This past weekend, I had an amazing opportunity to help out my friends at Bayt Al-Asad, a Persian historical combat group. They study and teach Armored combat as practiced in Persia. This demo focused on the Timurid period (late 14th through 16th centuries CE). At the last minute one of their presenters couldn’t make it and the call went out for an experienced historical fighter who might be able to fill in.
I was honored when they welcomed me to join them.
So for two shows on Sunday, I joined my friends to present at the Worcester Art Museum. Since I specialize in the western European cultures of that time, I borrowed some clothes and armor from my friend, Frank, and jumped in as a stand-in. It was great to be able to answer some of the audience’s questions when they ventured into areas I know. We did a few rounds of light sparring where I gladly took the part of the lightly armored fighter with a cutting spear. In the second demo of the day, I got to try some dagger and buckler fighting, using what little I know of that kind of in-close work.
The visitors and museum staff seemed to enjoy the presentations and I had a blast helping out good friends I don’t get to work with often enough.
I’ll be posting the link to the (very) rough video footage I took of our demos in my Patreon. Check it out here: https://www.patreon.com/aspiringknight