![]() 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.
Dominating and Vacating the Combat Space
Adapting FMA Counts to Solo Training: Stick Basics #3 Stroke Catalog FEB/19/16
FEB/17/16 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
Stick Stroke Count Summary 1. The hybrid nature of FMA stroke counts 00:05 2. The bi-lateral aspect 01:10 3. Count limitations 02:01 Stick Stroke Count Review 1. The basic 4 02:25 2. Gabriel’s 5 02:52 3. The crooked 7 03:29 4. The straight 8 04:25 5. The crooked 8 05:07 6. Jon’s 8 05:49 7. Jon’s snake 8 06:35 8. Bustillo’s 12 07:20 9. Gabriel’s 12 09:04 10. Clark’s 12 10:11 11. Charles’ 12 11:32 12. Raymar’s 13 13:16 13. Lee’s 20 15:17 Strips 18:13 1. Backhand 18:51 2. Beat catch 20:02 3. Snake (Roof Block Disarm) 20:52
FEB/17/16 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
Steps 1. Step 00:05 2. Shuffle-step 00:33 3. Shift & Reverse shift 00:51 4. Outside reverse triangle 01:33 5. Inside triangle [false & entry] 02:44 6. Inside triangle [extended] 03:39 7. Lunge 04:00 8. High step 04:22 9. Charge 05:02 10. Forward triangle 05:24 Patterns 1. March & Countermarch 05:58 2. Saw-tooth 06:24 3. Diamond 06:37 4. Straight 8 & Crooked 8 06:59 5. Pass & Beat lunges 07:54
FEB/17/16 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
Basics 1. Gripping 00:03 2. Guarding 01:25 3. Targets 02:27 Power Point 1. Coiled hand 03:52 2. Body-arm continuity 04:33 3. Hips, Elbows, Shoulders, Head 05:14 Stroke Types [with #1] 1. Jabbing, Smashing, Slashing 06:17 Stroke Angles 1. Jab count 07:24 2. Smash count 07:56 3. Slash count 08:18 4. Combos 08:31 Power 1. Slide step & Heel step 08:57 2. Shift & Reverse shift 09:42 3. Lunge & Reverse lunge 10:44 4. Pass step & Pass lunge 11:27 5. Fade 11:45 6. Pivot 12:12 7. Heel pivot & Drive pivot 13:20 Defense 1. Guard 13:54 2. Inside beat & Outside beat 14:09 3. Umbrella block 14:19 4. Roof block 14:36 5. Check & Stab 15:25 Specialized Power Point Guards 15:53 1. Shoulder guard 16:13 2. Coiled guard 16:28 3. Tucked guard 16:40 4. Shield guard 16:52 5. Roof guard 17:12
FEB/17/16 | SevierKnoxAgonistics
Single Stick Warm Ups 1. Raps 00:04 2. Twirls 00:24 3. Slash and recover twirls 00:39 4. Wrist rowing 00:56 5. Forward X loop 01:14 6. Reverse X loop 01:32 7. Stick twist stretch 01:50 8. Stick pass stretch 02:18 Double Stick Warm Ups 1. Syncopated jabs 02:42 2. Double wrist plyos 02:56 3. Roof block drill 03:14 4. Countermarch slashes 03:35
Agonistics: Sunday, 11/22/15, Noon until 3 p.m.
Boxing, Stick-Fighting and Knife-fighting Drills and Sparring NOV/08/15
The Beat Down
Cory’s Farewell Agon: Sunday, August 16, 2015, 1:30 p.m. at Jim Frederick’s Kenpo JUL/23/15
Wear A Cup When Stick Fighting!
Charles & James Fight it Out For Gabriel's Legacy Black Sash JUL/11/15
Weaponry Footwork Study
Attention Sean, Dave, Alex and Kolya: Four Different Styles of Mobility in Full Contact Round Robin Session JUL/11/15
Fresh Meat Alert! [Confirmations]
Sean's Agon: Tuesday, July 14, 2015, 11:00 A.M., a Sensibly Brutal Celebration of Masculinity JUN/29/15
Double Blade versus Blade & Shield
Damien Using Low-line Kicks versus James from a Set of 2005 Steel Bouts JUN/23/15
JUN/07/15 | ModernAgonistics
From `Marvin's Agon' April 2005 Read about this bout at
JUN/07/15 | ModernAgonistics
From `Marvin's Agon' April 2005 Read about this bout at
JUN/07/15 | ModernAgonistics
From `Marvin's Agon' April 2005 Read about this bout at
Agon 2015
Hosted by Pat & Lou Pierce, 6/14/15, at A Parkville Location Yet to be Determined APR/30/15
Dueling With the Cold Steel Gladius
James and Cory Experiment with The Synthetic Blunt Sword APR/08/15
APR/02/15 | ModernAgonistics
This bag work 'super cut' was created upon request from a reader at JamesLafond.com First half shows mostly warm-ups. Second half shows some boxing & burnouts. This is by no means an exhaustive demonstration of bag work possibilities. |
![]() ![]() ![]() By This Axe!, Soter's Way, Organa, Buzz Bunny, Riding the Nightmare, God of War, and Thunderbird
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |