Bowies in the Burgh 2023
September 22-24
Application - click below![]()
Need more info - contact us |
Training Location - River Valley Tang Soo Do Academy
in Ambridge, PA and local outdoor location (weather permitting)
in Ambridge, PA and local outdoor location (weather permitting)
Welcome to Bowies in the Burgh
River Valley Tang Soo Do Academy and Three Rivers Eskrima Concepts is pleased to present this special seminar focused on the Bowie Knife. The Bowie program will focus exclusively on the mastery of large fighting knives, such as the Bowie and Arkansas Toothpick. The Bowie program does not require prior martial arts experience or participation in any of our other tactical programs.
Training will begin each day at 8:00 AM and will continue well into the evening. The program will conclude Sunday at mid afternoon. We will pack a great deal of training into 2 1/2 days. Each day, we will take breaks for rest, food, socialization and just plain fun. By the end of the program every participant, regardless of their prior experience (or lack thereof) with knife or martial arts will have developed formidable defensive skills.
Training will begin each day at 8:00 AM and will continue well into the evening. The program will conclude Sunday at mid afternoon. We will pack a great deal of training into 2 1/2 days. Each day, we will take breaks for rest, food, socialization and just plain fun. By the end of the program every participant, regardless of their prior experience (or lack thereof) with knife or martial arts will have developed formidable defensive skills.
The Bowie program (long knife) offers a total immersion curriculum dedicated to the rapid acquisition of skills using a longer fighting knife, such as a Bowie, Arkansas Toothpick, or large camp knife with blade length of 8-14 inches. Remember, nothing could be more American than the good old Bowie Knife and its fighting systems.
This is much more than a seminar; this is an adventure from which the rewards gained will last you a lifetime. We strive to provide you with world class weapons training, so you can be the best you can possibly be. And lucky for you, we do it in the quickest time possible and have one hell of a good time in the process! Developing yourself and your art helps to create spirit and heart. This is a key survival factor in our mind numbing daily existence! It starts with an honest commitment to yourself and a simple phone call or email to us. The rest is as easy as falling off a log.
The atmosphere at our seminars is safe, sane and professional. This allows for non-stressful learning, in a positive environment, which has been designed specifically for this endeavor. Retention of the skills you will acquired is high, because of this low stress aspect of our training. Beyond the training is the opportunity to meet others and to network with them. Each individual that attends is a unique story unto themselves. This combination of people and personalities produces a synergistic mix, which in turn produces projects, opportunities and bright tomorrows for all involved. This is truly a place of personal enhancement and unlimited opportunity for those who make the sacrifice to be present.
There will be much to learn but we will also leave some free time to relax, socialize, trade and share items and information from all our past experiences.
This is much more than a seminar; this is an adventure from which the rewards gained will last you a lifetime. We strive to provide you with world class weapons training, so you can be the best you can possibly be. And lucky for you, we do it in the quickest time possible and have one hell of a good time in the process! Developing yourself and your art helps to create spirit and heart. This is a key survival factor in our mind numbing daily existence! It starts with an honest commitment to yourself and a simple phone call or email to us. The rest is as easy as falling off a log.
The atmosphere at our seminars is safe, sane and professional. This allows for non-stressful learning, in a positive environment, which has been designed specifically for this endeavor. Retention of the skills you will acquired is high, because of this low stress aspect of our training. Beyond the training is the opportunity to meet others and to network with them. Each individual that attends is a unique story unto themselves. This combination of people and personalities produces a synergistic mix, which in turn produces projects, opportunities and bright tomorrows for all involved. This is truly a place of personal enhancement and unlimited opportunity for those who make the sacrifice to be present.
There will be much to learn but we will also leave some free time to relax, socialize, trade and share items and information from all our past experiences.
Instructors
Joe Walls is a certified Masirib Guro in Inayan Eskrima under Inayan Systems International. His journey in the art began in 1997 and has continued without interruption since. He has crossed trained in a number of other martial arts styles and blade systems but considers Inayan Eskrima his home. He has competed in and trained competitors for boxing, grappling and MMA events in the past.
He has been influenced by numerous Inayan instructors through his years of training including Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay (founder of Inayan Eskrima), Tagapayo Cory Hanosh (his instructor), Tagaturo Steve Klement, Suro Emanuel Hart, Lahong Guro Mike Klement, Pangulong Guro Jon Ward. He is a certified instructor in Jim Keating’s Comtech Bowie Knife Program and has been awarded instructor certifications in Bram Frank’s Modular Blade Concepts / Martial Blade Craft and also Conceptual Modern Arnis / Combat Arnis. In addition to Inayan Eskrima he firmly holds to the concepts of continuous growth and leading by example, Guro Walls continues to seek out, train with, and learn from world class instructors in everything from firearms, empty hand, and his personal passion bladed arts. |
Scott C. Homschek is Owner/Chief Instructor of River Valley Tang Soo Do Academy. He has spent more than four decades developing the specific techniques he teaches as well as perfecting the methodology necessary for students to quickly gain proficiency in the skills being taught and retain the skills for a lifetime.
