Why?

We need your support to help continue our educational presentations for as many schools, libraries, churches, youth groups, camps, and other organizations as we can.

We need your support to keep our monthly Chivalry Today Podcast on line so you can hear the voices of today’s top scholars, researchers, authors, and interpreters in the fields of literature and medieval/chivalry studies.

We need your support to help us continue our Swords Of Chivalry historical sword-combat classes, and Warrior Camp After School Activity Program.

And we need your support to keep this website, our Facebook page, and other on-line resources available to teachers, history enthusiasts, and chivalry fans all around the world.

Is that enough? Are we working hard enough to earn your support with a financial donation of whatever level you can afford?

Well, we hope so. But in case you need just an added nudge – one last spark of added incentive – we’re offering you one more motivator: some Chivalry Today swag! A beautiful Chivalry Today T-shirt!

If you make a donation of just $25 to the Chivalry Today Program, we’ll reward you with a comfortable T-shirt with the Chivalry Today logo, along with an eye-catching image of two armored knights in honorable tournament battle. In the photo at the top of the page, you can see a picture of the shirt, modeled in courtly fashion by the Lady Judges at the 2011 Tournament of the Phoenix jousting event — along with a trio of unruly marshals and judges attired in 15th century garb. (The six of them are attempting to show some sort of meaningful hand signal – possibly “Live long and prosper”?)

The "Chivalry Today Girls" model our logo T-shirts, which are available to supporters who donate $25.

PLUS: If you make a $25 donation before Dec. 31, 2011, we’ll toss in a travel mug with the Chivalry Today logo as well – a $10 value free just for taking advantage of this timely, end-of-year offer.

In 2011 Chivalry Today has worked with more teachers and more schools than ever before, teaching lessons in chivalry, honor, and the Knightly Virtues to more than 7,000 students in the Southern California area, and more than 6,000 listeners of our on-line podcast. We want to continue spreading the values of the code of chivalry – but to do that, we need your support.

Please, help Chivalry Today with a $25 donation right now – and as a way of showing our appreciation, we’ll let you wear chivalry on your sleeve (and your chest) with a Chivalry Today T-shirt.

Please specify your preferred T-shirt size – M, L, XL, or XXL – when making your donation.

Related posts:

1. Podcast 53: Courtly Love – How Chivalry And Romance Got Together
2. Choose Your Rewards: Season Six Contributor Appreciation Drive
3. Join The “50 By 50″ Drive – Don’t Let Chivalry Today Die

Jouster Dominic Sewell demonstrates the elegant (and difficult) art of armored horsemanship. Dominic, along with Jeffrey Hedgecock, will be on hand at the Historical Horsemanshp Roundtable to do their best to demonstrate the link between horsemanship and chivalry.

In this episode, Scott is joined by Gwen Nowrick and Jeffrey Hedgecock, the founders of Historic Enterprises, and organizers of the World Joust Tournament of the Phoenix competitive jousting event, to discuss medieval horsemanship and its relationship to the ideals of chivalry. Gwen is the author of an article on the competitive sport of jousting in the Fall edition of Elite Equestrian magazine, and Jeffrey will be one of the competitors riding in the jousting event. They are also the coordinators of a roundtable discussion and demonstration of historical horsemanship that will be conducted by internationally acclaimed trainer Patrice Edwards, and Dr. Jeffrey Forgeng, curator of arms and armor at the Higgins Armory Museum.
Before listening: Please make a donation to help support the production of our podcast in its new “Simply Chivalry” format for Season Six. Donate at one of the following levels and you’ll receive the appreciation gift listed:

• Donate $25 to Chivalry Today and you’ll receive a Chivalry Today T-shirt or travel mug (your choice);
• Donate $50 to Chivalry Today and you’ll receive a shirt with the logo for the 2011 Tournament of the Phoenix jousting event, two one-day passes to the joust (Oct. 21, 22, or 23), as well as a Chivalry Today T-shirt;
• Donate $100 to Chivalry Today and you’ll receive a family four-pack of three-day passes to the joust (good all three days, Oct. 21, 22, and 23) as well as Chivalry Today and Tournament of the Phoenix T-shirts.

You can make a donation of any size by using the red Piggy Bank donation button on the right-hand side of your screen.

Saddled With Chivalry: Equestrian researchers Gwen Nowrick and Jeffrey Hedgecock discuss riding and the knightly code.

Gwen Nowrick's article on the competitive sport of jousting appears in the Fall Edition of Elite Equestrian Magazine.

Armored knights on horseback competing in the spirit of chivalry may seem like something out of a medieval history book – but don’t call jousting “a thing of the past” when Gwen Nowrick and Jeffrey Hedgecock are around. Gwen and Jeffrey are organizers behind World Joust; Gwen is an avid student and practitioner of historical equestrian riding and training practices; Jeffrey is a skilled horseman himself, who is one of the best-known competitors on the jousting circuit today.

For these two, jousting is a sport that’s a blend of both traditional pageantry and exciting contemporary relevance – no different from polo, steeple jumping, or even horse racing. (And if you think that clanking chain mail and long medieval gowns automatically disqualify this as a modern sport … well, those wild outfits you see in the stands on opening day at the races aren’t any stranger than medieval armor or 15th century lady’s fashions.)

In coordinating the judges and field staff at the jousting tournament, Gwen’s focus is not so much on the skill and accuracy with the lance or sword, as with the control and grace between rider and horse. For Jeffrey, of course, the jousting matches are an opportunity to put academic research into practice – to see how historical riding skills hold up when it’s time to start breaking lances.

Gwen’s article on jousting as a modern sport appears in the most recent issue of Elite Equestrian magazine. As part of the 2011 Tournament of the Phoenix, she and Jeffrey have helped put together a forum on historical horsemanship and equestrian training that will be led by internationally acclaimed trainer Patrice Edwards and medieval scholar Dr. Jeffrey Forgeng,that will kick off the jousting event on Thurs. Oct. 20 at 4pm.
Scott spoke with Gwen and Jeffrey in their working offices (just steps away from their stable and armor workshop) to talk about chivalry’s role in the skills of medieval horsemanship.

• Read Gwen Nowrick’s article in the Fall 2011 edition of Elite Equestrian magazine;
• Get a copy of The Royal Book of Jousting, Horsemanship, and Knightly Combat by Dom Duarte, cited by Jeffrey and Gwen in the interview;
• Learn more about the Historical Horsemanship Roundtable at the WorldJoust Facebook Page.

Related posts:

1. American Sword of Chivalry
2. Chivalry Days Are A Medieval Hit!
3. School History Festival & Chivalry Today

Students at one of San Diego's middle schools cheer on the knights in Chivalry Today's Deed of Arms.

As always, we have a variety of educational resources for teachers, students, and parents – from the research materials and class project ideas you’ll find on this website, to the many classroom presentations we offer – but this year we invite you to consider what has become our most popular educational presentation by far: The Medieval Festival Day!

We know budgets are tight, and one of the places schools are cutting back is in off-campus excursions and activities. That’s why the Medieval Festival Day was designed as a way of bringing the field trip to you, to fit into any school facility or budget. Chivalry Today’s team of outstanding historical interpreters can come to your campus, multi-purpose room, or athletic field for a fraction of the price of taking your whole class to the Renaissance Faire or history museum – and with far less time taken out of classroom and away from other studies.

With Chivalry Today’s Medieval Festival Day, we make all the arrangements for you. At your request, Chivalry Today can provide any, or all of the following educational presentations:

• A display of authentic sword combat in the style of a medieval “deed of arms”;
• An encounter with a live bird of prey and a presentation of medieval falconry;
• A demonstration of the power of medieval siege engines with a full-size catapult;
• A 50-minute performance of one of the works of Shakespeare, such as Macbeth or Romeo & Juliet;
• A performance of medieval-style music on authentic historical instruments;
• A medieval fashion show, with displays of clothing from medieval culture;
• An exciting display of mounted games and real jousting on horseback;
• A captivating telling of a selection of tales of King Arthur and his Knights.

Students get to see medieval engineering in action in this display of a full-size catapult at a recent Medieval Festival Day put on by Chivalry Today.

Whether you have just an hour-long period in a single classroom, or you’re planning an outdoor History Faire that will be the highlight of your school year activities, Chivalry Today can bring your historical studies to life – literally! In addition, all of our presentations and interpretations feature a focus on the ideals of chivalry, honor and the knightly virtues – a great way to tie in with lessons in ethics, peace-building, “pillars of character,” or any sort of campus-wide focus on citizenship and good behavior.

Although we welcome all inquiries, Chivalry Today’s calender of Medieval Festival Days is quite limited, so if you are interested in scheduling this as part of your classroom activities in the coming year, contact us quickly.

Chivalry Today offers early-booking discounts through August, 2011 – and, if you book before the school year starts, you’ll get one of our Chivalry Today T-shirts to wear as a show of our appreciation.

Give your students a look into history they won’t forget with Chivalry Today’s Medieval Festival Day! Contact Chivalry Today to book your event now.

Related posts:

1. Chivalry Days Are A Medieval Hit!
2. Chivalry Today: You Made This Possible!
3. Join The “50 By 50″ Drive – Don’t Let Chivalry Today Die

The interpreters from Chivalry Today let students get up-close-and-personal with some medieval armor at a campus Renaissance Faire in La Mesa.

