

Curious? Join us!

Join Sword People

---

This week on The Sword Guy: HEMA for Life, with Dr Marie Meservy

Dr Marie Meservy is a neuro radiologist, a psychologist, historical martial artist, sword mom to the Noble Science Academy in Nevada and the organizer of Fraufecht, which is the only American women's event west of New York.

In our conversation, we talk about running a school and training students to create the best outcomes. We discuss how to get new people, especially women, to join your club and how to create a good curriculum and feedback mechanisms.

Marie has lots of experience in coaching fencers through tournaments, and she explains the best kind of mindset to have when fencing competitively. Speaking of tournaments, we also hear about Fraufecht: why it is needed, when it is, and what happens at the event. Marie shares some of the data on women’s participation at tournaments, and we have a discussion about affirmative action and how to avoid the perception that women need extra help to attain the things they have attained.

We also talk about head injuries, AI in medicine and historical martial arts, performing well in exams, and Annie Lennox!

You can find the episode here:

To the podcast!

yours,

Guy

​

​

P.S. if you’re enjoying this newsletter, feel free to forward it to anyone you think may enjoy it too. Like what you see but are not already signed up? you can do so here.