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CombatCon: Where History and Fantasy Meet

Combat.con Logo

June 24-26, 2011 Las Vegas, NV

Have you ever wanted to work in the movies directing sword fighting scenes? Do you wonder how those scenes are choreographed? Would you like to learn how fight directors got their start? And in the event we're attacked with weaponized virus that turn people into flesh-eating undead, how do you fight zombies? Do you have what it takes? Here is an opportunity to find out. CombatCon is a convention and training symposium for Stage and Screen Martial Artists, Fight choreographers and Directors, and anyone one else who loves swordplay action.

De Longis

Anthony De Longis, 
Actor, fight director, swordmaster, 
and professional weapons trainer 
is one of the featured speakers.

This 3-day Las Vegas convention includes many Western Martial arts classes for all levels of students taught by some of the World's top instructors. There will be Martial Arts demonstrations and contests of skill including knights in armor, pirates fighting with daggers and cutlass, and zombie attacks. There will be a Stage Combat Tournament where contestants will showcase original material created by professional stage and screen fight directors.

The themes of Combat.con are Western Martial Arts, Steampunk, Pirates, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror and how fight directing is used in each genre. There are featured speakers who have worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, world re-known instructors in a variety of martial arts and stunt work, and authors of books on fighting and action novels.

Featured Speakers

Anthony De Longis heads a list of featured guests. De Longis is an actor, fight director and swordmaster, and professional weapons trainer who has appeared in many TV series, including Star Trek: Voyager, Justified, Leverage, The Riches, iCarly, ER, The Outer Limits, Queen Of Swords, The Adventures Of Shirley Holmes, The Adventures Of Sinbad, Conan The Adventurer, Babylon 5, and Highlander: The Series. He has also appeared in popular movies such as Jet Li's Fearless, Road House, Masters Of The Universe, and Sword And The Sorcerer, and trained prominant actors such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Harrison Ford, Ellen Barkin, and Angelica Huston.

Other speakers include Roger Ma, author of The Zombie Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Living Dead, Nate "Rock" Quarry, professional MMA fighter, spinal technology spokesman, and founder of Zombie Cage Fighter; Kyle Rowling, actor, stuntman, and fight director. Rowling has appeared in Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones, and was Christopher Lee's stunt double in Star Wars: Episode II and Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Siths, and has recently appeared in Spartiacus: Blood and Sand.

 

M'Lady

A Fashion Show, Costume Contests and 
and a "Time Traveler's Ball" will be held.

Stuff to do for non-fighters, too

There will be a film festival where Independent film makers will be screening short features and full-length movies in several genres including zombie films. A costume contest and fashion show will feature costumes from stage and screen from the historical to science fiction. Then you can get yourself made up to look like a member of the undead horde in the Monster Make-up Make-overs. At night there will be a "Time Traveler's Ball" where you can come in clothing from any era, even Steampunk. On another evening there will be a Pirate tavern with card games. Children are welcome and there are special activities for them too like boffer fighting, lightsaber dueling, videogames, and a chance to dress up in real armor. There is also an exhibitors showroom where you can buy books, videos, clothing, weapons, collectibles and much more.

Along with classes in stunt fighting there are many classes in serious historical sword fighting techniques taught by such famous teachers as author, teacher, stuntman, fight director, and stunt coordinator, Tony Wolf. Wolf was the Cultural Fighting Styles Designer for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, during which time he developed the fighting styles used in the movies. Additionally, Wolf has worked as a professional wrestler and a martial arts instructor. He has been largely responsible for the resurrection of the forgotten art of Bartitsu, popular in London during the time when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was writing Sherlock Holmes, and now known as the martial art that Holmes was described practicing.

The steering committee of Jared Kirby, Bruce Sielaff, Tom Badillo, and Tim Ruzichki come from historical sword fighting clubs like the Martinez School of Fence, Botta Secreta, and Salle Saint George. Some of the instructors will be from these schools and other ones like them are to be announced.

Priced affordably

CombatCon is being held at the Tuscany Hotel and Casino, located just two blocks east of the Las Vegas Strip at 255 E Flamingo Rd. CombatCon has secured special room rates of $35 a night, Sun-Thurs, and$65 a night Fri-Sat for participants. The cost to attend CombatCon ranges from $35 for Sunday only tickets, to $150 for all events on both days. There are also many openings for volunteers who are will to work for free admission. Merchant booths are available for as little as $100 for a 10' X 10' space. To find out more about CombatCon, visit their website at www.thecombatcon.com.

 

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