Whatever else you may say about our current state of affairs, this is undoubtedly the golden age of binge watching. And for those with any sort of interest in knights and armor and epic adventures, one of the binge-worthy series of choice is certainly Game of Thrones.

Whether you’ve seen the series a dozen times since its first season aired on HBO in 2011, or you’ve used your self isolation practice as an excuse to finally see what all the nerd-culture fuss is about, George R.R. Martin’s heroic fantasy is a great story – and it is unarguably the defining icon of medievalism (that is, the pop culture perception of medieval history) of the current moment.

But how closely does Game of Thrones mirror real events and personalities of the Middle Ages? Why are we, as Americans in particular, so fascinated with a period of Western history that (in many ways) is the polar opposite of American ideals? And what can the novels and the television series of GoT tell us about our own understanding, or rejection, of the code of chivalry?

Ken Mondschein is a medieval researcher, historical fencing practitioner and instructor, and avid Game of Thrones fan. He is a long-time participant in medieval reenactment activities with groups like the Society for Creative Anachronism, and is a certified fencing instructor (specializing in historical fencing) with the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association. He received his Ph.D. in history from Fordham University and has taught inter alia at University of Massachusetts, Boston University, and Westfield State University on topics ranging from the history of time and science, to imperialism and global interconnectedness, to (of course) the history of jousting, armor, and courtly culture. He has been widely published in both academic and popular online and print publications. His books include “Fencing: A Renaissance Treatise,” “On Time: A History of Western Timekeeping,” and “The Knightly Art of Battle.” 

One of Ken’s most recent books is “Game of Thrones and the Art of Medieval War,” from McFarland Books. Ken joined host Scott Farrell to discuss the parallels between the world of Westeros and the European Middle Ages, and how the universe of Game of Thrones provides a mirror for us to consider our own perceptions of ambition, duty, and chivalry in the modern world.

The Last Knight – the Art, Armor, and Ambition of Maximillian I. Hard to believe, because as we record this episode of our podcast, the exhibition is in its final week of opening to the public.

The exhibition has caused a lot of excitement in the world of medieval enthusiasts – and well beyond. At the opening of the gallery, host Scott Farrell talked with Dr. Tobias Capwell, curator of arms and armor at the Wallace Collection, as they had discovered that they were both planning trips to New York to see the exhibition, and realized that, by sheer misfortune, they were going to miss each other at the museum by literally just a few hours. But since the two weren’t going to have a chance to meet up at the gallery itself, they thought it would be fun to compare notes before, and after visiting the gallery in a two-part podcast episode that everyone could share – whether you’ve been to the Met during the run of this exhibition or not.

In our first episode, Dr. Capwell spoke about the biography and cultural importance of Emperor Maximillian in our perception of knightly culture, and the ideals of chivalry. Now, after both having had the privilege of enjoying the gallery in person, Dr. Capwell joins Scott again for a sort of post-game analysis on their respective visits to the museum, and the success of this gallery in expanding the understanding of chivalry, knighthood, and the armor makers’ art in the 15th and 16th century.

• Watch Dr. Capwell’s talk Building Medieval Plate Armor: An Operator’s Guide (given as part of a 2014 speaking tour in Southern California, arranged by Chivalry Today) on our YouTube page.

It seems among the world of medieval history enthusiasts as well as serious students of the historical fighting arts, the New York Metropolitan Museum’s temporary exhibition The Last Knight: The Art, Armor, and Ambition of Maximillian I, has become something of a pilgrimage for the devout – at least to judge from the number of friends and colleagues seen on social media posing for “selfies” in front of the 15th century Helmschmid armor that greets visitors to the gallery.

As we learned from our last episode, a conversation with Wallace Collection curator Toby Capwell, this exhibition was more than three years in the making, it includes some 180 items on loan from museums and collections all over the world, and it isn’t hyperbole to say that it represents a level of experience and scholarship that most of us aren’t likely to see again in our lifetimes.