During the course of the past year, we’ve put out several calls to Chivalry Today’s Facebook fans, website visitors, and podcast listeners to support our program with contributions and financial donations. And, while many of our loyal supporters have stepped up and answered the call, you might be wondering, “Just what are these donations being used for? How much money is required to simply keep up a website?”

Well, as you undoubtedly know, there’s a lot more to Chivalry Today than our ever-growing website. And although our podcast has more than 5,000 listeners worldwide, that’s not all there is to our program either.

In fact, each year Chivalry Today provides dozens of educational lectures, displays, and interpretative activities at schools, libraries, and camps throughout Southern California. But, as you can certainly imagine, in today’s economy, not every school has the budget to bring in a crew of trained interpreters, craftspeople, and historians to give their students the sort of experience that can make medieval history come to life – and highlight the values of chivalry and honor in a way that makes them relevant and applicable in the world of the 21st century.

Scott Farrell shows students the workings of a 15th century helmet called a sallet.

That’s where our donors come in. Everyone who has made a contribution to Chivalry Today through our website in the past year has helped make it possible for our program to provide our award-winning educational presentations to several school districts serving low-income students for no cost, or for a reduced fee schedule.

Yesterday, June 1, Chivalry Today provided it’s final interpretative demonstration of the 2010/11 school year at a middle school in La Mesa, California, as part of the all-campus Renaissance Faire. You, our generous donors, made it possible for Chivalry Today to provide that school with a display of medieval arms and armor, and our exciting Deed Of Arms presentation, even though the school’s social studies department was operating on a severely reduced budget.

So – take a look at all the smiling faces in the accompanying photographs, which appeared in the local news website The La Mesa Patch. Those grins and joyful looks are the result of your generosity – and they’re our way of saying thanks to those of you who have been generous enough to support Chivalry Today with a financial contribution.

Even a 12th century knight's helmet can't hide a student's smile!

Although this school year is winding down, Chivalry Today is already scheduling presentations and demonstrations for the fall season! If you are (or know) a teacher who’d like to bring one of Chivalry Today’s engaging presentations to your classroom or campus, please contact us soon! And if you’d like to support our educational outreach program in an effort to bring an appreciation of historical studies and the values of chivalry, please take a moment to make a contribution of any size to support Chivalry Today.

We know quite a few students who’ll be very glad that you did!

All images copyright 2011 Ken Stone and The La Mesa Patch

Related posts:

1. School History Festival & Chivalry Today
2. Chivalry Days Are A Medieval Hit!
3. Swing A Sword With Chivalry (Today!)

Kids love to watch Chivalry Today's full-size catapults fire stones and spears - just one of the demonstrations that can be part of a Medieval Day Out.

For more than 10 years now, Chivalry Today has been providing educational talks, demonstrations, and displays for schools, camps, libraries, and youth groups, focusing on knights, castles, armor, and (of course) the values of chivalry. But with budgets tightening, more and more teachers, parents, and organizers have had to give up their field trips to Renaissance Faires and historical interpretation sites – and Chivalry Today has been getting a lot of requests for educational experiences that go beyond our classroom talks and live demonstrations of armored sword-fighting.

That’s why, for the 2010/11 school year, we created our Medieval Day Out – a full-scale historical experience that comes right to your campus or camp, and has a menu of items that can be scaled up or down to accommodate your facility, educational focus, and (most importantly) budget. Working with some of the most respected historical interpreters, performers, and educators in Southern California, we’ve brought the Medieval Day Out to a variety of groups and schools – and every one of them has given the experience an unqualified “thumbs up.”

So, with this year’s school experience winding down, we’d like to salute all of the teachers who’ve worked with us on our inaugural year of the Medieval Day Out – giving us suggestions, requests, and feedback. Below are some of the memorable moments from just a few of our Medieval Days we’d like to share.

And if you’d like to learn more about the ever-expanding list of educational offerings Chivalry Today can provide as part of the Medieval Day Out, check out the slide show below for some of this year’s highlight moments and activities. If you’d like to schedule one of these great experiences for the upcoming 2011/12 school year (or for a day camp, after-school activity, or summer reading program – it’s not too late for that!) please contact us as soon as you can.

Call or e-mail Chivalry Today’s program office to find out about organizing a Medieval Day Out for your school, church, camp, library, or just about any organization with an interest in historical education through interpretation and hands-on experiences.

Related posts:

1. School History Festival & Chivalry Today
2. Chivalry Today: You Made This Possible!
3. Wearing Chivalry On Your Sleeve

Truthfully, the modern world (like every age) is a product of the people who came before — and seeing the similarities between this and times past allows us to achieve a much clearer vision of where we’re going, and how to avoid the pitfalls along the way.

For those who believe today’s world is the very zenith of enlightened thought and progressive culture, a comparison to the Middle Ages might be especially surprising, possibly even offensive. After all, medieval Europe was practically the definition of superstition, repression and violence. Those were the “Dark Ages” that we’ve worked so hard to escape with advances in science, politics, art and human rights.

But although the stereotypical image of the medieval world is one of filth, plagues, ignorance, barbarian hordes, and witch burning, the Middle Ages was also a period of phenomenal growth, discovery and advancement – something that is explored in detail in the new book How To Run The World: Charting A Course To The Next Renaissance, by author and “global futurist” Parag Khanna. On a recent interview on the KERA’s midday talk show Think, Khanna drew the parallels between today’s world and that of the 11th century this way:

Author and political/cultural commentator Parag Khanna.

A thousand years ago, the world was truly multi-polar. That’s a word that people hear all the time, because of the rise of China, the rise of India, the Middle Eastern countries, Brazil … a thousand years ago (things were similar), China was the most advanced civilization, the Song dynasty; the Chola empire of India ruled the seas … the Arab and Islamic empires, the caliphates, from Baghdad and Cairo ruled all the way from Africa to Central Asia … The other reason that’s interesting is that that was a world before modern states. So it was a world where cities, companies, merchants, mercenaries, religious groups, they were all very powerful and competing for loyalty … All of these different players were in an overlapping, competitive set of authorities, really, everyone trying to win hearts and minds, and money for themselves. That really does feel a lot like the world of today.

This isn’t merely a geographic similarity, Khanna claims. In an article in the Financial Times, Khanna explained that power and authority in the medieval world wasn’t a monopoly of the government, or even the church. He points out that cities, like London, Paris or Venice, wielded tremendous cultural and economic influence, often practically eclipsing the kings and clerics who technically governed them. Also, the boundaries between individual spheres of influence were very nebulous: An individual might be a military commander (a knight), a diplomat, a merchant and a patron of the arts – all at the same time! In that regard, personal authority, networking, family ties and philanthropy often had more effect on society than laws and religious doctrine did — not unlike powerful CEOs, entrepreneurs, NGOs, and officials today who have international corporate, government and cultural influence.

In short, Khanna says: What we live in today is the Middle Ages on steroids.

That’s an interesting premise. But, needless to say, there are some drawbacks to living in a modernized Middle Ages. Just as in the medieval world, when the rightful government or recognized authority is corrupt, powerless or subservient to other entities, problems and conflicts quickly arise. (Does this sound familiar?) If the 21st century is “the Middle Ages on steroids,” with all the inherent problems of medieval society writ large, maybe part of the solution to our current woes is a code of chivalry on steroids.

Remember, that crude, ignorant world of the Middle Ages gave rise to the beauty and enlightenment of the Renaissance. (Though the medieval world wasn’t as “crude” as its generally portrayed, nor in many cases was the Renaissance as “enlightened” as we might think.) One of the factors that precipitated that change was the code of chivalry. Of course, Renaissance chivalry was very different from its medieval predecessor. The concept had undergone a gradual transformation from a set of roughly defined customs that addressed soldiers’ actions in battle and training, to a broad, encompassing code of social principles that reached into nearly every aspect of life. The chivalry of the 16th century was idealistic, romantic, and refined. Chivalry influenced art, culture, science, economics, and politics — for good in some cases, and for ill in others.

Today, a new, idealized sense of chivalry might provide some much-needed inspiration in the same sort of way. What sort of discoveries and advances might be made if science and industry was motivated by a sense of knightly adventure and wonder, rather than profit or self-interest? What social or political issues might be resolved if reliability and honesty became the motivators for public service instead of influence pedaling and political partisanship? What sort of benefits could be offered if financial and commercial enterprises were focused on protecting and championing their clientele, rather than exploiting and deceiving them?

To be sure, this isn’t meant to imply that the historical ideals of chivalry were perfect, or even blameless in some of the unfortunate events that took place in the post-medieval world, from religious wars to subjugation of native populations. But in the waning centuries of the Middle Ages, chivalry provided noble, inspiring ideals to live up to, even if only a relatively small number of people actually did so.

Obviously, the comparison between the Middle Ages and the world of the 21st century can only be taken so far. But if we’re willing to put aside our automatic defensive reactions at being compared to a less-than-ideal period of history and take an objective look at things, then Khanna’s “Middle Ages on steroids” descriptor might provide an intriguing lens through which we can reconsider some of the challenges and opportunities we face today.

Similarly, if we set aside the notion of chivalry as an outdated, militaristic, impractical, or romantic standard, we might see that creating a code of chivalry “on steroids,” with an enhanced commitment to the ideals of social justice, global stewardship, personal integrity, cultural camaraderie, and political responsibility could provide a powerful template of ethics and morality that would be applicable in arenas from the local community to the emerging global economy. A bulked-up code of chivalry could be the foundation for a 21st century super-Renaissance.

Below: Watch an interview with Parag Khanna on the PBS news show Need To Know, to hear him discuss his concept of “the Middle Ages on steroids.”

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Related posts:

1. Women’s Roles Part 2: Chivalry & Today’s Heroic Lady Role Models
2. Chivalry: Yesterday and Today
3. Women and Chivalry

At Chivalry Today's Swords Of Chivalry Historical Fencing workshop, students of all ages get to try their hand at medieval sword-fighting techniques.

Let’s face it – chivalry is a fascinating topic, but a big part of the lure and lore of the ideals of chivalry is imagining yourself as a gallant knight of old. Now all of Chivalry Today’s fans and followers are invited to come and make that fanciful image a reality (at least for 90 minutes!) at our Swords of Chivalry Historical Combat workshop.

Swords of Chivalry Historical Combat is a weekly training session and workshop held at San Diego’s acclaimed Team Touche Fencing Center, centrally located in Sorrento Valley. Held from 5 to 6:30 pm every Friday evening, the goal of these workshops is to allow attendees to experience the authentic style of the knightly “art of defense” – a surprisingly complex and dynamic skill!

Swords of Chivalry Historical Combat is great for children who aren’t “into” traditional competitive sports; re-enactors and LARP gamers; actors and stage combat coordinators; parents and children who want a mutual bonding activity; athletes seeking a challenging cross-training activity; and anyone who wants an enjoyable exercise activity that emphasizes balance, coordination and range-of-motion (like yoga, but with a sword!).

Most importantly (from our point of view, at least) the focus at the Swords of Chivalry Historical Combat workshop is not just on learning and mastering a physical skill, but also on celebrating and sharing the ideals of the code of chivalry – respect, trust, sportsmanship, discipline, focus, gratitude, and honor. Every Swords of Chivalry Historical Combat session is conducted in a safe, supportive atmosphere that brings out the best in everyone, regardless of their age, gender, or physical aptitude. This class isn’t about bashing, smashing, and then proudly comparing bruises – this is a chance for everyone who values the ideals of chivalry to put those principles to practice, as well as to foster the concept of chivalry in our younger sword-combat practitioners.

Chivalry Today is delighted to partner with Team Touche for our weekly Swords of Chivalry Historical Combat workshop, and we deeply appreciate Team Touche’s support and hospitality.

To learn more about the Swords of Chivalry Historical Combat program, or to make arrangements to attend the workshop, contact Team Touche’s registration desk (phone: 858.622.9696). Drop-in students are always welcome – Team Touche Fencing Center is located at 10373 Roselle St., #120; San Diego, CA 92121. (Mention Chivalry Today’s website promotion and your first session of Knight School will be free – a $25 value!)

We’ll have a sword waiting for you at the next Swords of Chivalry Historical Combat workshop – we hope you’ll come and join us!

Related posts:

1. Podcast 48: Chivalry And Swordsmen
2. School History Festival & Chivalry Today
3. Wearing Chivalry On Your Sleeve

Thanks to everyone who donated during our 50 By 50 Drive. No more prizes are available - and we hope those who donated at one of the requested support levels are enjoying their gifts!

UPDATE: Our 50 By 50 support drive was concluded on May 5, 2011, and all of our donors who’ve earned the appreciation packages have been notified. Unfortunately, we only got 45 contributors, but we are going to produce a sixth season of the podcast anyway – and just how many episodes that season will include is up to you! We are continuing our effort to generate support for the Chivalry Today Program with our Summer Of Chivalry drive.

We welcome your support at any level – and the more you can give to Chivalry Today – a buck, 10 bucks,  100 bucks, or more – the more resources we’ll have to bring you a really great podcast season in 2012.

Help support the Chivalry Today podcast

Your contribution of any amount makes the Chivalry Today Podcast possible, and helps make Chivalry Today presentations available to schools, libraries and youth groups as part of our ongoing educational outreach program.

If you enjoy our podcast offerings, please take a moment to help keep them coming.

Related posts:

1. Chivalry Today: You Made This Possible!
2. Choose Your Rewards: Season Six Contributor Appreciation Drive
3. Wearing Chivalry On Your Sleeve

Mindless killers – that’s a phrase that has been used by more than a few historians to describe medieval knights, those supposed practitioners of the code of chivalry. But the fact is, while “killers” maybe mindless, real soldiers (that is, those devoted to mastering any sort of martial art) need to be very mindful of what they’re doing. Remember, medieval knights were encouraged to spend many hours in quiet, reflective prayer (a practice that many took very seriously), just as samurai and other warriors of Oriental cultures practiced forms of “mind focusing” meditation.

The fact is, studying a martial sport – whether it’s karate or kendo, collegiate fencing or the new trend in “Western martial arts” – requires a more serious and different kind of focus than other sports. This isn’t to say football, tennis or rugby don’t require mental discipline, but in recreational sports like those, you aren’t working with equipment and techniques that are actually intended to cause physical harm. (At least, no tennis player I’ve ever spoken to has been taught to parry and riposte with a racquet.)

Martial arts, on the other hand, demand a unique sense of control on both a physical and mental level. If you’re practicing joint locks or sword thrusts, you must be in control of both body and mind in order to avoid doing harm to a friendly sparring partner – while at the same time understanding how to employ those techniques to full effect if necessary.

This is why so many martial arts philosophies – including the code of chivalry – place such emphasis on anger control, and mental tranquility as a response to pain, fear or aggression. Viewed through the lens of philosophy, martial arts become not a test of skill with fists and swords, but a mental sparring match with an inner opponent – the out-of-control mind. If you can “keep your cool” while someone is trying to punch, throw or stab you … then you can face just about any adversity life can throw at you with ease.

The new book Martial Arts And Philosophy takes a serious look at the moral, ethical and social principles that go into the practice of combative sports and skills - including Scott Farrell's chapter on the philosophy of chivalry.

Of course, there’s much more to the combination of fighting and philosophy than this – as demonstrated in the recently published book Martial Arts And Philosophy from Open Court Books. The book is a marvelous exploration of the age-old, culturally transcendent struggle to meld combative arts with systems of philosophy and morality ranging from Plato and Descartes to Zen Buddhism and the code of chivalry. (The book includes my own chapter Sir Aristotle And The Code Of Chivalry.)

Martial Arts And Philosophy reminds us that, despite appearances, martial arts are solitary activities – they allow us to confront our own foibles and shortcomings, if we have the courage to do so. It reminds us that the reason we bow to, or salute an opponent before a training or sparring session is not out of some misplaced sense of sportsmanship – it’s because the person across the arena, the one who’s about to attack you with everything they’ve got, is giving you a chance to become a better person.

And that’s the ultimate goal of any philosophy, no matter how many bumps and bruises it takes to get there.

Check this out: Recently the United States Marine Corps has implemented a meditation program for its soldiers. The Corps says that studies have shown that even just a few minutes of quiet mindfulness each day can help soldiers improve “mental clarity, problem-solving skills and emotional control.” The techniques of martial arts and philosophy are still benefiting these modern-day knights in shining armor.

Chivalry Today is taking on the Martial Arts

You can join the Chivalry Today “Knight School” Western Martial Arts Workshop (for youth and adults) being held at San Diego’s acclaimed Team Touche Fencing Center. These workshops are held regularly, based on student interest and registration, so contact Team Touche if you’re interested in discovering the ideals and values of chivalry through the techniques of medieval sword combat.

The next series of Knight School Western Martial Arts Workshops begins mid-November, 2010 — sign up now to reserve your place!

Related posts:

1. Squirrels And Rockets? “Martial Arts And Philosophy” Reviewed
2. Chivalry, Aristotle, CS Lewis & Martial Arts
3. Podcast 46: Philosophy of Martial Arts and Chivalry

You can also read more of Prof. Muhlberger’s observations on chivalry, medieval history and a wide variety of other topics on his blog, Muhlberger’s World History.

Related posts:

1. Episode 8: Chivalry & Charny’s Laws of Arms
2. Podcast 38: Ideology of Chivalry
3. Jedi Knights

Martial Arts and Philosophy contains a chapter on chivalry and martial arts by Scott Farrell.

So, Aristotle, C.S. Lewis and Bruce Lee decide to go to a jousting match …
Sounds like the beginning of a very strange joke, doesn’t it? But the fact is, that could well be the premise for one of the chapters in the forthcoming book, Martial Arts and Philosophy, which will be published by Open Court Press as part of its extremely popular Pop Culture and Philosophy series. The chapter, entitled Sir Aristotle And The Code Of Chivalry, uses the practice of Western martial arts – the “schools of defense” taught in medieval Europe – as a means of exploring the philosophy of chivalry and seeing how it compares with Aristotle’s virtue ethics and the spiritual doctrines of C.S. Lewis. The chapter will stand alongside several that use traditional Eastern martial arts, like karate, kung fu and ju-jitsu, as a means of exploring other aspects of philosophy.
If you’re a regular listener of the Chivalry Today Podcast, you may already be a fan of the Pop Culture and Philosophy series. In Episode 24, host Scott Farrell talked with Prof. Gary Hardcastle, editor of the volume Monty Python and Philosophy about how the iconic movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail reflects modern notions of the code of chivalry.
Martial Arts And Philosophy is edited by acclaimed philosopher Damon Young, himself an avid martial artist and author of the blog Darkly Wise, Rudely Great – Prof. Young’s piece The Strength of Civility also appears on the Chivalry Today website. We’re looking forward to having Prof. as an interview guest on the Podcast in Season Five, so listeners can enjoy hearing him and Scott compare notes on chivalry, martial arts and the larger topic of philosophy. Until then, we hope you’ll take the opportunity to pre-order Martial Arts and Philosophy today!

