[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

The dates are finalized for ISMAC 2010! We will host a three day workshop over Labor Day weekend, so mark down Sept 2-6th, 2010. Once again the Westin in Detroit Metro Airport will host us at their beautiful facility.

We will be working on the list of attending instructors and schedule over the next few months so feel free to let me know if there is anything in particular you want to pursue in 2010.

We have also gotten a face lift! After nearly half a decade we have finally updated the website. You can check it out at http://www.theismac.org

Take care,
Jared Kirby

[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

We just finished up a montage of the 10th anniversary of ISMAC last year - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7XVpucc-mI

Take care,
Jared Kirby

[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

The instructor list in now up for ISMAC 2010 in Detroit, MI. Check it out at http://www.theismac.org

Take care,
Jared Kirby

[Craig Shackleton]

Awesome!

When does registration go live?

[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

Registration is now open for ISMAC 2010 at the Westin in Detroit, MI! With 20 instructors from around the world teaching everything WMA, there is something for everyone here. This 3 day event allows you to choose 3 main track classes (3 – 2 hr classes totaling 6 hrs on one topic) in order to focus on your specific areas of study. To break up the day we continue to offer the 1.5 hour elective classes which change every day to give you a taste of things you don’t usually get to do. Please go to http://www.theismac.org to register and to see the first very rough draft of the schedule.

Of course, there is much to do in the evenings after dinner as well. There will be lectures, presentations, tournaments, free fencing and some more classes. We will bring you more details in the coming months.
All this in the beautiful Westin facility!

We also want to let you know that the deadline for completed scholarship applications is quickly approaching (April 30th). We are excited to offer two scholarships once again. The sixth annual Col. Dwight McLemore Scholarship requires that you have not attended ISMAC before and can show a need for the scholarship. The third annual Brad Waller Scholarship provides a deserving student of Stage Combat who is studying Western Martial Arts in an effort to augment their art.

If you would like to apply, the applications are available on the website at http://artofcombat.org/ismac/scholarshippage1.htm. Anyone who has applied in the past and did not receive the scholarship is encouraged to reapply (as long as you still meet the requirements).

Take care,
Jared Kirby

[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

The deadline for the sixth annual Col. Dwight McLemore Scholarship and the third annual Brad Waller Scholarship has arrived. Make sure that you have emailed your applications by the end of the day (or postmarked today). These scholarships provide full registration to the event and a travel/hotel stipend. The details are at http://artofcombat.org/ismac/scholarshippage1.htm

If you have sent in your application and did not receive confirmation of receipt then make sure you email me at jaredkirby@hotmail.com.

The schedule is very nearly done! It is still in flux as we finalize all the classes, but many descriptions are now posted and can be seen at http://artofcombat.org/ismac/schedulepage1.htm

Sincerely,
Jared Kirby

[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

A quick reminder for those who have not registered yet. We are two days away from the early registration deadline (May 19th). After that the price will increase by $75.

This year all the main track classes as well as the electives are open, so you don't have to sign up for any particular classes in advance. The main track classes you participate in on Saturday will be the classes you take all weekend.

I recommend making your reservation at the Westin concurrently. You have to book a room about a month in advance to receive our discounted rate. http://artofcombat.org/ismac/hotels1.htm

See you in September!

Take care,
Jared Kirby
http://www.theismac.org/

[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

I wanted to remind everyone that the next deadline for ISMAC registration is fast approaching. If you register by the end of July you will still save $75 off the registration price.

We are also planning the third Patri Pugliese Memorial Auction at ISMAC. To make this happen we will need the continued support of those who were touched by Patri while he was alive.

If you are interested in donating something for the auction please let me know. The more creative the better; ISMAC 2008 saw Steaphen Fick donate the right to shave a tonsure into his head and 2009 saw Mark Rector donate the Patri photocopy of Talhoffer used to translate and create "Medieval Combat".

The WMA community's support has really touched the Puglieses and both years we have been able to raise around $2,000.

This year, Tom Badillo has agreed to help coordinate the auction items so if you can help please email him at tsbsfo@aol.com and cc: me at jaredkirby@hotmail.com

See you in September!

Thanks,
Jared Kirby

[Jared Kirby]

Hi,

The ISMAC registration deadline is this weekend. If you're planning to attend you will save $75 by registering by Saturday.

For those who have registered, make sure you have made your hotel reservations. The special $99/night rate will only be valid for another week or so. After that the rate more than triples!

If you have ever wanted to attend ISMAC, this is the year!

Sincerely,
Jared kirby

[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

The list of items to be auctioned at ISMAC 2010 is now online at http://artofcombat.org/ismac/patripugliesemem...e2010.htm. Thank you to everyone who has pitched in and to Tom Badillo for coordinating this!

For those who can not attend the auction at ISMAC on Sept 3rd, you have the opportunity to place an absentee bid. We have extended the absentee bidding till 10pm on Wednesday Sept. 1st. To place a bid please email me at jaredkirby@hotmail.com with the item(s), your maximum bid and your contact details. Bidding will start at 1/2 the retail price and if no one bids against you then you'll get it for that. We will also arrange shipping (to be billed at cost) if you are not attending ISMAC.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Remember, the profits go to support the college fund set up for Patri's girls, so lets raise some money for a great cause!

Take care,
Jared Kirby

[Jared Kirby]

Hello,

I know this email is long over due, but my mother always said better late than never!

I want to send a big thank you to all the participants and instructors who attended the 11th annual ISMAC. It was a great event once again and there are some stories which will be told for a long time.

The third Patri Pugliese Memorial Auction was a great success. Thanks to the generous donors and bidders we raised $1,900 to donate to Patri's Girls' college fund. Incredible! It was really touching to see the support from everyone which made it an incredible auction and a good time to boot.

I also want to let everyone know that the ISMAC 2009 10th anniversary DVD is now available for purchase. This DVD features three classes offered at ISMAC 2009 and can be purchased for $25.00.

The featured classes are:
Maestro Ramon Martinez - A Practical Approach to Spanish Rapier
Maestro James Loriega - Theory and Practice of the Navaja
Dwight McLemore - The Bowie Knife
For more details, to see sample clips and to order you can go to http://www.martinez-destreza.com/ismac10.htm

Finally I want to let everyone know that next year ISMAC will take a hiatus in order to hold a new event called "Combat Con." Mark your calendars for June 24th-26th, 2011 and get ready to head to Las Vegas! While this event will be similar to ISMAC in some aspects (several tracks of various WMA classes by top WMA teachers) we will also have a variety of other things happening throughout the weekend. We are working hard to make this workshop a national platform to promote Western Martial Arts. We are still developing the details so we will be reaching out to many people in the next few months to help make this event a success. The beginnings of the webpage are on http://www.thecombatcon.com/ so keep an eye out for many more details in the coming months.

Take care,
Jared Kirby