CombatCon

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Combat Con 2021 will happen both virtually and in person. In person attendance requires proof of vaccination before July 7th.

Adam Simmons

A wandering student of the sword for the past 20 years, Adam has a passion for research and seeking the practical application of period documented techniques. Adam is known for being able to fence with skill using a wide variety of weapons, as evidenced by his growing collection of HEMA tournament medals. Adam’s teaching specialties include military sabre, Italian rapier, longsword, and sword & buckler. To fund his sword collection and world travels, Adam works as a remote Scrum Master / IT Project Manager. Adam may be able to travel to your area or club for a seminar or class, please contact him at quickswordman@gmail.com Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/pirateswordman

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Adrian Paul

With over 30 films and 200 hours of television experience, versatility, discipline and a solid work ethic have been the underpinnings of Adrian’s very successful 30-year acting career. Internationally recognized for his role as Duncan Macleod, in Highlander-The Series”, Adrian has also produced and directed both film and television projects. Born and raised in London, England, Adrian arrived in the United States in 1984, working as a choreographer and a model. After a year of taking acting classes with acting coaches, Ivana Chubbuck and Roy London, his first series role came on the ABC television show, The Colbys. This led to a role in the Broadway play, “Bouncers”, in 1987, a guest role on the television show, Beauty and the Beast (1987) and his first film role in the film Last Rites (1988), with Tom Berenger. After a starring role in Roger Corman’s,” Masque of the Red Death “(1989),he became a series regular in the second season of the television series “War of the Worlds”(1988), followed by four episode arc on the MGM Dark Shadows series. Fast becoming known for his solid work ethic, CBS cast him as the lead in the television pilot, The Owl (1990). Although the series wasn’t picked up, Adrian didn’t stop working, guest starring on Angela Lansbury’s “Murder She Wrote”, and co starring opposite the up-and-coming Sandra Bullock in “Love Potion Number 9”. But it would be his next role that would bring him international recognition…that of “Duncan MacLeod” in the syndicated series, Highlander (1991-1997). During the 6 year run, Adrian directed four of the series’ episodes, including the epic 100thepisode, shot in Bordeaux France. Three of these episodes were voted in the top ten best of series for the 117 episode run. When the series ended in 1997, although he was in demand, Paul wanted to go back to his acting roots. After studying with renowned acting coach Larry Moss, he worked on John Landis’ romantic comedy, “Susan’s Plan”, the action thriller, “Dead Men Can’t Dance”, and helped found Actors in Process, a theater group, where actors could meet weekly to ”showcase” current work and receive positive critique from their peers. After two years, a production of an original play, “Things Just aChange”, was showcased at the Odyssey theater in Los Angeles, with Paul in the lead role. The success of the Highlander series however, was still current, leading Paul to be offered to star opposite Christopher Lambert in “Highlander : Endgame”(2000), to take over the franchise’s lead position. Other films followed, including the now cult classic “The Breed” (2001), shot in Budapest, Hungary where Adrian met his future wife, Alexandra. In 2001, Lionsgate signed Adrian to a 3 picture deal, as well as to star in and executive produce the Sci Fi action thriller, “Tracker” (created by Gil Grant) for Lionsgate Television. With the advent of so many new media outlets, however, the syndicated series was not renewed for a second season. Adrian continued to work on films such as “Nemesis Game” (Lionsgate) and “Tides of War”, along with the Spelling Television and Paramount Pictures’ hit TV series, ”Charmed”. This was the first time in thirteen years that Adrian had actually filmed again on US soil. In 2006 the Highlander Franchise was back again, this time filming in Lithuania, with Adrian starring in and Executive Producing, what would become his last sortie as Duncan Macleod, in “Highlander :The Source”. After that came, ”The Legend of Roanoke”(2007) and the Sci Fi Action Comedy “The Immortal Voyages of Captain Drake”(2009), a film in which Paul choreographed all the fight scenes. Always looking for interesting roles, Adrian found himself in Hungary and Tunisia, filming the Seven Arts production, ”Nine Miles Down”(2009), that he now considers one of his most emotionally challenging roles. Next, he was off to London, in an out of character role, as a Conservative member of Parliament in the thriller, “The Heavy ”(2010), with Gary Stretch, Stephen Rea and Christopher Lee. Also in 2010, Adrian co-founded his first production company Filmblips Inc., in an attempt to bring compelling material to advertising companies. Since 2010, while working as an actor on several other films and TV movies, Adrian also wrote three screenplays, developed financial and artistic presentation packages for film and television, along with spearheading his charity, The Peace Fund, that he founded in 1997. Peace stands for Protect. Educate. Aid. Children. Everywhere. Over the past 17 years, Adrian has overseen the work of the fund in countries such as Romania, Bellarus, Niger, Hungary, Haiti, Cambodia, Thailand and the United States. In 2012, Adrian launched Peace Fund Radio that he currently co hosts with Ethan Dettanmaeir, with an estimated audience of between 1.8 and 2 million listeners a month. The innovative radio show, has been host to many celebrities with causes of their own and is the catalyst behind the Peace Fund’s partnership and donation to bring computers into LAUSD schools. Through the radio shows influence the fund has also partnered with Kimberly Moore’s,” Adopt a Letter” program to fulfill children’s wishes at Christmas, brought books for libraries and lights for homes in El Salvador, along with connecting like minded charities to fulfill their initiatives. In 2014, Adrian helped launch his second production company, Radical Road, aimed at lower budget films. Radical Road is in the funding stages of a slate of pictures for the next five years, some of which Adrian is set to direct and act in. Adrian has two movies, “The Secret of Emily Blair” and “Stormageddon”, about to be released in 2016 and currently, Adrian is getting ready to direct his first feature, “Chemical Influence”, a screenplay he wrote from an original script. Adrian is also launching, “The Sword Experience:” Half day seminars of sword training, that include stage and real life combat and safety tips aimed at individuals, corporations, film, stage, re-enactment societies, martial artists and role playing groups. He is still married to Alexandra and they have two children together, Angelisa and Royce.

