MOSES LAKE - The Veritas Swordplay Academy in downtown Moses Lake has provided historical European martial arts training for the past five years. But Saturday is the first time the academy will hold a public exhibition tournament featuring its top students.

The tournament features fighting duels with traditional medieval European weapons: daggers, spears, long swords and swords and bucklers (a shorter sword and small, round shield).

The daggers are made of steel, but have blunt tips, no edges and are designed to be flexible, said Head Instructor Eric Slyter. The other weapons used are realistic simulators, he added.

Veritas Swordplay Academy practices "Kunst des Fechtens," a German phrase for "Art of Fighting" in the Middle Ages. It was the fighting style of knights in the Middle Ages and is based on the teachings of fourteenth century master Johannes Liechtenauer and his disciples.

"When people think of sword fighting, they're thinking 'Lord of the Rings' or they're thinking 'Pirates of the Caribbean,'" Slyter said.

In movies, fights are choreographed to be entertaining. The martial arts he teaches at the academy were designed for knights on the battlefield or in a duel. The goal is to deal damage as quickly and efficiently as possible and live through the fight, he said. 

"Practicing this art connects us to a lost part of our cultural heritage," Slyter said. "Even hundreds of years later, this is an effective combat art and we can learn things not just about how people fought then, but about personal responsibility and honorable conduct today."

A new class for beginners starts in June. More information will be available at the exhibition or online at www.germanlongsword.com.

The tournament, which is free to the public, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel on Third, located at 601 W. Third AveAcademy teaches medieval martial arts

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Public exhibition tournament in Moses Lake

By Steven Wyble

Herald staff writer

MOSES LAKE - The Veritas Swordplay Academy in downtown Moses Lake has provided historical European martial arts training for the past five years. But Saturday is the first time the academy will hold a public exhibition tournament featuring its top students.

The tournament features fighting duels with traditional medieval European weapons: daggers, spears, long swords and swords and bucklers (a shorter sword and small, round shield).

The daggers are made of steel, but have blunt tips, no edges and are designed to be flexible, said Head Instructor Eric Slyter. The other weapons used are realistic simulators, he added.

Veritas Swordplay Academy practices "Kunst des Fechtens," a German phrase for "Art of Fighting" in the Middle Ages. It was the fighting style of knights in the Middle Ages and is based on the teachings of fourteenth century master Johannes Liechtenauer and his disciples.

"When people think of sword fighting, they're thinking 'Lord of the Rings' or they're thinking 'Pirates of the Caribbean,'" Slyter said.

In movies, fights are choreographed to be entertaining. The martial arts he teaches at the academy were designed for knights on the battlefield or in a duel. The goal is to deal damage as quickly and efficiently as possible and live through the fight, he said.

"Practicing this art connects us to a lost part of our cultural heritage," Slyter said. "Even hundreds of years later, this is an effective combat art and we can learn things not just about how people fought then, but about personal responsibility and honorable conduct today."

A new class for beginners starts in June. More information will be available at the exhibition or online at www.germanlongsword.com.

The tournament, which is free to the public, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel on Third, located at 601 W. Third Ave.