Purpleheart Open 2015

http://swordfighthouston.weebly.com/ Purpleheart Armoury and Sword to Sword - Houston bring you the Purpleheart Open (PHO), a Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) event featuring a broad range of workshops and tournaments. Running since 2010, this is the largest such event in Texas and the US Southwest region. In 2015, PHO will run March 20-22. Registration for event, lunches, dinner, T-shirt is here: http://www.woodenswords.com/category_s/1882.htm Hotel ideas: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Albp9fZH9T9OdGxXbWVBRXRtb0hzQVJjdWVBZXRReHc#gid=1 Don't forget! We have a simple peer-to-peer roomshare/rideshare aid in our Google Doc! Put yourself down for whatever you're looking for: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Albp9fZH9T9OdGxXbWVBRXRtb0hzQVJjdWVBZXRReHc#gid=0 Open Longsword sign-up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Albp9fZH9T9OdGxXbWVBRXRtb0hzQVJjdWVBZXRReHc#gid=10 Novice Longsword sign-up (must not have reached semi-finals in a longsword tournament in the past 2 years): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Albp9fZH9T9OdGxXbWVBRXRtb0hzQVJjdWVBZXRReHc#gid=11 Mixed weapons sign-up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Albp9fZH9T9OdGxXbWVBRXRtb0hzQVJjdWVBZXRReHc#gid=9 Rapier sign-up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Albp9fZH9T9OdGxXbWVBRXRtb0hzQVJjdWVBZXRReHc#gid=12 Every year, fencers, fighters, and diverse martial artists gather in Houston from different countries to share and refine their common love of history and European fighting traditions. Swordsmanship features heavily in the topics covered, but HEMA is a full spectrum fighting tradition and, as such, our event covers many integral and related topics such as body mechanics and proprioception, wrestling, and various cross-training topics endorsed by the historic masters to cultivate a well-rounded fighter. In its short tradition, PHO strives to bring historic and scientific training perspectives to HEMA, of interest to long-time practitioners but also accessible to brand-new students of these martial arts. HEMA is an applied art, and we strongly feel that hands-on training with new partners and instructors is one of the most valuable aspects of these international workshop events. As such, PHO workshop classes all involve active participation, and floor space will be reserved for open and coached sparring/training. In 2015, PHO will also offer attendees a variety of social activities unique to Houston: A group dinner at a gen-yoo-wine Texas castle (sounds corny, but participants have enjoyed themselves immensely -- especially the BYOB bus ride filled with HEMA chatter) The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo -- the world's largest rodeo event. Features live music, Texas' best BBQ and chili in competitions, USA-built luxury trucks that have never seen a hay bale or mud, and more! ...And other events will give event participants the chance to experience Houston's cultural offerings together. Please join us in March for the most challenging, exhausting, and edifying experience we can offer!