Related posts:

1. Squirrels And Rockets? “Martial Arts And Philosophy” Reviewed
2. Podcast 46: Philosophy of Martial Arts and Chivalry
3. Fists, Swords And Philosophy

At the 2010 Winter Olympics, Shaun White showed that a true competitor with a sense of style and chivalry doesn't take the easy way to the finish line, even with a gold medal in his pocket.

Talking about chivalry in sports usually brings to mind images of come-from-behind victories, or the courage to compete in the face of pain or adversity. But at the recent Olympic winter games in Vancouver, British Columbia, one athlete provided an image of chivalry of a slightly different sort.

In the popular snowboarding half-pipe competition, Shaun White was the “one to beat.” Snowboarders in this game are judged on the best of two runs, and at the end of the first set of runs, White had a nearly perfect score, which put him in the admirable position of being both the leading competitor going into the second round, and also the final rider in the competition. That meant if any of the other riders beat his score, he’d have one, ultimate opportunity to take back the gold-medal spot.

Despite the other riders’ best efforts, however, none was able to overtake White’s position. That created an interesting situation: White literally won the gold medal while standing on the sideline.

There were lots of smiles and high-fives among White’s crew — but a serious question remained: Would White take his second run?

Run number two would essentially be a “victory lap” for White. A TV camera positioned nearby picked up a joyful conversation between White and his coach; the coach told White he could just “ride down the middle” of the course, rather than risking another display of aerial maneuvers, if he wanted to. The medal was already in his pocket.

It was no easy proposition. In preparation for the games, White had spent a lot of time recovering from injuries that ranged from a separated ankle tendon to a fractured chin, all in the effort of perfecting a move dubbed the “McTwisty,” which involves spinning around and over a total of 1260 degrees of rotation, while soaring as much as 30 feet (that’s three stories) above the ground.

But White’s decision came quickly: He swooshed down the snowy slope and gave his second run everything he had – including a conclusive “McTwisty,” to the crowd’s delight.

Clearly the spirit of chivalry lives on in this gold medalist, who took the knightly spirit of prowess – the pursuit of excellence with enthusiasm and dignity – to the snow. These games are full of wonderful examples of dedication, courage, strength, humility and camaraderie. But in the snowboarding competition, there was also a demonstration that even in the face of an easy victory, a White knight can still earn a medal with a sense of chivalry.

Below: A video of Shaun White’s second “victory” run at the 2010 Winter Olympics, complete with the “McTwisty.”

Related posts:

1. Free Trade of Chivalry
2. The Knight Awards
3. You Are What You Play: Part 2

If there was such a thing as the Chivalry Awards, perhaps the following would be this year’s winners. But chivalrous people don’t follow their ideals to get trophies or make speeches – they simply do what needs to be done, and set the examples that need to be set, in order to make the world a better place.

Instead, let’s call these The High Points In Chivalry of 2009:

The campus of the Harvard Business School

5) The Harvard MBA Oath — Having seen too many unsavory management practices, several members of the 2009 graduating class of the Harvard Business School felt the time had come to show there were still decent people in the business world. During the spring semester, class members put together a simple eight-point oath of ethics that could be applied in any sector in the world of business. The oath included statements such as, “I will manage my enterprise in good faith,” “I will understand and uphold, both in letter and in sprit, the laws and contracts governing my … enterprise,” and “I will be accountable to my peers.” Their goal was a modest one: To get just 100 members of their class to sign the oath. In the end, however, not 100, but 900 students put their names to the oath – over half of the graduating class. And as news of this movement spread, business students all over the world began to take up the cause. To date, the Harvard MBA Ethics Oath has been adopted (voluntarily) by hundreds of schools around the globe; more than 1,700 students have signed it so far, and the list continues to grow every day. It seems there are still men and women in the business world who want to be champions instead of sharks.

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols (left) was first on the scene to help an injured fan.

4) Albert Pujols Tends An Injured Fan — At a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 7, a fan in the stands made an enthusiastic reach for a foul ball … and would up taking a literal nose dive over the wall and onto the field. The on-call EMTs rushed to take care of fellow, but paramedics and fans alike were surprised to see a white uniform at the injured fan’s side — that of number 5, Albert Pujols. The Cardinal’s first baseman stayed with the man for more than 10 minutes as the EMTs bandaged a severe laceration on his face, then reassured the man’s son that everything would be okay as they were taken to a nearby hospital. (The incident earned Pujols the AT&T Sportsmanship Award.) Although taking time away from an important game to tend to an injured spectator isn’t exactly “business as usual” for a top-ranking pro athlete, Pujols’ fans weren’t surprised by the incident — Pujols is known for using his off season to do charity and humanitarian work in the Dominican Republic where he grew up. This incident is just a reminder that a highly successful athlete (Pujols is a multiple All-Star and MVP recipient) can also be a knight in shining armor.

President Barack Obama

3) The U.S. President Takes A Bow — On Nov. 14, President Barak Obama raised some eyebrows when he lowered his head in a traditional bow as he was introduced to Emperor Akihito during a political visit to Japan. Politics aside, this gesture was an effective reminder of the simple principle of humility. As many commentators (from both sides of the political aisle) pointed out, bowing in this circumstance was not a sign of submission or deference, but simply a show of good manners. Even the most powerful man in the world should be gracious (and confident) enough to respect the customs of hospitality when he is visiting someone’s home. (In the 14th century, the King of England once considered it a great honor when, at a royal dinner, he personally knelt beside and served the visiting King of France – not as an act of submission, but as a display of the proper devotion of a host.) In the ideals of chivalry, power and authority should always be coupled with humbleness and sensitivity.

2) A New Moon Rises Over Chivalry – The motion picture New Moon opened on Nov. 20, and this second installment in the Twilight vampire saga based on the books of Stephanie Meyer had the a lot of critics and media analysts buzzing about an unfamiliar topic: chivalry. The cinematic merits of New Moon may be up for debate, but this movie has both pop culture pundits and American teenagers discussing the ideals and practices of chivalry with a sort of dignity and clarity that hasn’t been done in decades. In many ways, the supernatural characters of the Twilight saga resemble the iconic knights of Arthurian legend: Stronger and more powerful than average mortals, and struggling to restrain both their amorous and combative instincts because of the inspiration of love and honor. New Moon’s opening broke box office records all across the board – a fine demonstration that a powerful message of chivalry can still appeal to a broad audience.

A ferry diverts course to help survivors of Flight 1549 as they wait calmly for rescue.

1) Flight 1549 Lands In The Hudson River – Americans were shocked to hear the news on Jan. 15 of a jet airliner that crashed in the Hudson River shortly after takeoff. They were equally stunned – and inspired – by the stories of the evacuation and rescue of the survivors. Passengers, crew and officers, led by Captain Chesley Sullengerber, acted and reacted with dignity, courage and compassion. Rescue personnel and bystanders alike rushed in to help with little thought to their own safety. President George Bush himself commended everyone involved and said, “the skill and heroism of the flight crew as well as the dedication and selflessness of the emergency responders and volunteers” was an inspiration to all. The incident was dubbed “The Miracle on the Hudson,” a reminder to everyone that the world is full of heroes, and that chivalry is alive and well.

This blog entry is part of the Group Writing Project: 2009 In Review, sponsored by DailyBlogTips.

Related posts:

1. Faith, Money and Chivalry
2. Sun Tzu In Competition With Chivalry
3. Join The “50 By 50″ Drive – Don’t Let Chivalry Today Die

Students gather to watch knights in armor ride and discover the ideals of chivalry in the First Knight program.

Trying to instill the qualities of chivalry in modern society sometimes seems a bit like shouting in the wilderness – which is why it’s always heartening to discover a group that is working on a similar quest. A recent article in the San Marcos (Texas) Daily Record brought my attention to another group who sees the ideals of the code of chivalry as a worthy template for ethics in today’s world: the Rotary Club of San Marcos.

According to the article (and the Club’s chapter website) the Rotarians of San Marcos sponsor a project called “First Knight/Early Act.” The goal of the program (prepare for some familiar concepts here) is to use the imagery and history of chivalry to inspire first through fifth graders at local schools to take the concepts of ethics and honor to heart. The program uses short, daily homework assignments to get students to understand the practicalities of living by the ideals of chivalry.

Their methodology (based on the principles of the Rotarians) is to give students a four-point checklist to monitor their own behavior and motivation:

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all?
3. Will it build good will and friendship?
4. Will it be beneficial to all?