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Albert Toberer

Albert Toberer runs Blackfriar’s School of Fence in San Luis Obispo, California. He entered the world of swashbuckling in the mid-90s, performing in battle pageants at small Renaissance faires throughout California with St. Kennoch’s guild. Wanting to gain a deeper understanding of knightly combat, Albert and other interested friends began working from the growing number of fighting manuals that came into circulation in the late 90s. Albert still strives to distill all he can from each fight manual and seeks out knowledge by travelling and learning from contemporary instructors. His goal is to make HEMA accessible to anyone who walks through the door wanting to learn.

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Anna Lee Beard

Anna Beard first started dancing somewhere about age four in her Wonder Woman underoos and that, as they say, was that. She began pursuing dance in earnest at age seven, training intensely in studios before earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Michigan in 2003. Along the way, she has danced and trained with a number of different groups, including the Kyrgyz National Ballet in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan as well as her own incarnation, AuxWerks. Over her twenty years of teaching, a deep love of technique has allowed her to aid artists in refining movement in everything from aerial circus to flowarts, giving her students a strong foundation in a way that is both fun and rewarding. In recent history, her focus has been on instructing adults exclusively as she wants to change perceptions about learning dance at any age, plus they find swearing much more acceptable and entertaining. Digging into the whys and wherefores of teaching methods have driven her to share with those around her (bore to tears?) with her enthusiastic talks about the pedagogy of movement more often than not with wild arm gestures to accompany. Anna’s recent interest (read as obsession) with sword fighting has inspired her to draw comparisons between the teaching of dance and the teaching of swords. Her workshops have been facilitated at events such as Purpleheart Open, Swordsquatch, and SoCal Swordfight as well as teaching regularly at Austin Historical Weapons Guild where she is a co-owner. She has also been featured on the Modern Rogue YouTube series for Renaissance dance, messer technique, and Dance Assasins (aka Ballet). Anna resides in Austin with her husband, two kids, and a trio of pets where she will talk about dance history or the glory of Meyer to anyone who will listen.

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Anthony De Longis

Anthony has created memorable roles in film, television, and theater working projects around the world. Please view a partial list on his IMDB at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0209815/.His 45 years of bladed and flexible weapons experience allows him to make an equalizing ‘weapon of opportunity’ out of almost anything. Behind the camera he specializes in helping performers, stunt coordinators and directors make the most of their character and story driven action opportunities. Please visit the SKILLS chapters http://www.delongis.com/Skills.html to see him in action as Sword Master, Whip Master, Horse Skills (mounted weaponry), Fights & Throwing Skills, etc. Anthony has been a performer, teacher / trainer and student of bladed arts from around the world for over 45 years and counting. He has a deep knowledge of European weaponry (broadsword, saber, rapier & dagger, small sword, etc), Japanese katana and spear (Shinkendo 2nd Degree Black Belt and Level 3 Instructor) and Filipino double weapon and knife arts (10 years training with Guro Dan Inosanto), staff, spear, lance and archery, and he does them all from horseback. Yuen Woo Ping flew him to Shanghai to duel Jet Li with saber vs gin in the FEARLESS and he guest starred twice on HIGHLANDER – THE SERIES in season 3 Blackmail as the Irish Immortal Lyman Kurlow (broadsword vs katana) and in season 5 Duende as the Spanish Swordmaster Ottavio Conssone. Duende was written for Anthony and allowed him to introduce the unique Mysterious Circle system of Spanish rapier fighting to the screen in a classic rapier and dagger duel in the rain created with co-choreographere Braun McAsh and series star Adrian Paul. View both of these sword fights and others utilizing a variety of bladed weapons combinations on his Sword Reel at https://vimeo.com/124346745 ot

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Brittany Reeves

Head Instructor, Co-Founder Mordhau Historical Combat Brittany is a passionate martial artist who brings attention to form and function. She is a recognized international HEMA instructor and accomplished competitor. A testament to her success is her multiple medals in longsword, cutting, ringen, and glima. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Ancient and Medieval History, is the co-organizer of Valley of the Sun Cutting Tournaments, and is a former member of the HEMA Alliance Governing Council.

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Carmine Downey

Carmine Downey has over 40 years in the Martial Arts and formerly served 12 years of active/reserve service in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret). He is a Career Law Enforcement Officer and served 15 years on his Agency’s Elite Tactical Team. He is one of the most well rounded martial arts Instructors available today having studied both empty hand and weapons systems of Eastern and Western combat combined with his training by the U.S. Military. As a former Green Beret, he became an Instructor in the (then) Special Forces H2H/Knife Combat System (which was a combination of the original Fairbairn-Sykes System, Muay Thai and Kali) and was afforded the opportunity to become an Instructor in authentic Cherokee Tomahawk and Knife. He went on to study numerous Kali/Escrima systems. In recent years he trained with Gregg Thompson, founder of the Army’s new Special Operations Combatives Program known as S.O.C.P. Coach Downey began training in Krav Maga with Israeli Commandos in preparation for Desert Storm and later became a certified FORCE Division Instructor with Krav Maga Worldwide, having trained with such renowned instructors as John Pascal and Darren Levine. He later learned Chinese Combat Sanda taught by a retired Taiwanese Police Officer, Master Tong. Carmine Downey has taken this vast experience, combined with an extensive background in Japanese Swordsmanship and created Elite Blade Combatives a complete system for empty hand and modern weapons survival.Although best known as a Master Instructor in reality combat, Carmine Downey is an accomplished Kickboxing and MMA Coach. He has International Level San Shou Kickboxing Instructor Credentials under the U.S.A.W.K.F. and served as the U.S. San Shou Team’s Assistant Coach representing the U.S. at the World Championships in 2010. Additionally, he holds 5th degree black belts in both Mu Do Kai Karate and Mugendo Kickboxing under I.S.K.A. Commissioner Robert Mason. He is a Muay Thai Instructor trained on Military trips to Thailand and has extensive Boxing training at both the former Army Boxing Team Center at Ft. Bragg and the world famous the 5th Street Gym in Miami. As a well-rounded Instructor, he has extensive experience in the grappling arts beginning with Wrestling in both H.S. and later post active duty, College. Carmine Downey went on to earn black belts in Japanese Judo and Ju Jitsu and was on the MMA forefront teaching these at Shihan Mason’s Karate & Kickboxing Dojo years before the first UFC. He has studied Russian Sambo, Chinese Shuai Jiao, American Catch Wrestling and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu (which he continues today) and has trained under such notable BJJ instructors as Rickson Gracie, Pedro Sauer and Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller.In addition to preparing fighters for competition, soldiers for combat and law enforcement to survive, Carmine Downey uses his expertise to work with a non-profit stunt team for stage and film where all proceeds go to Children’s medical charities and does s

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Charley Cummings

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Christopher Hein

Hein Sensei started training at Aikido of Fresno in 1998, passing his black belt test in 2001 and taking over operation of the school in 2011. A student of several martial arts, Hein Sensei found Aikido to be a martial art that truly inspired him. Hein Sensei has been exploring and developing his Aikido for nearing two decades. Sensei Hein has studied several martial arts systems including traditional martial arts like Aikido as well as modern sport martial arts. He has competed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Submissions Wrestling, MMA, HEMA and even a full contact stick fight with Southern California’s “Dog Brothers”. His focus is on the “Aiki” ability and practical martial skill tempered by good judgment and understanding.

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Christopher Nelson

Christopher Nelson has been a member of the Phoenix Society of Historical Swordsmanship under Richard Marsden for 4 years. He has a HEMA Alliance instructor Certification and has taught at events in the US and Mexico. Christopher has competed at several events as well as been part of the organization of CombatCon.

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Da'Mon Stith

Da’Mon the president of the HAMA Association and is a leader in the movement to study Historical African Martial Arts. He is the Chief Instructor and Founder of Guild of the Silent Sword. His martial arts training began at the age of 6 when his father gave him his first sword. He was fascinated with martial arts and warrior culture. He began his formal training at the age of 9 in Asian martial arts and progressed into African and Middle Eastern martial arts by the age of 17. When not training and instructing, Da’Mon constructs training weaponry utilizing high-density plastic, hardwood, aluminum and steel. Additionally, Da’Mon is an instructor during the summer for Book People’s Camp Half-Blood literary camp.

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Frank Perrin

Frank Perrin is a combat team member of Razmafzar: Historical Persian Martial Arts, an organization dedicated to the research, revival and practice of the fighting arts of Persian warriors across the centuries. Frank recently joined SAG AFTRA as a stunt performer and is member of The Art of Combat New York Chapter as well as an active mounted archer. He also serves as an occasional combat choreographer and historical consultant for independent film in New England. Frank holds a Masters degree in Public history and teaches Art History for Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

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Fred Kaye

Sifu Fred Kaye’s martial career spans over 47 years. Mr. Kaye’s martial foundation is in the Asian Japanese and Chinese martial traditions, starting in the 1970 with Japanese Shotokan Karate, then continuing on to external Northern/Southern Shaolin styles to Internal Wudang arts of Ba Gua Zhang, Xing Yi Quan, Lu Huo Quan and Taiji Quan. Over the past decade, Coach Fred has expanded his martial journey with an exploration of western martial arts Bartitsu, La Defense dan la Rue and other global fighting arts. Coach Fred has developed a training program integrating Classic Martial training featuring Indian Clubs, Maces and Health wands to allow warriors and any person to maintain health at any age. Info at www.martialexercise.com. Currently Fred is teaching weekly classes at EnGarde Fencing academy in Santa Rosa CA. https://egfencing.com/ Contact coach Fred at fred@martialexercise.com

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Genevieve Nylen

Genevieve Nylen is an LA based actor, photographer, and cosplay artist with a degree in Theatre Arts and Performance Studies from the University of San Diego. She has traveled internationally with her work, sharing the love of her art with her fans as well as teaching them how to hone their own skills and boost their small businesses. She is best known for her influencer work in the cosplay community as Genevieve Marie as well as her photography which is featured on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Her love of the geeky community has led her to host a talk show called The Roll Out, covering anything geeky from games, films and comics. She has trained in both Eastern and Western martial arts and incorporates those skills in as many projects as possible.

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Gloria Downey

Gloria Downey has over thirty years of training and was on the forefront of women competing in the Martial Arts. Understanding the importance of reality Combat in the late 1980’s, before its popularity, she has always sought out Instructors with a Special Operations Background. She began her training in Los Angeles, CA in Shotokan Karate and H2H Combat under renowned Karate Master and Marine F.O.R.C.E. Recon Veteran James Fields, achieving her second degree black belt and went on to compete in fighting on the International level. After relocation to FT. Lauderdale, FL. she began training in Mugendo Kickboxing under Shihan Robert Mason and U.S. Army Special Forces Veteran Carmine Downey (who would later become her husband) obtaining black belt in that system. In addition to the Mugendo she trained privately in Special Forces Combatives and Muay Thai under her Husband. Later, with her being a native Mandarin Speaker, she and her husband traveled to China and turned to the study of Chinese San Shou Kickboxing. She has learned under such notable San Shou Coaches as Master Fong of the Taiwanese Police Department and Ian Lee, U.S. San Shou Head Coach and former King of Sanda Champion (San Shou alternate name). With reality combat her focus she expanded her training with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, having had training under such notable Professors as Pedro Sauer and Louis Heredia (Masters ranked directly under Rickson Gracie) and Krav Maga having trained directly under Darren Levine, Head of Krav Maga Worldwide. She incorporated bladed weapons training and in addition to training under Carmine Downey (Founder of Elite Blade Combatives) in Japanese sword and Special Forces Knife and Tomahawk has trained under Guru Ron Ignacio, head of Ignacio Kali System. She has performed for a number of years as part of a Superhero Charity Stunt Team depicting such strong female characters as Marvel’s Domino and D.C.’s Katana and has choreographed and Co-Directed award winning actions shorts including “Fair Fight” and “Crazy Puddin.”

