![]() Modern Agonistics is not a style, art or system. It is simply a format for training, experimentation and competition with weapons. The goals of the participants range from cross-training, self-defense and thrill-seeking, to craftwork [like weapon and armor fabrication] and attempts to reconstruct extinct fighting arts. Practitioners of over two-dozen fighting arts have utilized this format since 1998 without sustaining serious injury. Participants have been both male and female and have ranged in age from 11 to 65; in size from 75 to 375 pounds, and in experience from novice to professional. Most participants have been males in their late teens and early twenties. We have no dues, rituals, traditions or barriers. This is simply a network for combat weaponry enthusiasts. We are just a curious group of fighters. If you want to participate you are welcome. Our motto is "as real as you want it".
Agonistics is an ancient Hellenic term that translates as "contest-preparation". The root is Agon meaning "contest". The English word agony was borrowed from the ancient Greek term for "contestant's suffering" referring to the trials of a combatant. This is admittedly a terrible term to use in modern America, as virtually everyone misreads agonistics as agnostics which is also from the ancient Greek and means "no knowledge" and is used as a self-descriptive term by people who are not sure about the existence of divinity. My favorite misreading of agonistics was when the Baltimore City Paper ran our ad for a seminar at Sifu Clark's in 2005 as Modern Antagonistics. Some guy called me and wanted to know if we were a network for hate groups.
JUN/13/22 | InTheseGoingsDown
vs Sean Glass, James gets a Head cut and leg cut on him but gets head cut after getting cornered
'Do You Still Coach?'
Bradley is Wondering about Crackpot Combat Training: Dateline 11/7/21 JAN/10/22
DEC/19/21 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
Another short video of our knife sparring at the end of training. Bigger videos incoming!
DEC/12/21 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
'I Want to Start a Stick Fighting Club'
Baruch Queries the Crackpot on Starting a Stick Fighting Club MAR/17/21
The Five Kinds of Combat Pain
Jason Wonders at the Winter of a Fighting Life and the Downside of Combat Training MAR/16/21
‘The Buckler’
Non-Elastic Mister Ney Wants to Know How to Use the Polypropylene Buckler from Cold Steel NOV/09/20
‘Two-On-One Stick’
Electric Dan Wants to Know about the Practicality of a Weapon in Each Hand APR/07/20
A Shilleagh for Christmas
Crackpot Mailbox: Mars Ultor and Escaped from Baltimore Discuss Tire Thumping JAN/01/20
OCT/27/19 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
Steel Duels! We used a variety of styles of blunt steel weapons including knives, kukris, machetes etc. Enjoy! 00:00 - 01:06 The Khan vs Erique medium knives 01:07 - 02:24 Paladin vs Erique double knives 02:25 - 03:28 The Khan vs Nero the Pict long machetes 03:29 - 04:10 The Khan vs Erique(double kukri) The Khan suffered a dislocated knuckle! 04:11 - 06:00 The Khan vs Erique small knives 06:01 - 07:04 The Khan vs Nero the Pict small knives 07:05 - 08:11 The Khan (double stick) vs Nero the Pict(machete) 08:12 -
OCT/27/19 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
Here is a video of some of our stick fights from Man Weekend 2019. Nothing fancy just guys putting in the work. 00:04 - 01:14 Paladin vs Bad Smitten 01:14 - 02:28 Paladin vs Dennis 02:29 - 03:54 Erique vs Bad Smitten 03:55 - 04:58 Nero the Pict vs Dennis 04:59 - 06:07 Bad Smitten vs NYC1 06:08 - 07:26 NYC1 vs Paladin 07:27 - 08:50 NYC2 vs Erique 08:51 - 09:55 The Khan vs Jersey Shore 09:56 - 11:06 Bad Smitten vs Nero the Pict 11:07 - 12:16 Dennis vs Nero the Pict
Twerps, Goons and Meatshields Videos
An Evolution of Freestyle Stick-Fighting and Blunt Machete Dueling in Maryland-Pennsylvania: 2004-19 SEP/28/19
SEP/09/19 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
This year our annual Man Weekend featured our biggest crowd yet at a dozen fighters! Men shot, fought, drank, and rekindled the spirits of our forebears over 3 days. Combatants ranged from early twenties to their mid fifties and we were thankful to have the Patriarch James LaFond out once again. If your in the tri state area and looking for stick, knife, or MMA training feel free to contact us. No dues or fees just men being men. For more information please check out www.jameslafond.com for combat and cultural musings.
'To Spawn as Many of My Kind as I Can'
Crackpot Mailbox: MRT and James Discuss Anarcho-Tranny* Weaponry and Fat Girls! SEP/06/19
‘Would You Guide a Group of Young Men?’
Crackpot Mailbox: ‘In an Introduction to Combat and Fitness?’ Maximus Rex Wants to Know MAY/06/19
DEC/06/18 | TheCrackpotPodcast
James and friends show you how to make a double ended bag with a few simple elements: 1. A roll of premium paper towels 2. An old shirt 3. A roll of Gorilla Tape 4. Three double hooked bungee cords of varying lengths 5. An old clothesline 6. An iron plate Wrap the paper towel in the shirt and cover with tape as shown. Use one bungee cord wrapped in clothesline as the core of the bag. Use two more bungee cords, one to hang the bag to a ceiling joist and one to anchor it to an iron plate set on the floor. Use more tape to secure the hooks and joints. Enjoy music from Tony Cox!
Does Altitude Training Work?
Comparing Stamina Before and After 3 Months of Alpine Training OCT/10/18
SEP/27/18 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
In this long knife and hatchet duel the Viking showcases his improved triangular footwork against the fast hands of Erique. Both men had been fighting for nearly an hour so this was one of their last sets. We encourage all of our viewers to take the good with the bad and always continue to TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN. |
![]() ![]() ![]() The author returns to the Northwest, to discover that there too hungered the insatiable social Beast.
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