Frequently Asked Questions What should I wear or bring? You do not need to bring anything. The instructor will supply practice weapons for students. If you have a walking stick or wooden Bowie training knife, you may bring it but its use will be subject to the instructor's discrection (no live blades please). Yes, you can wear period attire, but you don't have to! Period attire is appropriate, as are ordinary gym clothes. Many of us enjoy wearing historic clothing but it is entirely optional. Be mindful of the hot weather and remember that tee-shirts and tank tops were also worn during the 19th century. Clothing of the early to mid-19th century is historically appropriate for the topic but you do not have to wear historic attire; comfortable workout clothing is perfectly fine. What will we learn? We are the Bartitsu Club of NYC, so the curriculum may include Bartitsu - it was widely reported in American newspapers at the turn of the century, although Barton-Wright's dreams of bringing it to the New World never materialized. Shillelagh and/or walking stick self-defense will be taught on both Saturday and Sunday. Generally speaking, we'll learn 19th-century civilian combatives, with a focus on North America: Bowie knife, shillelagh, and the history connected with each. Some general background information: The long knife of the 18th and early 19th century North America, carried by hunters, trappers, and frontiersman, came to be called the Bowie knife as a result of an 1827 fight that arose after a gentlemanly duel in which James Bowie was acting as second. Known as the Sandbar Fight, the duelists fired their shots and were satisifed, concluding with a handshake, but two of the supporting parties, Gen. Cuny and Col. Crain, had their own differences to settle. Crain fired at Cuny, missing and striking Bowie in the hip, and a brutal 10-minute brawl erupted, during which Bowie, despite being repeatedly shot, stabbed, struck over the head, and grievously wounded, and was proved himself ridiculously hard to kill and emerged the victor. No weapon is more strongly associated with Ireland than the shillelagh, an Anglicization of the Irish word sail éille, a wooden walking stick made from stout knotty stick with a large knob at the top, used as a cudgel both in settling gentlemanly disputes between individuals as well as in clan fighting and other combatives in Ireland, where stick fighting has been practiced for centuries. Irish customs made their way to the New World, and in mid-19th century Manhattan, the Five Points was a hotbed of Irish factions angling for criminal and political power - the infamous "Gangs of New York." Where will the seminars be held? The seminars will be held in a beautiful light-filled studio at 18 West 18th Street, Room 505, New York, NY 10011. The practice space is air-conditioned, bottled water is sold at the front desk, and showers and changing rooms are available on the 6th floor of the facility. Click for map and directions or directions by subway. How much do the seminars cost? Advance registration is $50.00 for each 4.5-hour workshop, payable online with a credit card no later than July 26. At-the-door registration is $60 per day, cash only. Click to register online. Can I attend just one day? You can attend both days, or one or the other. Shillelagh and/or walking stick self-defense will be taught on both Saturday and Sunday. Topics will be different each day, but you won't need to attend Saturday to participate on Sunday. May children participate? Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who must stay for the duration of the seminar. There is no charge for the parent or guardian who is observing their child; parents or guardians who wish to participate must pay the regular registration fee. Regrettably we cannot allow children under the age of 13 to participate. I am from out-of-town; where can I stay? We have not made arrangements with local hotels, but there are many different options for accomodations for all budgets. Hotels close to the training location include DaVinci Hotel, The Carter Hotel, and the Belvedere Hotel. There are also affordable hostels for out-of-state visitors. Do I need to be a martial artist to participate? No experience is necessary - just an interest in history and martial arts. How fit do I need to be to participate? It is not necessary to be in peak physical condition; the seminars should be manageable to anyone with even moderate physical ability. We will have several breaks during the session, and there is seating if you get tired and need to rest. I have additional questions You may contact the event organizer Rachel Klingberg at bartitsu@nycsteampunk.com