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Jack Dagger

Jack Dagger: The King of Fling is a world renowned knife throwing comedian and Living Legend (according to the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame), having performed over 2000 live shows in eight different countries. Jack was one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. He’s worked with Conan O’Brien (on The Tonight Show), Nicole Kidman, Adam Sandler, Tony Shaloub, David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. He was featured on History Channel’s ‘More Extreme Marksmen’, all five seasons of TOP SHOT as the world’s most accurate marksman and expert in the field of knife throwing, and ‘Stan Lee’s Superhuman’ performing seemingly impossible feats of accuracy, garnering him the scientifically measured and confirmed title of Superhuman. Jack has also appeared in Vogue Italia with supermodel Karen Elson, on the MTV Movie Awards, in the Britney Spears “Circus” music video, on Good Day LA, The Learning Channel, and has been featured on both Japanese and Greek television. In a recent interview, Michael J. Bainton (the executive director of the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame) said, “I am continuously amazed by his precision marksmanship and his ability to entertain an audience. He is the most accurate knife thrower in the world at this time, and constantly raises the standards by which other knife throwers are measured in the entertainment field. “Although Jack Dagger has retired from competition, he continues to support the expansion of knife throwing as a fun, safe, confidence-building exercise for the general public. He continues to join me and my students at the Alamo to help raise funds for its preservation. Throughout the day he keeps the crowds in stitches with his quick wit and attention to detail. We could use more people like Jack Dagger.” Jack continues to perform in TV/Film, corporate/trade show environments, Renaissance Faires, Street (Busker) Festivals, and Fringe Festivals all around the world. Originally from Louisiana, Jack now lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife Amy, and their son Jack Arthur. http://www.jackdagger.com

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Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

Jenna Elizabeth Johnson is a bestselling, multi-award winning author of epic and contemporary fantasy. While in school, Jenna studied ancient Celtic myth and culture, which now inspires much of her writing. Jenna is best known for her Legend of Oescienne, Otherworld, and Draghans of Firiehn series. For more on the author and her books, and for contact information and to sign up for the author’s newsletter, visit: www.jennaelizabethjohnson.com or send an email to: www.jennaelizabethjohnson.com

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John Lennox

Dr. John Lennox has trained in various forms of combat for over 34 years. He is an instructor with the Historical Martial Study Society, as well as an expert level knife instructor for the School of Two Swords. Over the past few years he has focused on combat theory as well as fighting with knife and tomahawk. His recent research includes German smallsword and Aztec, Mayan and Inca combat systems. Since 2006 he has been teaching at workshops all over the world, including the Paddy Crean International Art of the Sword Workshop, The Shenandoah Project, the Symposium on the Western Arts of Swordsmanship through History (S.W.A.S.H.) in Leeds, England, and numerous workshops throughout the U.S. as well as Scotland, England, Finland, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Mexico and Canada. He is a Fight Director for Art of Combat, an Honorary Fight Director with the Australian Stage Combat Association, and he has taught stage combat courses at Indiana University/Purdue- Ft. Wayne, Lansing Community College, Huntington University, Jackson Community College, Centenary College and Wayne State University.

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Jordan Hinckley

Jordan Hinckley has been a student of the Historical European Martial Arts for well over 10 years now with a focus on the Italian Longsword work of Fiore di Liberi. With a degree in Archeology, and a passion for the sword arts, he has coached Olympic sabre, as well as been teaching his own HEMA club in Salt Lake city for the past 4 years.

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