So, as a team of “armor geeks” from Chivalry Today was coordinating an excursion from San Diego to New York to see the gallery, we were delighted to discover that Christian Tobler, a trailblazer in the field of fighting-manual translation and fellow practitioner of the art of the German longsword, was going to be there on the same day. We subsequently made plans to meet Christian at the Met and use the opportunity to spend the day admiring (which is to say “obsessing over”) this extraordinary exhibition together. After a long day of peering through glass at armor and swords, we sat down for coffee and started discussing what we’d seen, and decided that this was a conversation that really needed to be shared with others.

Thus, Christian Tobler, author of books like In Service To The Duke and Fighting With the German Longsword joins host Scott Farrell to talk about their shared experience in the Met’s The Last Knight gallery.

To see images of Scott and Christian touring the gallery and viewing the items discussed in the podcast episode, visit the photo album on the Chivalry Today Facebook Page.

The Forms we work with in class are a great way to familiarize yourself with the fighting techniques of the German masters, from the basics of the Meisterhau in the Starke forms, to the more challenging transitional techniques in the Mut and Draken forms. You can practice these forms on your own, outside of class time, with the online Forms guide provided to all of our longsword students.

Good footwork is critical to good swordwork, so practicing footwork and movement, (with or without a sword in hand) is one of the best ways to improve your fighting technique. To help with solo movement drills, use the footwork guide provided as part of Chivalry Today’s longsword student packet as a reminder of the steps you should be practicing to prepare for the next longsword class session.

Don’t have a sword trainer of your own? Don’t forget, something as simple as a yardstick or a length of wooden dowel can serve as a longsword “simulator” for your independent, solo training such as Forms, footwork exercises, or just simple cutting technique. Just a few minutes a day in between class sessions will help you sharpen (ha!) your sword fighting techniques, and get the most out of your training time with Swords Of Chivalry.

While it is on display, this collection will certainly attract enthusiasts and experts from all over the world – and one of them is Dr. Tobias Capwell, arms and armor curator at the Wallace Collection. Although he hasn’t visited the Maximillian gallery yet, he’ll be traveling to New York in just a few days to do so … and by happy coincidence, a team of folks from Chivalry Today, including podcast host Scott Farrell, will also be in New York to visit the exhibition later this month.

So, before our respective visits, we thought it would be interesting to compare notes to get a sense of what to expect in this exhibition, why Maximillian had such a profound influence on the image of knighthood and chivalry, and how an acclaimed exhibition like this looks from the perspective of an art historian and curatorial expert.

Dr. Capwell joins host Scott Farrell to share some pre-visit thoughts on the Maximilian exhibit, to help all of us understand the significance of this gallery, and to give some context on how a German Renaissance prince helped shape our image of knighthood and chivalry in the 21st century.

Visit The Last Knight multimedia experience at the Met’s website;

Learn more about the galleries at The Wallace Collection

“If you frighten easily, do not bother to learn the art of sword fighting.” Or, at least, so advises the 15th century fighting master Johannes Lichtenauer. While the Italian master Fiore del Liberi says, “If you lack boldness of heart, you lack everything.”

Writings on the practice of historical martial arts are filled with statements about acting boldly and bravely, and historical chronicles generally describe heroes as knights and warriors who operate (seemingly) without any sense of fear, whether in war or duel, tournament or game.

A similar stereotypical image of a modern martial arts studio is one in which there is little tolerance of fear: Where muscle-bound, buzz-cut fighting masters roar at students, drill-sargeant style, for giving in to physical or mental weakness or hesitation, and where the walls are decorated with slogans and quotes urging practitioners to treat fear or doubt as a weakness to be tamped down and rooted out.

But, let’s face it, every one of us is born with a good, healthy, important fear-response to risk, danger, and the threat of physical or emotional harm. Willfully ignoring “fear” can result in a variety of hazardous situations – from unsafe behavior on the training floor, to outright overriding your own sense of self-preservation in situations of clear and present danger.

So in the practice of martial arts (whether historical sword fighting or modern self-defense combatives), should we, in fact, seek to eliminate our fear? Or does acknowledging “fear” (hesitation, intimidation, knowing your own limits) actually make us better, more mindful martial artists? Do chivalric principles like humility, courtesy, and cooperation deserve as much consideration in martial arts training as ferocity, courage, and fortitude?

Author and martial arts/combatives instructor Kaja Sadowski joins Scott Farrell for a conversation about her new book Fear Is The Mind Killer, and the chivalric virtues of humility, prudence, and caution as they discuss the productive management of fearfulness as part of the code of chivalry.

