Take a step back in time with these sword fighters

The clashing of steel echoed throughout Mission Creek Park, as two local swordsmen tested their skills against one another.

However, this was not a fight to the death, but rather an average practice session for Tyler ‘Murdoch’ Therrien, and his assistant instructor, James.

Therrien is the owner of Ascalon Academy, providing lessons in historical swordsmanship.

His love for the blades began at an early age. And when a former employer mentioned offhand that he taught Italian Rapier, he saw his chance to learn.

“Growing up, I’ve seen way too many movies about swords, swordsmanship and that kind of stuff,” Therrien told Kelowna10. “So, I bugged him for probably about a month before he actually broke down and said, ‘Okay shut up, I’ll teach you’.”

He said that it took him a few years to come into his own to realize that he had something to teach and pass on to other people. As of now, he has been teaching the art of swordsmanship for six years. He said Ascalon Academy deviates from typical HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) groups.

“We don’t quite fall into most of their categories,” Therrien explained. “We don’t fall into the historical recreation in that we don’t wear period clothes and that sort of thing. Nor do we fight to the first blood or to death.”

He said his swordsmen dial back the force of their blows to focus on control and technique, stating it takes a lot more skill and training to place a blow delicately.

Though sword fighting is not what most people know it as from films or video games, which often show the exploits of heroes such as Zorro, or the Witcher, Geralt.

“Hollywood has a tendency to make it bigger and flashier,” he said. “It was rather very much a case of don’t die first because you never know what your opponent is going to do. And being wild and crazy can get you injured or killed.”

Therrien invites anyone interested in swordsmanship to reach out to Ascalon Academy and take part in a unique pastime.

“We can teach almost anybody how to at least enjoy themselves, enjoy the technique, and enjoy learning a style or history that is not terribly common,” he said.