The Sword Spectacular Weekend
A chance to cross swords with the stars of Highlander: The Series

Article and Photographs by Genise Graham

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Special Thanks from the Editor

I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to Anthony De Longis and his remarkable team for having me and my staff at Sword Spectacular Weekend. We really enjoyed getting to know you. It's because of your giving hearts that we all have so much to dream about when we see fantastic swordplay on the screen.

Also, special thanks go to Sandi Hutchinson and her operations team. You guys have been so super. It's because of your behind-the-scenes work that SSW turned out to be such a smash hit.

I hope to see you all again some day soon. I think of each of you now and then. Drop me an e-mail once in a while!

Adrian Presents the SFMO Team

Genise gets to edit all the sections except this one. Normally we don't write about ourselves, but after four massive online Magazine issues and 14 months of establishing ourselves as a prestigious international magazine, I feel it's not overstepping my bounds in dedicating a small page in this issue to acknowledge and thank Genise Graham and Kareem Dimashkie. And to get a little nostalgic! Some of you might see them as they join me at future Conventions and similar public events. Many of you might never see them at all. They've done such remarkable work on-site, without their support I would not have been able to accomplish what I have achieved at SSW. First off, Kareem was phenomenal. His assistance in our impromptu presentation on Japanese Swords and Samurai Combat was better than an Editor could hope for!

This cute cherub on the right of the above photo is the Field Editor of SFMO. Genise is known in Highlander fans by the callsign "GiGi MacFru" of the fan Clan MacFru (some of whom I had the pleasure of meeting at SSW). Genise takes some of the best photographs in the industry and her pictures of the stars are desired by fans worldwide. Representing SFMO at public conventions, Genise's strength is creating opportunities for herself and being creative and resourceful. The contacts and interviews she has made have been invaluable.

Author's Final Note

The SSW was a wonderful opportunity for us and we are extremely grateful to Anthony for allowing us to participate. The staff was organized and attentive, which added to the pleasure of the weekend. There was not room enough in this small article to give all the credit due to the many talented folks who presented numerous fine demonstrations and lectures. We regret these omissions. One such omission was our very own presentation. We felt that we wanted to dedicate what little space that we had to the other esteemed guests of the SSW and highlight their contributions. Yet, I am proud of our humble efforts to the weekend lineup and would like to give them mention. My Editor, Adrian Ko, and fellow staff member, Kareem Dimashkie, presented to the attendees a demonstration about "real " Japanese swords and Samurai combat. The idea was to give the group an idea of true martial arts from a historical perspective. Although the group was rather small, they were warmly received and, in my opinion, very informative.

Situated in a meeting room on the second floor, our group gathered to demonstrate two basic things: Iaido (the art of sword drawing) where Adrian demonstrated some kata (solo movements), and Kenjutsu (the method of fighting with a Japanese sword).

Firstly, Adrian impressed upon us how deadly a katana can be and how it is meant to be a "one strike" weapon. We soon learned that the long, exciting battles that we see on stage rarely happened in real life.

The Kenjutsu methodology covered came from feudal-era Japan, about 400 years ago, from some Samurai schools of battlefield training. This era was approximately the time Connor and Duncan were supposed to have existed, and thus we felt it to be of particular interest to Highlander fans. What Adrian taught us were primarily the techniques of what to do when attacked from an above-cut and the various methods of body placement (taijutsu). Kareem assisted Adrian in demonstrating defensive moves, but mostly by showing us how one falls dead from such blows! Got to admit that Kareem was great at the job!

In more detail, Adrian went on to explain how one controls the three-dimensional space between you and your attacker; by stepping 45-degrees out of the line of attack, then stepping back in between his body and his weapon. This permits the control of the opponent's center of gravity, from which point you can whisk your blade against his stomach or neck and drop him to the ground, where again Kareem so aptly feigned death. I thought it was a great show! My personal thanks go to Kareem, for always being that faithful helping hand when I needed it!

To Adrian: I am humbled by his tremendous talents, his generous use of them, and I am ever so grateful that he allows me to hang around this place! - Genise Graham

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