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Okanagan Combat Guild shows off sword fighting skills

Sword fighting in the park

If you’ve ever driven past the Parkinson Recreation Park during the evening on a weekday, you may have noticed a group of people sword fighting.

The Okanagan Combat Guild practices sword fighting by studying a manuscript called 'The Art of Combat', written by Joachim Meyer and published in 1570. The book teaches how to duel using several historical swords ranging from a longsword to rapier or dagger.

For guildmaster and head instructor, Adam Ritz, historical European martial arts caught his attention at a very young age, because of the unique time period it took place in.

“I grew up loving the medieval and renaissance times. My dad was the same, and I played with plastic swords as a kid, so when I got older I found this club and joined up, and I’ve never looked back,” said Ritz.

Ritz has now been with the club for nine years. He managed to transform his hobby into a business by impressing his former instructor.

“I joined early in the club's beginning, and then I became a senior student, but my instructor moved to Hope, and when he did he said ‘here's the club, it's yours now,’ and he left all the gear and I took over. I've kinda turned it into my own business now, and I run it as my hobby-business,” said Ritz.

The main focus of the Okanagan Combat Guild is to breathe life back into this intricate martial art. Because this sport is so unique, it draws all sorts of reactions according to Ritz. “I’ve had people shout ‘weirdos’ from their car, and I’ve had people shout things like ‘that’s awesome,’ and some people will enthusiastically come up so you give them a sword and they get all excited."

The Okanagan Combat Guild pledges to always be accepting of anyone who wants to join. Their website states “we like to foster a family-like environment where everyone is accepted and everyone helps support each other.”

For student Heather Dreadgold, she enjoys the fitness perspective of sword fighting, but the people at OCG are what brings her back every time.

“I find it really fun. It's a great workout, but it's a different way of getting exercise, and it's really empowering to swing a sword around. The thing that keeps me coming back all the time though is just the group, they're great. They're a fantastic group, very supportive, very welcoming and we have a lot of fun doing this,” said Dreadgold.

James Rempel, another student with OGC, feels this is a sport that's truly for anyone willing to try. “You don't know if it's for you until you try. Theres a lot of people who don’t realize this is something they want to do until they pick up a sword. All it takes is for someone to teach them a few basic things, and you can get hooked pretty fast."

The Okanagan Combat Guild is extending their invite out to the community for anyone who wants to join in on the action. For anyone looking to join, classes run Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. If you’re looking for more information, click here.



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