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112 results for “Handmade”
Scottish Targe Shield & Dirk Set
Round targe shield (20 inches, studded leather over wood) and 12-inch dirk dagger. The Highlander's backup weapons. The targe catches the blade, the dirk finishes the work. I will teach you the off-hand techniques that made Highland warriors feared in close quarters.
Niten Ichi-ryu Workshop -- Two-Sword Fighting
My school: long sword in one hand, short sword in the other. Most swordsmen use two hands on one blade. I use one hand on each. The long sword attacks, the short sword defends and creates openings. It requires years. We start today. Tip: Do not grip the sword tightly. Hold it like a bird -- firm enough it cannot escape, gentle enough you do not crush it.
Live Blade Katana (Shinken -- Advanced Students Only)
Folded steel katana, razor edge, 28-inch blade. For advanced students who have completed bokken training. I lend this only after watching you train. If you grip too tight, swing too wild, or show fear of the blade, it stays in my rack. A sharp sword in unskilled hands is a danger to its owner.
Dane Axe (Two-Handed, 5-Foot Haft)
The great Dane axe -- a 5-foot hafted weapon that could split a man from shoulder to hip. No shield when you carry this. Your reach is your defense. The Varangian Guard used these in Constantinople. Weighted training replica, hickory haft.
Shawnee War Tomahawk & Trade Knife Set
Forged iron tomahawk (throwing and hand combat) and trade knife in leather sheath. The tomahawk is balanced for both throwing and fighting. The trade knife is the everyday tool of the woodlands. I will teach you the standing throw at 15 paces and the fighting grip for close work.
Tachi & Tanto Sword Set (Edo Period Style)
Long tachi sword (blade-down mounting, cavalry style) and tanto short blade. The tachi predates the katana -- designed for mounted combat with a longer, more curved blade. The tanto is the samurai's constant companion, used for everything from combat to seppuku. Proper handling instruction included.
Indian Cavalry Sword & Shield Training
Tulwar sword and dhal shield -- the weapons of Maratha cavalry. The tulwar has a distinctive disc pommel that locks the hand in place for powerful cuts. The dhal is a round steel shield, light enough for mounted use. I rode into battle with both, my son strapped to my back. Tip: The sword follows the horse. Learn to ride first, fight second.
Locally-Made Flintlock Musket (Wassoulou Replica)
A replica of the muskets my blacksmiths produced. Hand-forged barrel, wooden stock, flintlock mechanism. Not as refined as a French Gras but it fires, it kills, and it was made by African hands in an African forge. That is the point. Non-firing display replica for education.
Electrical Wiring & Circuits Workshop
Hands-on workshop: wire a circuit from scratch. Series, parallel, switches, fuses. We build a working lamp by the end. Tip: Always check the circuit BEFORE you connect power. I lost part of my hearing to an accident. Learn from my mistakes, not my losses.
Acoustics & Sound Science Workshop
Two-hour hands-on session. We'll build a simple acoustic device, learn about frequency, amplitude, resonance, and why your voice sounds different on a recording. Tip: Sound is just vibration. If you understand vibration, you understand everything from music to earthquakes to how dolphins navigate.
Sign Language & Communication Tutoring
One-on-one tutoring in communication methods for the deaf and hard of hearing. My father's Visible Speech system, basic sign language, lip reading techniques. My mother couldn't hear me speak, but she could feel the vibrations of my voice through her hand on my throat. Communication finds a way.
Aerodynamics Workshop -- Why Things Fly
Hands-on session. We'll build and test paper gliders, balsa models, and wing sections. You'll learn Bernoulli's principle the way it actually works (not the oversimplified textbook version). Tip: Lift isn't magic. It's geometry plus airspeed. Get the angle of attack wrong and the wing stalls. I learned that at Kitty Hawk in ways that bruised.
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