SFX Trade Show

click on the pictures to enlarge.

The Toronto Science Fiction Expo was a helluva good time...and of course, it was a working trip, not a vacation at all! Janika (above) spent all weekend modeling the sexy armour I had worked so hard to create for the show, and when she was doing other things, we hung it on the manniquins.

Above is the whole display area. Yup...thats pretty much it. eight by eight, on a corner.

My manniquin with the curly red hair.

and the manniquin with the chain mail, modeling the armour which was inspired by the cover of "Savage Hearts". I distributed more than a thousand business cards, and hopefully the emails will become clogged with orders.

Wouldn't THAT be nice!

Phone call

Got a phone call yesterday. Made me think. It went something like this.

Hello, how may I help you?
>Yeah, do you teach Japanese Sword fighting?
Well, yes.
>What style?
That would be Kyushu Ryu.
>silence...for a bit, then "Yeah, I want to take that course."
Well, that should be no problem. I teach it at Algonquin College.
>I don't have a car. Anyplace closer?
Well, Kenjuitsu is only taught at Algonquin College.
>How much would would it cost for private lessons?
forty dollars an hour plus room rental. Cheaper to take it at the college.
And it wouldnt be ME teaching it, it would be my co-instructor, Jean V________. He's good.
>How much does the college charge?
(I thought it was settled that the college was too far away. Hmmm...suddenly the college looks like an option...grin!) Um...they charge about a hundred and fifty for a full course.
>How do I pay for that?
Well, get on line and sign up for the course. We are starting a new one in the fall. Maybe sooner if there is any interest.
>Well, I got a black belt in Karate when I was with the US army in Okinawa.
Go on line and see what the college schedule is...the courses are offered, and if there is not enough sign ups, they get cancelled.
> So do you do private lessons?
Yes, but they are expensive.
>So what bus do I take to get to the college?
I guess that would depend on where in the city you are...the college is on Baseline Transit station. All busses go there.
>Okay then...that course in the fall sounds good. Bye.

A black belt in Okinawa. On a military posting.

Remarkable.

Grad class Algonquin Fall 2008

A fine looking group of warriors. I think I am at a bit of a list there....

click on the pictures to enlarge and see the action.

Here's Jeff taking a slight break. His armour is looking, um, used.

Get hit in the hand, you got to fight with your left hand. And you had better hustle!

Shayne, preparing to commit a murder stroke. Shayne, on the left, is clearly moving forward, the fella on the right is looking to trip and fall. That 'might' work to get him out of the way!

Gentlemen, lay on.

Nice sequence of blows.

I think Shayne is knocking the pants off the guy in the foreground!

A melee. Well, two on one anyway.

Its still all about training. These guys are actually wearing 50 pound chain maille shirts. Don't let what looks like lack of armour make you think they are lugging it around! The light plastic is just fine for training. Don't even "think" this is tourney gear!