The CrossSwords Order

A perfect image of a Senior-Level CrossSwords Fellowship!

After graduating from the use of foam weapons (at Initiate ranks), Seniors use polypropylene weapons as stepping stones into steel——this further allows a variety of weapons to interact together (e.g., longswords, twin dao, naginatas, & basket-hilted broadswords as pictured) all in combat in order to diversify their defensive base. This is what it means to train the blade the CrossSwords Way.

⚔️SHARPEN YOUR SOUL⚔️

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CrossSwords turns 4 years old today! To celebrate our Academy’s founding back in October of 2018, we held our 4th Annual Gathering——a day of knightly trials, where all our members compete in feats of swordsmanship, philosophical discourse, and martial combat.

Here’s to another amazing year everyone!
⚔️SHARPEN YOUR SOUL⚔️

Did you know? At CCA, our final, black belt, rank is entitled “Knight” ⚔️

☝️Students move through the first three ranks (Novice, Paige, Apprentice) and learn the basic technical and philosophical foundations of our school.
✌️At the next three (Squire, Herald, Warden) they enhance these skills through combat and competition.
🙏Finally, they reach the last three (Vanguard, Knight, and Master) where they perfect all this by passing it on and helping others along the Way.

👉A “Knight in the CrossSwords Way” is one who has rounded the whole journey, but more importantly has returned to guide others into all nobility: the good, the true, and the beautiful.

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Did you know: CrossSwords students practice 3 key arts? ⚔️ + 📖 + 🥊 = 💯

⚔️ Swordsmanship——includes all our arts of weaponry. New and old styles of fighting are merged and developed into our own unique blade system. By this we enliven the Spirit.

📖 Philosophy——meditations and discussions on ethics and reason forms a core element of our practice. This allow deep dives into understanding and framing our lives to match reality. By this we train the Mind.

🥊 Self-Defense——a thriving mental & spiritual life is completed by the capacity to protect oneself and others. Knowing how to be dangerous pairs well with (only with) a character committed to peace. By this we strengthen the Body.

Together, all three of these arts unite to produce the great Nobility of Heart! By this we sharpen our souls.

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Did you know: CrossSwords students undergo three vital stages of training? Each phase adds onto the last, until they reach Knighthood, living out all three together.

🗡 In DISCIPLESHIP students spend individual time with their personal teacher. All CrossSwords students begin with all their training in this mode.
⚔️ In FELLOWSHIP students add onto this, by entering group glasses and growing their skills through work alongside and against their fellow students!
🤲 In MENTORSHIP students bring fullness to their training by passing on their learning to an apprentice of their own. No student reaches Knighthood without guiding another along the way.

Of course, reaching the mentorship stage is not the end of the journey! It is simply the final piece needed to live out the journey well. Once reached, we engage all three continuously: being grown, growing alongside others, and nurturing another’s growth.
This is the pattern of a noble life.

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Did you know: CrossSwords students get placed into 1 of 3 Fellowship Houses upon reaching their 2nd rank?

These Houses ( 🦅💨 Wisdom, 🐢🌊 Virtue, & 🔥🐍 Ardent) represent starting places of strength for each student as they begin their journey of nobility, as well as their team with which to compete against the other students of the Academy.

Yet...this is only the beginning of the journey! All students must also acquire the missing 2 pieces (attributes of the other Houses) along the way in order to reach Knighthood. For true nobility is: wise AND virtuous AND ardent.

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