Modern Agonistics

Modern Agonistics is not a style, art or system. It is simply a format for training, experimentation and competition with weapons. The goals of the participants range from cross-training, self-defense and thrill-seeking, to craftwork [like weapon and armor fabrication] and attempts to reconstruct extinct fighting arts. Practitioners of over two-dozen fighting arts have utilized this format since 1998 without sustaining serious injury. Participants have been both male and female and have ranged in age from 11 to 65; in size from 75 to 375 pounds, and in experience from novice to professional. Most participants have been males in their late teens and early twenties. We have no dues, rituals, traditions or barriers. This is simply a network for combat weaponry enthusiasts. We are just a curious group of fighters. If you want to participate you are welcome. Our motto is "as real as you want it".

Agonistics is an ancient Hellenic term that translates as "contest-preparation". The root is Agon meaning "contest". The English word agony was borrowed from the ancient Greek term for "contestant's suffering" referring to the trials of a combatant. This is admittedly a terrible term to use in modern America, as virtually everyone misreads agonistics as agnostics which is also from the ancient Greek and means "no knowledge" and is used as a self-descriptive term by people who are not sure about the existence of divinity. My favorite misreading of agonistics was when the Baltimore City Paper ran our ad for a seminar at Sifu Clark's in 2005 as Modern Antagonistics. Some guy called me and wanted to know if we were a network for hate groups.

James is a full-time writer and part-time coach. He was born in 1963, has been involved in sanctioned and unsanctioned boxing from 1976 thru 2026, and co-founded Modern Agonistics with Chuck Goetz in 1998. Since then he has fought in over 600 stick fights and more than 200 machete duels and is still able to tie his shoes. He has written hundreds of books on topics including ancient history and modernity, combat and violence, urban decay and survival, as well as training manuals for martial artists and RPG games for nerds. He is currently traveling America by train, setting up martial arts gyms.

You can help support his efforts by buying a book from the Bookstore
Very occasionally he checks his email: jameslafond @ proton.me

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On Combat

A handbook of advice for practitioners of the armed and unarmed combat forms who fight for physical, moral and legal survival in this evil world. The capstone sequel to: The Fighting Edge, Winter of a Fighting Life, Letters from Planet Meathead, American Fist, Thriving in Bad Places, Let the Weak Fa...