Wouldn’t it be nice if more organizations today applied these standards to their actions, rather than simply asking questions like: “Is it profitable?” or “Will our stockholders benefit?”

Rotary Club Past President David Brady said: “All kids everywhere are in desperate need of ethics training and learning right from wrong.” A noble and knightly goal indeed! I’m sure I speak for all Chivalry Today fans when I say we salute the First Knight program and the work of the Rotary Club of San Marcos.

Learn more: Read the story Chivalry Is Alive and Well in the San Marcos Daily Record.

Related posts:

1. Chivalry Prevents Business Meltdowns
2. Knight Vision
3. Come Join Us Live!

Even without coffee, my ears perked right up.

The report, by journalist Jacki Lyden, took an inside look at a company of jousters who do the “touring circuit” of several Renaissance Faires throughout the country every year, and both the dangers and rewards they face in preparing for, and putting on their shows.
The piece touched on several aspects of the values of chivalry – how the sense of honor that permeates this sport appeals to audiences who “spend their days sitting in a cubicle” and “want to escape the everyday mundane grind”; and also the degree of trust and respect this competitive sport builds among its participants.

Unfortunately, the story left the concept of chivalry within the confines of the Renaissance Faire – the reporter didn’t explore whether the jousters or the spectators took away any sort of lasting ideals or different impression of a code of honor when the show was over.
Still, the report (free of the usual hokey pirate language and lame puns – they even resisted the urge to call the piece “Living the Knight Life”) left listeners with the impression that there is something serious – even respectable – to be found among the athletes and performers who put on modern day jousting shows.

Related posts:

1. American Sword of Chivalry
2. Prince Caspian & Chivalry – Podcast 21
3. Episode 22: Zombies, Time Travelers and King Arthur

Last night (that’s “night” without a K) I got to see Spamalot, which, after my lengthy conversation with Gurr, gave me an opportunity to search for nuances and hidden messages within the show (as well as enjoying some classic bits and hilarious new material, of course).

Now, anyone attending Spamalot expecting a deep, thoughtful exploration of the values of chivalry and honor, or the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is going to be sadly disappointed. (They’ve replaced the Winchester Round Table with a roulette wheel, for Pete’s sake!)

The show is all about bringing the visuals and jokes from the venerable film to life on stage — and in that, Spamalot succeeds delightfully. There are a variety of effects and production pieces that provide great visual humor — from the catapulted cow crushing Patsy to a pair of monks who provide “moving” scenery by rolling themselves in a backdrop. And there are also all the unforgettable scenes from the movie (“Bring out your dead,” and the knights who say “nee!”) that have been given just the right amount of updating.

Enjoyable as all that is, however, what keeps Spamalot from becoming nothing but a regurgitation of jokes that were getting old when President Obama was in high school are the performances, primarily those of Gurr and Merle Dandridge, who plays the Lady of the Lake.

Dandridge’s performance is rock-solid and her voice is stunning. The majority of the humor she brings to the stage comes from the vocal gymnastics she performs throughout the numbers — proving she is thoroughly capable of “over singing” any song. (You could easily imagine her as a finalist on “Camelot Idol.”)

Similarly, Gurr doesn’t mug for laughs or play Arthur as an empty-headed fop. While his knights find the humor in their roles, Gurr brings a sincerity and dignity to the character of Arthur — which, as he mentioned in the podcast, is the key to making the role, and the show, work. Even when Gurr is skipping about the stage with Patsy clopping coconut shells together to imitate hoofbeats, there’s an unmistakable regalness to Gurr’s carriage. He makes King Arthur the most emotionally engaging character in the show, and, even amid the wackiness, he makes the audience feel that King Arthur is the leader we all want to follow, and the ideal we all want to be.

It’s a metaphor that plays out very nicely in the first musical number of the second act, “Look On The Bright Side Of Life.” Arthur’s down in the dumps and feels his quest has failed. His knights all come out to cheer him up and, amid gloom and thunder, they all whip out their umbrellas and begin to sing, whistle and dance; suddenly the sun is shining all around them, even though it’s pouring rain up above.

It’s easy to miss if you’re tapping your toes to the music, but the heraldic symbol on King Arthur’s tabard in this show (just as in the original movie) is not the traditional lion, dragon or Virgin Mary … but a shining sun. And that symbol is perfectly mirrored on the surface of the umbrellas the knights twirl as they’re “singin’ in the rain.” The message is simple and nicely underplayed: Arthur is the sunshine on a rainy day.

Spamalot wasn’t created to reveal the emotional or moral depths of Arthurian legend, but this is just one of several moments in the show that demonstrate there is something thoughtful lurking under the jokes — a message that the image of King Arthur has been, is and always will be that ray of hope in an hour of darkness, the light of optimism and strength that glows even when the world seems cloaked in the clouds of doom.

Though he maybe galumphing across the stage, tap dancing on the Round Table or enduring the merciless taunts of the French soldiers, Gurr portrays King Arthur in a manner true to the chivalric ideals of the 13th century Spanish knight and author Ramon Llull, who observed that, “Hope is the principle instrument of the office of knighthood.” And whether it’s proving the power of hope and joy to overcome adversity, or just putting a smile on our faces, King Arthur and the cast of Spamalot succeed in their quest most nobly.

Spamalot runs in San Diego through Sept. 13; tickets are available through Broadway San Diego. The show also runs in San Jose, Tucson and Costa Mesa – more details are on the Spamalot website.

Related posts:

1. Episode 9: Finding Camelot With Chivalry Today
2. Podcast 33: The Civil War of Chivalry
3. A Taxing King Arthur Parabel

Of course, I’d love to tell you I went on a lengthy tour of the castles and museums of Europe on a quest of discovery of the history and culture of knighthood … but for me (like many people this year) this was a summer for things a little closer to home. But, ironically, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t have a few pleasant, surprise (and completely serendipitous) encounters with the history of medieval knights.

Let me share them with you:

Meet Me (With Some Armor) In St. Louis

In August, I was traveling with a friend through the city of St. Louis, Missouri. We were on a quick business trip, and when I found myself with an hour to spare in the downtown area, I decided to take a stroll through the historic Forest Park, site of the 1904 World’s Fair.Sadly, since I was there on a whim, I didn’t have nearly enough time to explore the many museums, gardens and activities that are housed in the park. But I was drawn to one very prominent feature: A bronze statue of a knight on horseback, which stands in front of a very impressive building on a hilltop overlooking the park.

The statue, it turns out, is a monument to the city’s namesake, St. Louis, also known as Louis IX, the famous crusader king of medieval France. The building, it turns out, is the celebrated St. Louis Art Museum, whose motto, “Dedicated to Art and Free to All,” is carved right above the front door.

Since the price was right, I decided to poke my nose in the door and ask one simple question: “Do you have any armor on display?” The docent directed me downstairs where I spent the half-hour I had to spare visiting the museum’s gallery of medieval armor — a small but respectable offering of late-medieval weaponry and knightly equipment, including a fine example of German “Maximilian” plate armor of the 16th century.

The armor gallery is obviously very popular with museum visitors — there’s even a “Family Guide To Arms & Armor” brochure available at the front desk that allows kids to properly identify every piece of a knight’s harness, from sallet to sabaton. Unfortunately, this very nice gallery of the armor-maker’s craft is tucked away in a remote corner of the basement, and is accompanied by relatively rudimentary historical information. The display is just ripe for an active interpretation to help visitors understand the craft, function and symbolism of medieval armor — and since there’s a beautiful patch of lawn right there under the gaze of the St. Louis statue, all the museum needs is the right person or group to coordinate a demonstration of arms and armor in action.

(And if anyone from the St. Louis Art Museum is reading this, please feel free to contact Chivalry Today!)

If you’re at all intrigued by medieval arms and armor and you’re in the St. Louis area – even for a few minutes! – be sure to stop by the Art Museum and visit the armor gallery (and enjoy a picnic lunch at the riverside in Forest Park).

A Cowboy’s Spurs Aren’t The Only Things Jingling

A few weeks later my wife and I decided to take a little “road trip” vacation before the start of school through the heart of California’s Gold Rush country. We spent several days driving along the back roads along both sides of the Sierra-Nevada mountain range, haunting the mining towns that the freeway system has bypassed. There are a lot of intriguing landmarks and historic monuments in this area, but when we got to the Calaveras County Historical Society & Museum (in the town made famous for the frog-jumping contest in Mark Twain’s short story) we were surprised to see a shirt of chain mail hanging in a display case at the back of the town museum. Medieval armor is not the sort of thing you expect to see in a quiet three-room museum upstairs from the Hall of Records (and town bookshop) in California’s prospecting country.

The story of the shirt of mail was displayed on a placard beneath the case: Apparently it was owned by the notorious outlaw George Washington Cox, who was arrested in Calaveras County and sentenced in the county courthouse (which is now part of the museum). The display said “armored protectors” like the one worn by Cox were not uncommon among men who spent time on the Western frontier, since the chain mail, worn underneath a shirt or coat, was essentially proof against arrows, tomahawks, Bowie knives and just about any other sort of weapon short of a sixgun. According to the museum, there was a relatively lucrative business being done in San Francisco crafting these shirts of mail for scouts, miners, homesteaders and anyone else heading out to the dangerous reaches of the Wild West.