He began his martial arts career in 1981 and currently hold the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt with World Tang Soo Do Association. He received his Bowie Instructor Certification under Master at Arms James A. Keating. Additionally he studied edged weapons extensively under Master Michael Kaye. He has presented training seminars to warriors of all skill levels, from the novice with no experience to the martial arts Master with decades of training. The focus of his training and teaching is to develop conceptual learning models to allow his students to quickly learn and apply their skills across a broad spectrum of training opportunities. |
What will we cover?
We will begin with developing an understanding of the fundamental skills:
From there we will layer these skills with advanced concepts:
Each day we will combine solo, partner practice with footwork, hand techniques, attack patterns and flow drills. A significant part of each day will be devoted to increasingly intense sparring using safe gear, and training knives. Much of the initial practice will use hard foam rubber bowie knives (see recommended equipment list). Sparring sessions will utilize custom made soft foam rubber bowies.
Fencing helmets and safety glasses will be required for much of the seminar.
Participants should bring a pair of gloves with padding on the back of the hand. Two sweatshirts or a sweatshirt with denim jacket on top will protect the torso. A towel or scarf will protect the neck. Cups are recommended for men.
- Point work, proper thrust attacks, lunges
- Cuts (snap cuts, back cuts, compound cuts)
- Offensive Flow Drills
- Defensive Flow Drills
- Back Cut Flow Drills
- Basic Foot work
From there we will layer these skills with advanced concepts:
- Stop Hits
- Attack Combinations
- Foot work and Flows
- Deception Drills
- Multiple Weapons
- Use of Shields
Each day we will combine solo, partner practice with footwork, hand techniques, attack patterns and flow drills. A significant part of each day will be devoted to increasingly intense sparring using safe gear, and training knives. Much of the initial practice will use hard foam rubber bowie knives (see recommended equipment list). Sparring sessions will utilize custom made soft foam rubber bowies.
Fencing helmets and safety glasses will be required for much of the seminar.
Participants should bring a pair of gloves with padding on the back of the hand. Two sweatshirts or a sweatshirt with denim jacket on top will protect the torso. A towel or scarf will protect the neck. Cups are recommended for men.
Schedule
You will find our training schedule to be very balanced. We will start slow and proceed to warp speed. Each day will start with a light warm up. Each section of each day we will build upon the skills you have developed in previous sections. Each day you will get stronger, faster and wiser in the ways of the Bowie Knife.
Each day the training will start at promptly at 8:00 AM we will train into the early evening taking a break to grab lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. Training will last into the early evening Friday & Saturday. Sunday we will start at 8:00 AM and train until mid afternoon.
Weather permitting there will be the option for outdoor training in a remote wooded area. Please plan accordingly.
(Sunscreen, Hat, Bug Spray)
Each day the training will start at promptly at 8:00 AM we will train into the early evening taking a break to grab lunch at one of the nearby restaurants. Training will last into the early evening Friday & Saturday. Sunday we will start at 8:00 AM and train until mid afternoon.
Weather permitting there will be the option for outdoor training in a remote wooded area. Please plan accordingly.
(Sunscreen, Hat, Bug Spray)
Equipment to Bring
To help you enjoy the full experience and get the most out of the seminar we recommend the bringing the following equipment:
Fencing Helmet – Sabre Rated
(mandatory equipment for sparring drills)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BFS7JDD or equivalent
Vulpes TREC Bowie Trainer - useful if available –
these are a custom order item
https://www.vulpestraining.com/products/trec-bowie-trainer
Cold Steel Bowie Trainer – most drills will be done with these trainers
– get 2 if you can
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-92R16CCB-Rubber-Training/dp/B006YBXZB0/
Gloves – welding, lacrosse, or mma gloves -
to protect back of the hand while sparring (optional)
https://www.amazon.com/KH641-Gray-Commercial-Welding-Gloves/dp/B00IYX04YC/
https://www.amazon.com/Grays-Touch-Hockey-Glove-Small/dp/B06WVRP8R9/
https://www.amazon.com/Jayefo-MMA-Gloves-Black-XL/dp/B09BKJSG3M/
Safety Glasses – bring glasses you are comfortable wearing.
Fencing Helmet – Sabre Rated
(mandatory equipment for sparring drills)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BFS7JDD or equivalent
Vulpes TREC Bowie Trainer - useful if available –
these are a custom order item
https://www.vulpestraining.com/products/trec-bowie-trainer
Cold Steel Bowie Trainer – most drills will be done with these trainers
– get 2 if you can
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-92R16CCB-Rubber-Training/dp/B006YBXZB0/
Gloves – welding, lacrosse, or mma gloves -
to protect back of the hand while sparring (optional)
https://www.amazon.com/KH641-Gray-Commercial-Welding-Gloves/dp/B00IYX04YC/
https://www.amazon.com/Grays-Touch-Hockey-Glove-Small/dp/B06WVRP8R9/
https://www.amazon.com/Jayefo-MMA-Gloves-Black-XL/dp/B09BKJSG3M/
Safety Glasses – bring glasses you are comfortable wearing.