COVID-19 made last year difficult for all of us. For the Sword Experience, it meant that we had trouble bringing our brand of fitness and travel to you. Obviously, your health is our number one priority in our endeavors, so we’ve had to limit our in-person events due to the pandemic. We were still successfully held a handful of events in 2020 by following strict local, state, and federal guidelines set in place, but that being said, some events simply weren’t possible due to the obvious unpredictable nature of the past year. However, just like you, we didn’t sit idly by in 2020 waiting for things to cool down. In fact, we’ve fired things up and hope to keep this momentum going through 2021. We’ve been experimenting with plenty of ideas to make sure you can still participate with us in your goals for physical fitness and fun escapism virtually with the Sword Experience.
The first thing you may have noticed that we’ve been working on since last year is our brand-new website design. We’ve been working diligently on our website over the year to streamline your experience on the site with our sleek and user-friendly design. Everything you’re looking for is just a click away on our site. The shop is easily accessible, the events pages are centrally located, and there are plenty of things to discover about us right at your fingertips. For example, you can now find links to our Patreon page.
What is so important about the Patreon page you might ask? Well, we’ve been bringing the Sword Experience to your home with our highest Patreon tier, the Upgrade Your Life package. You’ll gain access to a variety of content. From our Lifestyle Essentials newsletter that focuses on various aspects of health and wellness, to access to archives that features exclusive behind the scenes footage Adrian has managed to capture of the years. Most importantly though, you’ll gain access to our Live Training Videos. By signing up for the Upgrade Your Life package, you will have exclusive access to our workout videos lead by Adrian Paul. So far, we’ve added over 45 workout videos, and our catalogue of videos continues to grow as we put new videos out weekly. Now, you can train with Adrian and the Sword Experience as you improve your health, fitness, strength, and coordination from the comfort of your living room!
Are you worried that swinging a sword or bokken around in your living room is going to cause untold damage to your living space? Well, worry no longer. Adrian has partnered with long time Sword Experience friend Mark Bitner to create the SXP Pro Trainer. This bladeless sword handle perfectly simulates that feeling of swinging a sword with a compact design. The SXP Pro Trainer is made with a simplified sword handle, cast from the same high strength resin as all of our bokken handles, and has a 4 x ¾ inch, steel weight bar in place of the blade. The handles come in two styles SXP2020 and Steel Falcon. The SXP Pro Trainer is great for upper body strength training as well as offering added weight for lower body balance and leg conditioning exercises. It is only available from the Sword Experience, and is a must have for those training at home.
We also know how much you have missed going to conventions. In the first of its kind, we’ve been working on bringing the experience of the Con to you with our Virtual SXP. With the Virtual SXP, you’ll be able to move between various rooms online to simulate the experience of going to a convention. You can get autographs from your favorite celebrities, participate in training sessions with our highly skilled instructors, chat with actors and stunt professionals about their experiences on set, peruse our vendors shops to find that perfect piece to add to your collection, meet up and chat with old friends, and so much more.
For an idea of what you’ll experience at the Virtual SXP, you can participate in a meditation session with Anastasia Cheruvelil, a Reiki Master Practitioner and Meditation teacher. Learn about commonly used firearms props on-set, including rubber stunt props, blank-firing non-guns and fully functioning firearms converted for blank firing from film safety and authenticity consultants Chad Hawthorne and Bill Bolitho. Take an introductory class in the basics of using a tactical folding knife for self-defense from martial artist and personal trainer, Keith Jennings. Practice the principles of counter-offensive weapon disarming and counter-disarming from Filipino Kali Master, Mark Mikita. Train in the ways of the Jedi that every Initiate to the Order must master before being excepted for further training with Richard Ganey. Discover the process of forging a sword with Master blacksmith and Forged in Fire champion bladesmith, Ron Hardman. Visit with your favorite celebrities like Adrian Paul, Carrie Henn, and Elizabeth Gracen. Our first Virtual SXP did sell out, but we hope to bring you more Virtual SXP conventions in the future.
We haven’t completely given up on in person events, but as we stated earlier, we must follow local, state, and federal guidelines to ensure the highest standards of safety are being adhered to and your health and safety are our top priority. We hope to bring our live experiences back this year to Maryland, Colorado, Boston, New York, Florida, Connecticut, Atlanta, Nevada, Indiana Tennessee, and Kansas if we are permitted to. So, keep checking the website for further information in regards to upcoming events. We’re also working with Richard Ganey, who is part of our Virtual SXP, to bring you and exciting Star Wars themed academy in the coming months.
Lastly, we want to thank you all for being such a wonderful and dedicated community and we hope that you are all doing well. Our mission has always been about bringing you fun and exciting ways to achieve your fitness and health goals and we hope you continue working with us to reach them. We will continue to strive to bring you new ways to reach your goals. This year we’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with you, metaphorically speaking, to make this year the best it can possibly be.