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• Buy the book Fear Is The Mind Killer by Kaja Sadowski
• Visit the Valkyrie Martial Arts website

One of the challenges of studying history is to avoid looking into the past with a myopic view – to think that people of times past were somehow more simplistic, predictable, or uniform than we are today.

When we study a historical period like the Middle Ages, we should strive to appreciate the depth and complexity of individuals who lived in that world, to recognize that people in the past pursued various (sometimes even bewildering or contradictory) interests, ideals, and vocations throughout their lives – just as we do today.

A single, hour-long historical documentary, no matter how well researched and presented it is, risks giving that sort of tunnel-vision image of the medieval world, and (particularly) knights who lived in it. How many TV shows have you seen that give you the impression that each and every man of knightly status in the medieval world wore armor, went jousting, and was constantly preparing for battle?

For another approach to understanding the life of a Late Medieval knight, you might want to check out a documentary series called “The Knight” on the YouTube channel Modern History TV. This series of 32 episodes (plus lots of behind the scenes “Knight Extra” shorts) strives to present a well-rounded, very human image of the medieval knight in a way that – perhaps – no other documentary project before has done, exploring armor, swords, jousting, and war horses, yes … but also cuisine, fashion, hobbies, society – and the ideals of chivalry that were interwoven through the culture of the period, even as the role of the knight as a figure of military dominance was on the wane.

Just what does this video series have to tell us about the world of the Late Medieval knight that’s different from anything you can find in a history book? Can exploring the professions, material, and culture that surrounded medieval knights give us more understanding about the people who wore armor and rode to battle in the Middle Ages? And is there a lesson to be learned about the relevance of chivalry today by following along on this one-man journey through the exploration of “modern history”?

Jason Kingsley is CEO of Rebellion Video Games, and it was under his guidance and creative vision that the company’s Rebellion Production division produced the “Modern History” documentary series. Fulfilling the job of host and narrator, Jason accompanies viewers through the world of the medieval knight as he sees it – with curiosity and enthusiasm, but also with objectivity and clear eyes, as he looks not just at the elements that created the iconic image of the “knight in shining armor” but also how military tactics, sports equipment, fashion, and even business practices today are still, to a degree, affected by medieval history.

Jason joins host Scott Farrell in this episode to talk about his quest to explore the ideals of chivalry in both his personal and professional endeavours.

By Scott Farrell

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, many HEMA programs and sport-fencing studios are promoting “date night” style activities, intended to introduce couples to the sport. Many of these programs provide a package deal that allows the couple to get a short amount of private instruction in rules and techniques, then mask up and do a few bouts of fencing, and finally relax together over wine and cheese.

On the surface this seems like it might be an ideal couple’s activity – the perfect thing for an active, adventurous pair of partners to use as a bonding experience, whether they are on their first date, or approaching a milestone wedding anniversary.

And there is no doubt that plenty of people have come away from this sort of “sword-fighting date” with smiles on their faces.

But I’ve also seen these types of out-on-a-date fencing programs result in very negative experiences – from mild frustration to outright un-romantic angry feelings. So, if you are considering a date-night fencing session (either as a participant or as an instructor) here are a few suggestions to make sure the experience is both positive and romantic.

Skip The Competition

Many of these “date night” programs emphasize the romantic potential of engaging your sweetheart in a spirited sword fight. That sort of thing is great – in romance novels and Zorro movies, where the martial exchange is part of a scripted narrative. In reality, however, competition is more likely to bring out old baggage than feelings of affection.

Much better are activities where the participants are learning new skills side by side, rather than competing against one another. In Chivalry Today’s private lessons, for instance, participants learn a set of basic skills that they apply against members our coaching staff, whose ego isn’t on the line during the lesson. This ensures that nobody has to worry about being the “loser” at the end of the date!

Equals In Love And Laughter

This isn’t to say that dating partners can’t work together at all during a “date night” HEMA or fencing experience. There are lots of games and partner exercises that are used to introduce the basics of footwork, timing, and measure. Without a winner or loser, games that involve cooperative learning allow partners to achieve an understanding of the basic physical principles of the martial art. One of the first exercises students are introduced to in Chivalry Today’s HEMA lessons is a “follow the leader” exercise in proper footwork, in which both partners take equal turns as “leader” and “follower.”

