VISS 2024 planning is well underway, but one thing we still need is a fantastic design for this year’s t-shirts. We are now accepting entries for the VISS 2024 T-Shirt Design Contest. Entries will be accepted from now until midnight on March 28. The winner will receive a full three-day pass to VISS 2024! We […]
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VISS 2024: From Earnest to Honour
We’re excited to announce the theme for this year’s Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium (May 24-26) is From Earnest to Honour: Martial Art From Deadly Combat to Tournament and Deeds of Arms. Join us over this 3-day event for six immersive intensives where you will explore martial traditions from their deadly origins to their contemporary and historical application. […]
VISS 2022 Event Report
It’s been nearly a week since the 2022 Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium and I’m finally back on my feet enough to write up a brief report about this amazing event. This year we decided to run a “mini” event with a focus on Bolognese swordsmanship, which we dubbed the Quincentenary in honour of the 500th […]
Coffee & Assalti: Sidesword
Every day of the Quincentenary will begin with two tracks devoted to Bolognese Assaults. These martial forms, both for solo and partnered practice, bring together attacks, defenses, and combinations that challenge both novice and advanced students alike. The Sidesword track features three days of assaults from various sources, each delivered by a different instructor who […]
New Date for VISS and More!
Hi everyone, your friends at The Vancouver Swordplay Symposium (VISS) have great news: The Quincentenary will now be held on May 27th thru 29th 2022. It will still be at Academie Duello’s beautiful facility in downtown Vancouver, BC. We are still having our same four core instructors Roberto Gotti from Guardia di Croce in Brescia, […]
VISS Postponement
It is with the heaviest of hearts that VISS 2022 must postpone The Quincentenary. The rapid spread of Omicron has forced officials in British Columbia to shutdown indoor events for the next month and there is a high likelihood of this shutdown being extended. If you have already registered, we apologize for this disruption to […]
Registration Now Open for VISS 2022
Registration for the Quincentenary is now open! We have assembled a group of internationally-renowned instructors to teach you the Bolognese Martial Arts of the Sixteenth Century. We will cover everything from two-handed sword to grappling to fighting with two swords as well as dive into the history that created this art. Local health department guidelines […]
Announcing A Special VISS 2022 Event!
In 2020 VISS was the last North American martial arts event before the lockdowns of the pandemic. We made it in just under the wire! Normally we would be in the full throws of planning for a full VISS 2022 but to help give us all a bit more time to plan we’ve decided to […]
VISS Schedule and Poster!
Hey Everyone! We have some exciting news! The schedule for VISS 2020 is taking shape! Have a look on the Event Schedule page and see what intensives, workshops and lectures we have planned for you on March 6th to 8th! Additionally, we have the official VISS 2020 poster to show you! The wonderful and […]
VISS is Two Weeks Away!
VISS is coming up really fast upon us! You only have two weeks to get your registration in and join us for a world class swordplay event! Don’t miss this opportunity, as VISS only rolls around every 2 years! […]
VISS 2019 is One Month Away!
The time quickly approaches! VISS 2019 is officially one month away! Make sure to get your registration in and come join some of the best instructors in the world for a weekend of intensives, workshops, lectures, and sparring! This event only comes around every two years, so don’t miss out! […]
The Official VISS 2019 Poster!
The official poster for VISS 2019 is up for your viewing pleasure! This beautiful poster was created by the incredibly talented Marika Purisima! VISS is just around the corner, so make sure to check out our schedule for updates on new workshops, lectures and intensives! New ones are being added every week! […]
Do you practice Longsword?
We have Intensives for that! During VISS there will be a Three day intensive track for the Italian Longsword Systems taught by Devon Boorman and Greg Mele! They will be exploring the differences and similarities between Fiore dei Liberi and Pilippo Vadi’s longsword systems, and on the last day will be combining them together to […]
Reminder: Early Registration is Over!
Just a reminder that the Early Bird registration deal, is now over. Regular prices for the weekend, and individual days are now at their standard price. See the registration tab for more details! […]
Early Bird Registration ends tomorrow!
Early bird registration ends tomorrow. Register now and save 20% on a 3-day or 1-day Symposium Pass! VISS 2017 sold out completely, so don’t miss your chance to join us this year! Make sure to register before 11:59 p.m. (PST) January 16, 2019 to get this discounted rate! […]
New Workshop Instructors
We are excited to announce additional workshop instructors joining us for VISS 2019. Please join us in welcoming Tricia Dong, Kevin Murakoshi, Clint Fernandes, Matheus Olmedo, Jennifer Landels, and Michael Heveran. Along with our Intensive Tracks and one-off workshops, VISS will have a series of lectures from various instructors and special guests. […]
Update: Hotels, Workshops, and Early Registration!
Hey Folks, The year is coming to an end and VISS planning is solidly underway! Here are a few updates for the event: Workshops and Lectures Along with our Intensive Tracks, VISS will have a full set of interesting and engaging one-off workshops and lectures that tie into our This-vs-This theme. There are a few […]
Intensive Descriptions Are Now Up!
One of the main things that sets the Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium apart from other events are our intensive workshop series’. Intensives allow you to work with one instructor on a single discipline or art for as many as 10 hours over the course of the VISS weekend. Further, to support this year’s theme “This […]
Interested in Volunteering?
Want to get behind the scenes at VISS? We’re looking for drivers, photographers, videographers, bartenders, registration/equipment/facilities assistants, and instructor aides. Volunteers can get up to 100% of their event registration ticket waived. Email: walker@vancouverswordplay.com, if you’re interested in having a hands on role in delivering the event. […]
Registration is now open!
Registration is now open for the 2015 Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium (VISS) to be held March 27-29 at Academie Duello in Vancouver, BC, Canada! The 3-day symposium will include events which represent a range of Western martial arts traditions. VISS is only held once every two years, so take advantage of the opportunity while you […]
Guy Windsor confirmed for VISS 2015
We have big news! The Italian intensive track at VISS 2015 will be taught by none other than Guy Windsor, all the way from the School of European Swordsmanship in Helsinki, Finland! Guy is best known for his work with historical Italian martial arts, particularly the systems of Fiore, Vadi, and Capoferro. […]
Christian Tobler confirmed for VISS 2015
Christian Tobler of Selohaar Fechtschule will be joining VISS 2015 to teach a 3-day intensive! Christian specializes in historical German swordsmanship and is one of the best-known translators of German medieval texts. In 2013, Christian taught workshops on German dagger and German sword and buckler, then fenced against Sean Hayes with sword and buckler at […]
Puck Curtis and Eric Myers confirmed for VISS 2015
We are proud to announce that Puck Curtis and Eric Myers of Sacramento Sword School will return to teach an intensive track at VISS 2015! Puck and Eric specialize in the sword arts of Spain and Portugal, and taught a very popular series of workshops on the subject at VISS 2013. Check back to see […]
VISS Coverage in the West Ender Newspaper
Check out this article on the life and death of Erol Flynn, swordplay in movies, and David McCormick‘s workshops at the Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium. All of this is also available in print in the current issue of the West Ender. David McCormick is leading a workshop, Bringing down the Big Guy, on the application […]