It seems particularly ironic that the cowboys and gunslingers, sometimes called “knights of the Old West,” might, in fact, have been a little closer to their medieval counterparts in their equipment than anyone previously thought.

Of course, neither of these chance encounters with knightly arms and armor has anything to do with the principles of chivalry other than to serve as a reminder that references, artifacts and images of medieval culture sometimes pop up in the most unexpected of places. The more we study and understand the world of history — whether it’s armor and castles, or chivalry and the tales of the Round Table — the more we are prepared to understand the world we live in today.

Related posts:

1. Summer Of Chivalry Podcast: Part 2
2. Summer of Chivalry Podcast: Part 1
3. Summer Is Knight Time

(Anyone who thinks the stories of the Knights of the Round Table are stuffy and serious should read the French tale Aucassin et Nicollette, in which the king gets pregnant and gives birth while the queen leads the knights in an epic food fight. Today’s mindless, gross-out summer comedies are tame by comparison!)

In a recent episode of The Daily Show, however, viewers were treated to a taste of the lore of King Arthur as biting, contemporary political humor. It’s not often that the fine points of the stories of Lancelot, St. George and Guenevere (as well as Aesop’s Fables) are used to elicit laughter out of footage from C-SPAN – but maybe that’s why fans of chivalry find this segment from a recent episode of Comedy Central’s “news” show particularly funny.

Warning: The attached clip from The Daily Show contains “bleeped” adult language. Please use your discretion when viewing.

Related posts:

1. WWKAD (What Would King Arthur Do?)
2. King Arthur By The Book
3. Episode 22: Zombies, Time Travelers and King Arthur

Cronkite was voted (in a 1972 public opinion poll) “the most trusted man in America.” The many obituaries and retrospectives that followed his death paint him as the very image of a modern knight: honest, brave, competitive and humble — implying that, on some level, it was the principles of chivalry that earned the trust of his listeners and viewers.

Yet amid the fond memories and professional analyses, there are commentators who regard “trust” (like “chivalry”) as a relic of a bygone age — something that has outlived its relevance, and would be best left in the era of automotive tailfins and big-band orchestras. Some see the very idea of a “most trusted” person in America as a reflection of bias, gullibility and naiveté among the public.

Slate Magazine, in a piece titled, Why I Didn’t Trust Cronkite, postulated that the age of journalistic trustworthiness stemmed from an FCC policy (discontinued in 1987) mandating that both sides of controversial issues had to be given equal time on the air. “One way around (the policy)” Slate explains, “was to tamp down controversy.” They dismissively speculate that Cronkite’s trustworthiness was a result of blandness rather than integrity.

Other news sources took a different angle in their critique of trust by seeking to quantify the concept in scientific terms, distilling trust to nothing more than a behavioral response to sensory stimuli. A symmetrical face and a deep, resonant voice are both indicators that elicit a sense of trust in most people, and perhaps there was no more to Cronkite’s trustworthiness than that (at least according to a report put out by PR firm Decker Communications, coaching business executives on how to polish their “brand” by looking and sounding trustworthy).

Of course, in today’s society, which seems to be weathering a veritable hailstorm of corruption and scandal, trust is (understandably) in short supply. But abandoning trust merely because the concept has been abused is a bit like junking your car just because it’s in need of a tune-up. The cynical voices calling for the obsolescence or commercialization of trust point to a critical misunderstanding of the concept: the difference between trust that is given and trust that is earned.

Trusting someone blindly — be it a reporter, an officer, a politician or a lending agent — can be a recipe for disaster. This is undoubtedly why writings about chivalry from medieval literature emphasize the importance of intelligence and discretion among the qualities of a knight. Knights were expected to be discerning and self-sufficient, not to merely take someone else’s word about what was right and wrong.

Yet at the same time a knight was expected to act in a manner that was faithful and reliable. There was hardly anyone more deplorable in medieval society than a knight who broke his word or swore a false oath.

Perhaps the greatest indication of the power of trust in the ideals of chivalry is the final words of the king in Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte D’Arthur.” As Sir Bedevere laments the collapse of the Round Table, Arthur tells him:

“Do as well as thou mayest, for in me there is no trust to trust in.”

It is a very potent statement. Arthur doesn’t cite a lack of charity, justice or valor as the downfall of his knights. For him, it’s not until trust is eroded that the Round Table is finally doomed, and his words remind us that when there’s no one or nothing left to trust, it’s every man for himself.

Building trust, of course, takes time — and time like that isn’t easy to come by in today’s world. Trust is not a virtue of a single, grand gesture, but an ideal for the long haul. Yet, like chivalry, trust and trustworthiness are goals worth working for. Cronkite might have been the “most trusted person in America,” but he wasn’t the “last trusted person.” Even in a skeptical, cynical age, he stands tall as an example of trustworthiness, intelligence and chivalry that everyone can (and should) aspire to.

Learn More

Time Magazine’s retrospective, The Man With America’s Trust
Slate Magazine’s article, Why I Didn’t Trust Walter Cronkite

Related posts:

1. Trust, Chivalry and “The Bubble Reputation”
2. Chivalry and the Cowboy Code
3. Faith, Money and Chivalry

And now, fans of the Arthurian lore have another interpretation of the legends to consider: the series Merlin, which is airing on NBC Sunday nights. This show turns its focus backwards, exploring the “origin story” of Arthur (the young prince), Merlin (the budding wizard) and many of the other familiar characters in their formative years.

There are plenty of overviews and reviews of NBC’s Merlin on the web (including in The New York Times and the Boston Globe), so there’s no need to rehash the basic details of the premise here. More to the point might be some insight into how the concept of chivalry is treated in this series, and what the message of Merlin is for today’s world.

On one hand, Merlin falls into the realm of Arthurian stories founded on the premise that knights, quests, jousting and castles have to be “kid’s stuff.” As many reviewers have pointed out, the writing, acting and production of Merlin seems better suited for a Saturday morning adventure than for a prime-time network historical drama. Don’t look for any nuanced characterizations of heroes in the making, or subtle explorations of the challenges of following a code of honor (much less developing and establishing such a code – which could have been an intriguing subject in an “origin” story).

By making the world of Camelot a place of simplistic storylines and campy dialogue, perhaps Merlin is a not-too-flattering reflection of ethics in today’s society: Where children are taught to “play nice,” “be fair” and “do the right thing,” then turned loose in a world where those kinds of ideals are largely considered impediments to success. We might think of Merlin, on some level, as a cautionary reminder that in today’s world, decency, honor and chivalry are too often treated as “childish fantasies.”

On the other hand, perhaps the contemporary lesson of Merlin’s King Arthur can be found more in what isn’t there than in what is. For instance, don’t look for any foreshadowing of the sword in the stone in this tale — Arthur is already the acknowledged (and entitled) prince and heir of the realm. There won’t be any need for him to draw a magical sword to prove he’s next in line to be king.

Similarly, don’t expect Arthur’s prospective bride to be portrayed as a princess. Although Guenevere is traditionally characterized as the daughter of King Leodagrance, whose marriage to Arthur brings peace to the fractured realm (and, incidentally, a large, circular table to the halls of Camelot), in this version Gwen is a scullery maid to Morganna and daughter of a humble town blacksmith.

And along with the traditional story elements, another thing that seems to be missing in Merlin is a recognition of moral absolutes. In the course of the first few episodes, Merlin is told repeatedly: “There is no right and wrong, only what is.” (Another way of saying, “The ends justify the means.”) Is this most recent adaptation of the King Arthur legend a story that has been stripped of its foundational elements, thus reflecting a world at risk of being robbed of its core principles as well?

Ironically, there is one element of the traditional Arthurian storyline that does remain in Merlin: Beneath the palace of King Uther Pendragon, there is a cavern where “the great dragon” is imprisoned. (In the usual telling of the story, a pair of dragons resides beneath Uther’s tower, and their struggles cause an earthquake that topples the fortress — Merlin himself reveals the presence of these dragons to King Uther.)

In Merlin, when Merlin need advice and guidance, it is not to his mentor, Gaius the physician, he turns, but rather to this captive monster in its subterranean dungeon, last of the wise and powerful race of dragons that Uther exterminated by royal decree. Is this a subtle depiction of a society in which untrustworthy leaders have abandoned their sense of chivalry and honor in favor of tyranny and brute force? Where a young generation must grope in the darkness for tidbits of wisdom as their role models operate with little regard for the constraints of “right and wrong”? Where chivalry lies chained underground while amoral and self-centered rulers are given free rein in the sunlit world above?

Of course, this maybe focusing far too much philosophical analysis on a lighthearted action show. But if the legends of Camelot reflect cultural identity, then it seems the metaphor deserves consideration at least.

Only time will tell if Merlin has the depth to become a generational portrayal of the lore and ideals of Arthurian legend, or serves merely as a fun and campy (but ultimately forgettable) romp into the world of Camelot. But at least for now, anyone who enjoys the legends of chivalry, whether deeply thought or lighthearted, can enjoy a little touch of Arthur on Sunday nights.

Below: Anthony Head, who plays King Uther Pendragon in Merlin, talks about his role and the approach of the series.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Related posts:

1. A Taxing King Arthur Parabel
2. Episode 9: Finding Camelot With Chivalry Today
3. King Arthur By The Book

Q: How can a guy get your attention?