Since the skills that a couple will be learning should be relatively new to both partners, this sort of exercise usually provides plenty of opportunity for humor and amusement. With some encouragement from the instructors (“Hey, I made the same mistake the first time I tried this exercise!”) this can be a great excuse for dating partners to smile and laugh as they learn.

Dance Rather Than Duel

The goal of a date-night fencing or HEMA program should be to get partners working together, not struggling for victory or dominance. In order to build a sense of mutual trust and togetherness (rather than rivalry) during the date, a learning activity that involves working through a set routine can be much more romantic than a contest. Think “dance” rather than “duel.” Part of Chivalry Today’s lessons for groups or couples includes learning one of our “forms” – solo routines that involve stepping through various techniques to demonstrate proper footwork, timing, and sword skills. Doing this as part of a date-night lesson under the guidance of a coach results in a very relaxed, mutually supportive activity where no one has to worry about keeping score.

Historical illustration depicting a duel between a husband (in the hole) and his wife (standing and swinging a rock in a sack). While this might be a valid 15th century means of settling a marriage dispute, it is not a good idea for a Valentine’s Day date.

Discovering HEMA or sport fencing can be a great romantic experience for Valentine’s Day – or a date night any time of the year! A lesson in the romance of sword-fighting should not pit dating partners against one another. (Frankly, that statement should be true of any kind of date, or couple’s activity!) With a focus on mutual learning, trust-building, and cooperation, a HEMA “date night” can be a great way to get closer to your romantic partner, to challenge yourself, and to discover a fun new activity that can provide mental stimulation and physical fitness for a lifetime.

A HEMA or fencing introductory session as a Valentine’s Day activity can be a pleasant and enjoyable “date night” activity, if you focus on mutual learning and cooperative activities. Leave the competitive spirit for another time.

For more information on Chivalry Today’s Swords of Chivalry HEMA program visit us here.

Whatever your standard for virtuous behavior – the code of chivalry, the Ten Commandments, the practice of good sportsmanship, or the Golden Rule – that fact is that the vast majority of us don’t manage to put those principles into practice each and every day of our lives.

By the same token, most of us aren’t seeking to do harm to our fellow human beings. Few people set out on a deliberate campaign to be fraudulent, cruel, or selfish at every opportunity. We tend to exist (most of us) in that middle ground, between stainless virtue and shameless vice, in an area that might be termed the “character gap” – a place that surely would have been familiar to medieval authors who wrote about the importance of chivalry while noting its frequent lack among the knightly class. It’s a place that is still observed today by proponents of chivalry and honor, who know that talking about justice, integrity, compassion, and fairness, and practicing such chivalric virtues are two very different things.

What is it that causes this gap between our intentions and our actions? Why, throughout history, have average people (even those of knightly status) had such trouble living up to noble ideals, and what can modern studies into behavior and psychology do to help us bridge this “chivalry gap”?

Dr. Christian Miller is the AC Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University, where his research and work focuses primarily on contemporary ethics and the philosophy of religion. He has written about the intersection between traditional philosophy and virtue ethics, and modern psychological and clinical research for the Wall Street Journal, Slate Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, Christianity Today, and other notable print and on-line media for both popular and academic audiences. He is also the philosophy director of The Character Project, a collaborative effort to guide and support work into researching the commonalities between philosophy, theology, and psychology.

Dr. Miller’s new book is The Character Gap: How Good Are We? (Published in 2017 by Oxford University Press) which explores recent research into the social and psychological value of honorable, virtuous, and decent behavior, and why we so often fail to live up to those qualities.

Dr. Miller joins host Scott Farrell to talk about how the concept of chivalry plays into our understanding of good character, and how examining historical practices of chivalry in action can – perhaps – lend some insight on how we might bridge the “character gap” and become better people today.

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• Read Dr. Miller’s article Science-Tested Tips To Be A Better Person (published in the Wall Street Journal) for more information about what current research reveals about strategies for improving our own character every day.
• Buy a copy of The Character Gap: How Good Are We? from the publisher’s website.