GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – It turns out that some libraries can offer much more adventurous pursuits beyond simply reading a book about fencing, but also provide a space for aspiring swordsmen to hone their craft. 

The Swordsmanship Museum and Academy in West Michigan hosts classes at rotating locations including the Kent District Library in the Spencer Township branch whose most recent class featured lessons regarding the Japanese Katana. 

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“Instructors from the Swordsmanship Museum and Academy will teach the fundamentals of historical swordsmanship,” SMA said on social media, “This program will describe combat taken directly from the training of militant samurai, rather than any modern system.”

Founded by Jerry Berg first in 2021 as a side job, the teacher of historical swordsmanship classes, hopes to open a physical museum and store in Comstock with an anticipated August opening. 

The latest Katana lesson took place on Thursday, but the Wednesday class transported participants to the high seas. 

“Instructors from the Swordsmanship Museum and Academy will teach the fundamentals of historical swordsmanship,” the SMA said on social media, “Learn how high seas swashbucklers and scallywags would make the most of combat, squeezing their opponent for every bit of gold they could!”

Berg described a similar class as “a veritable small army of pirates.” 

“During the entire program, their faces were just beaming,” he said. “(They were) so excited to learn these new techniques, these new concepts to them using, learning actually how historical warriors fought using primary sources. It’s not just exciting to them, but also inspiring for them.”

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A survey of the classes offered include: intro to Italian rapier, Medieval Longsword, Intro to English Saber, and many other historical and practical modes of fighting.  On Berg’s website, Swordsmanship Museum and Academy, he even encourages public input for new class offerings. 

“We are adding new classes all the time! If you are interested in a combat system, technique, or weapon that you do not see, please let us know by emailing,” the website says. 

He also offers private lessons in addition to the many public classes and demonstrations.  The next event that Berg will take part in is the Mid-Michigan Enchanted Forest Renaissance Fair.