A: I’m into chivalry. As much as I’m a guy’s girl with a potty mouth, a polite man who opens the door is so refreshing.

Now, while it’s encouraging to see a popular model and actress (whose words command the attention of a lot of impressionable young men) mention chivalry, her comment isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of the concept. In fact, this backhanded compliment seems to reflect a general attitude toward chivalry in today’s world. Consider another example …

A few weeks ago, a mid-day AM radio talk show advertised a segment on chivalry. Women who tuned in got a 10-minute diatribe on the vanishing practice of chivalry in the world of dating and romance. Why don’t men dress nicely when they take a woman out to dinner? Why don’t they bring flowers to their dates? Why don’t they hold open doors for ladies? And, in general, why don’t men treat women with “class” anymore?

Ironically, immediately prior to the segment lamenting the lack of chivalry, there was a station-identification spot that featured, as background music, the song “Redneck Woman,” with lyrics such as:

I ain’t never been the Barbie doll type
I can’t drink that sweet champagne; I’d rather drink beer all night
I’m a redneck woman, I ain’t no high-class broad,
I’m just a product of my raisin’, and I say “hey y’all,” and “yee-haw!”
You might think I’m trashy, a little too hard-core
But get in my neck of the woods, I’m just the girl next door.

These days, our culture seems to have a conflicted relationship with chivalry (or at least the qualities of refinement and dignity that are sometimes defined as “chivalry”): People admonish others for a lack of propriety, consideration and etiquette, while simultaneously excusing themselves from any personal behavior that implies “formality” or “high class.”

In short, it seems there are a lot of people who expect others to go to the effort of being chivalrous, yet at the same time want to be exempt from that effort themselves.

Not surprisingly, this dichotomy is nothing new. Even back in the days of the 14th century, when Sir Geoffroi de Charny wrote Livre de Chevalerie (The Book of Chivalry), he recognized the difficulty of “practicing what you preach.” He noted that many young ladies tried to portray themselves as noble and “classy” through their rich dress (including wearing “coronetals, pearls, precious stones, rings, embroidery … and fine ornaments”), but failed to internalize the personal values that went along with nobility and chivalry.

But, as Charny observed, a lady who wanted to inspire a knight to chivalrous deeds (which, in his approach, meant courage and valor as much as dignity and courtesy) needed more than mere outward trappings. He said a lady needed to be:

“Wise, loyal, without arrogance, joyful, generous, courteous, expert … and of good conduct toward all others, without indulging in self praise. These qualities are the kinds of jewels you should use to adorn your garments … if you would everywhere be safeguarded, loved and esteemed.”

(Interestingly, Charny was progressively equal-opportunity in his expectations of gentle behavior. He said that the qualities he described were more “stylish” than the most expensive gown a lady could wear, and also more “elegant” than the finest armor a knight could put on.)

This isn’t to say that country folks and people of humble background can’t be dignified and courteous, nor that chivalrous people can never relax and be casual. But living by a code of honor — that includes dignity, nobility and the “good breeding” that was once reserved strictly for the knightly class — requires effort and dedication. Having a “potty mouth,” being “trashy” and “too hard core,” and then admonishing others for a lack of chivalry is a bit like showing up at a formal ball in a stained T-shirt and ragged jeans, then complaining about other people’s lack of fashion sense.

Before criticizing anyone for a lack of chivalry, perhaps we should all look to the garments of honor we dress ourselves in. The condition of our own wardrobe of knightly virtues may be the best indication of the fashions of chivalry we see in the world around us.

Related posts:

1. Chival-oution
2. Really Good Iced Tea
3. Faith, Money and Chivalry

We hope this makes it easier for you to plan on joining us at the many talks and live presentations we give every month. Check back often and see what we’re up to next!

(Of course, if you’d like to include one of our live presentations for your school, camp or youth group, this calendar will also give you an idea of what dates are still available. Contact us ASAP – we are already booking dates for school presentations in September 09.)

Related posts:

1. Chivalry Days Are A Medieval Hit!
2. Come Join Us Live!
3. Episode 22: Zombies, Time Travelers and King Arthur

We want to invite Chivalry Today newsletter subscribers and podcast listeners to come and join us at some of the venues (open to the public – and best of all, free of charge) in the coming weeks where program director Scott Farrell will be sharing his knowledge and love of knighthood, medieval history and the values of chivalry with audiences of all ages:

DEED OF ARMS
May 17 – 2-3 pm at the Team Touche Fencing Center (10373 Roselle St. #120; San Diego, CA 92121). Team Touche is holding its yearly open house in preparation for its “fencing camp” programs. Scott Farrell will be giving a 30-minute lecture on arms and armor, and providing a demonstration of his Deed Of Arms presentation for attendees. Learn more about the Team Touche Fencing Center’s programs at their website: http://www.teamtouche.com/TTFC/

SIEGE THE DAY
May 20 – 3:30-4:30 pm at the Santee Branch San Diego County Library (9225 Carlton Hills Boulevard #17; Santee, CA 92071-3192). Scott Farrell will be talking about castles, knights and the code of chivalry in his presentation “Get Creative and Siege the Day,” part of the 2009 “Get Creative” Summer reading program. Children will get to see model catapults in operation, and will get to be “siege engineers” as they construct their own tabletop catapults out of craft sticks. The Siege The Day presentation will be given at other library branches throughout June, July and August – check the San Diego County Library website for more details and a schedule of events: http://www.sdcl.org/

ADVENTURES BY KNIGHT
June 16 – 10-11 am at the San Carlos Branch San Diego County Library (7265 Jackson Drive, San Diego, CA 92119-2314). Scott Farrell will present Adventures By Knight, a discussion of the themes of heroism and chivalry with young readers. The presentation will look at Jedi knights, superheroes, Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lord of the Rings and other popular books, TV shows and movies that harken back to the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. A great way for kids (and adults too) to get a sense of the history and traditions behind the stories and characters they know and love – with lots of hands-on demonstrations of medieval arms and armor to keep things interesting.

Mark your calendars – JOUSTING!
October 23-25 at the Poway Rodeo Grounds (14336 Tierra Bonita Rd.; Poway, Ca. 92064). Our friends at Historic Enterprises and the Royal Armouries at Leeds are once again bringing the Tournament of the Phoenix to San Diego – the only jousting event in the United States sanctioned by England’s prestigious Royal Armouries. Stop by and visit the Chivalry Today display booth, attend Scott Farrell’s presentation on The History and Traditions of The Joust, and listen to Scott Farrell and Steve Lewandowski as they provide the live “color commentary” for the jousting. This year, at the request of the many educators who bring their students to this event, the organizers have added a education themed date on Friday (intended specifically for school field-trip coordinators) and have established the Festival of History Zone, where a variety of historical interpretative groups (from Rome to the Renaissance) will have “camps” set up to demonstrate authentic crafts, clothing and equipment for students – and everyone fascinated by the details of life in history!
Tickets to the Tournament of the Phoenix are now on sale through the event website, and you can also enjoy a video of the report done on the 2008 tournament by Showjumping Unplugged: http://www.worldjoust.com/

Related posts:

1. Summer Is Knight Time
2. The Everyday Ethics of Chivalry
3. School History Festival & Chivalry Today

There was a scene I witnessed in a local restaurant just the other day that depicted this sort of thing to a tee. The restaurant wasn’t a fine-dining establishment — it was one of those places where you order at the counter, then go pick up your meal on a tray when the attendant calls your name.

The scene in the restaurant was this: A family of five had come in for lunch. There was mom and dad, two children (middle school-age brother and a sister a year or two younger), and grandmother. They placed their order, then sat down at a table to wait. The adults carried on a conversation while the kids whipped out their high-tech gadgets — a video game for the boy, a text-messaging mobile phone for the girl.

Then, when the food came out, the kids sat playing with their electronic devices, while dad and grandma went to fetch the trays, along with all the necessary condiments and utensils. The children watched grandma (who was walking with a cane) carry their food to the table before she returned to the counter and picked up her own lunch. By the time grandma and dad sat down, the kids were already half-way through their meal.

“A perfect example of the lack of chivalry today!” you might say to yourself. Yes … but perhaps not in the way you might think.

Because the real chivalry-offenders in this tableau were not the two adolescents, but rather, the adults. In a situation like this, it is dad’s duty and responsibility (and mom’s as well) to become the “chivalry coach,” to lean over and discretely tell the young folks what’s expected of them. Learning to be of service is part of the education of adolescence — that transition from childhood to adult status. Recognizing that the responsibilities of duty and courtesy are part-and-parcel with the pleasures of liberty and privilege (such as, for example, having your own high-tech games and texting gadgets) is part of the rite of passage of a young man or woman into the modern “order of chivalry.”

The Spanish knight and author Ramon Llull, in his 13th century manuscript The Book of Knighthood and of Chivalry, recognized the duty a knight has in “passing of the torch” of the values of chivalry. He knew that a deliberate effort had to be made on the part of the knights of one generation to inculcate the values of chivalry into the next.

Llull said: “Every man who would come to knighthood should learn, in his youth, to carve at table, to serve, to arm and to attend a knight. The sons of knights must be instructed in the ways of chivalry, just carpenters must learn to hew, and clerks must learn the science of study. If a knight does not learn the ways of chivalry in youth, he will never learn them in his old age.”

One of the more noble aspects of human nature is that the more that’s expected of us, the more we tend to rise to meet those expectations. Tolerate discourtesy and inattentiveness, and you may find that that’s exactly what you get. But if you challenge your children to be thoughtful, compassionate and respectful of other’s needs, they’ll surely take up the gauntlet with pride. Passing the values and customs of chivalry to tomorrow’s generation is part of the duty of today’s knights in shining armor.

Related posts:

1. Summer Is Knight Time
2. Saluting First Knights
3. Two Young Knights

Ironically, one of the upcoming episodes of the show promises a “knight vs. pirate” encounter. As colorful and exciting as such a duel may sound, the concept has taken on a new sense of relevance in light of events in the news recently — events that give us a real look into the meaning of chivalry and the dynamic of “knight vs. pirate.”

In recent days, international attention has been focused on a drama that took place in the Indian Ocean near the Horn of Africa. There, a group of modern-day pirates from Somalia attempted to seize a container ship carrying food aid to needy countries in Africa, including Somalia itself. During the attempted takeover of the ship, the captain, Richard Phillips, turned himself over to the pirates in order to ensure the safety of his crew. Capt. Phillips was held for ransom under threat of execution for several tense days until the U.S. military intervened to secure his rescue and deliver the ship and its humanitarian cargo to its destination.

Capt. Phillips has been hailed by his crew, his family, the media and the public at large as a true hero, and rightfully so. And (without any intent to diminish his heroism) he is only one of several such heroes that have come to the attention of the public lately — ordinary men and women of extraordinary courage who have stood up, put themselves in harm’s way, done the right thing and acted with bravery and compassion in the face of danger and panic.

The number of stories that have been popping up in the media — from people who put themselves at risk in moments of crisis to rescue others, to those who simply dedicate themselves to work for charitable causes despite their own economic hardships — indicate that, far from being forgotten, the concept of chivalry lives on, and is valued and respected in today’s world.

The buccaneers of the 18th and 19th centuries provide colorful characters for exciting high-sea adventures, from the novels of Robert Lewis Stevenson to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies — but when danger lurks or duty calls, a pirate is a poor role model (romantic notions of “noble pirates” from Gilbert and Sullivan notwithstanding).

We all hope that, when faced with danger and violence, we would act with the grace and courage of a Capt. Phillips, rather than the conniving self-interest of oceangoing thieves hijacking food and medicine meant to ease the suffering of their neighbors. We hope that in a crisis we would reach out to help others, rather than threatening someone else to save our own skins. We would all hope that when faced with hardship or adversity, we would react with the valor and chivalry of a knight, rather than the selfishness and greed of a pirate.

In a real contest between a pirate and a knight in shining armor, there’s no doubt about who comes out the winner.

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1. Shocks and Chivalry
2. Episode 32: Chivalry Makes Happy Campers
3. The Knight Awards

This episode features an interview with Daniel McNicoll, director of the new documentary Reclaiming The Blade, which looks at the growing fascination today with all things sword related – from movies and video games, to the growing field of Western martial arts. We’ll consider the symbolism of swords and chivalry among today’s heroes.

Plus: Who picks up the bill? A discussion of the “old fashioned” custom that a gentleman always pays the bill when taking a lady out to dinner? Can a gentleman let a lady pay for dinner and still be a knight in shining armor?

And – A conversation about the Islamic roots of chivalry with author, poet and activist Charles Upton.

Related posts:

1. Episode 30: Reclaiming The Sword and The Code of Chivalry
2. Generosity, Over Easy
3. Pizza and Inspiration for Navy Seaman Recruits

We’re going to start with a “virtual” tour of a real medieval castle – kids will get to see what a castle looks like, see the view from the ramparts, and understand the defensive function of such a fortress. Then, they’ll see a few catapults in action as I demonstrate the mechanical principles of a few model siege engines – a true catapult, as well as an onager and a trebuchet too! Best of all, the kids in attendance will get to build their own mini-catapult (out of craft sticks) to take home with them. I’ll give the kids a few soft balls to use as safe ammo. Will the kids use these “war machines” to shoot more dangerous ammo – peanuts, coins, pebbles – when they get home? Well parents, that’s up to you!

How does this relate to the code of chivalry? You ask. We’ll also take a bit of time to talk about some of the “rules of war” a knight would have been expected to observe when using a siege engine like a catapult. Once a machine like this was brought to bear, a knight was expected to give the enemy a chance to surrender honorably before he started bombarding the castle. Additionally, an honorable knight would have allowed the non-combatatants (merchants and servants living in the castle) a chance to evacuate before an attack. It’s important to understand that even in war, there is a sense of honor and restraint that is part of the code of chivalry.

Interested in bringing our “create a catapult” presentation to your library or school? Just visit the Chivalry Today website for more information, or to contact us to add us to your schedule.

Related posts:

1. Podcast 42: Summer Of Chivalry
2. Summer of Chivalry Podcast: Part 1
3. My Faithful Brother

• The author of the book Monty Python & Philosophy (Open Court Books) will be joining us to talk about what we can learn about the “philosophy” of chivalry from Spamalot and The Holy Grail;
• We’ll be going to Maryland to talk with practitioners of that state’s official sport – jousting! – and learn how the culture of chivalry came to American shores;
• Prof. Richard Scott Nokes will be with us to talk about villains, dragons and monsters in the legends of King Arthur – and how we can learn about the ideals of chivalry by studying “the bad guys”;
• We’ll visit Camlann medieval village in Washington state, where the 14th century and the ideals of chivalry come to life;
• We’ll have a conversation with Prof. LJ Swain, editor of The Heroic Age journal, to explore the early developments in culture and literature that led to the Code of Chivalry;

Plus – some other topics on the table include falconry and modern birds-of-prey conservation efforts, knightly table manners (no, they didn’t throw bones around the dining room), Gothic warrior women, X-treme sports and the ideals of Don Quixote, and King Arthur’s knights at the Opera! And maybe – maybe! – we’ll even score an interview with none other than Frank Miller, creator of Sin City, The Spirit and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. (Who, in a recent interview in Maxim magazine, had some very insightful and powerful things to say about heroes and chivalry. This is a guy who takes the image of knighthood very, very seriously!)

Can you tell I’m a little excited about all of this? (I get to interview world-renowned experts and scholars about cutting-edge investigations into the ideals of chivalry … This is the greatest job in the world!) If you haven’t subscribed through Apple’s iTunes or one of the other “podcatching” services, be sure to do so – and tell your friends, co-workers and teachers about it too. Episode 23 will be available the first week in September!

By the way – just so you don’t think I’m being completely negligent, we will have a few podcast offerings during the summer. We recently replayed my conversation with Prof. Susan Aronstein, author of “Hollywood Knights,” in conjunction with the opening of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and we’ll revisit my interview with Prof. Will Brooker about the chivalric ideals of Batman just in time for the opening of The Dark Knight later this month. Be sure to check your iPod!

Related posts:

1. Prince Caspian & Chivalry – Podcast 21
2. Episode 15: The Round Table and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. Jedi Knights

Related posts:

1. Chivalry Days Are A Medieval Hit!
2. School History Festival & Chivalry Today
3. Episode 25: Chivalry, Feasts and Medieval Table Manners

Our first new episode of the third season (episode 23) will be posted at the beginning of September. In conjunction with the opening of the new Clone Wars/Star Wars animated movie, our featured topic will be Jedi knights and the code of chivalry.

We’ve just gotten word that our guest on the show will be none other than Hugo-winning sci-fi author David Brin, one of the principle editors of the book Star Wars On Trial. David is going to bring some very thought-provoking concepts about the Jedi knights and the code of chivalry – I’m not going to spoil anything, other than to say it’s going to be an episode full of surprises.

Until then – check the podcast page next week (6/16) for an quick update with Prof. Susan Aronstein about Arthurian images and themes in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and next month we’ll replay my interview with Prof. Will Brooker, author of Batman Unmasked, just in time for the opening of The Dark Knight!

Related posts:

1. Episode 23: Chivalry, Jedi Knights and Star Wars On Trial
2. Episode 16: Characters of Chivalry: Jedi Knights and Medieval Detectives
3. Podcast 47: Chivalry And A Modern Morte Darthur

It’s true – we want to (and need to) teach good, respectful manners to kids. That is (as those ignorant, illiterate medieval knights knew) a way of getting children to look outside themselves and see the rewards of doing something nice for others. It is the antidote to the “it’s all about me” mentality.

But just because young men don’t stand when a lady enters the room, tip their hats or walk on the outside of the road, does that mean chivalry is dead? Actually … I think not. All that really means is that the social etiquette from another generation is falling by the wayside. Standing when a lady enters the room might have been practical when social gatherings took place in parlor rooms, or even when families entertained callers in their living rooms in the 50s and 60s. But today – how are you going to stand when a lady enters the room at a crowded Starbucks, or in an office full of cubicles?

The fact is – chivalry isn’t dead, it’s just changing to meet today’s needs. You can still find plenty of chivalry on the freeway, for example, when a driver lets another car merge graciously; in the supermarket, when a shopper finishes a cell phone conversation before speaking with the check-out clerk; or in the office, when someone stands to greet a client or visitor. (Yes, there are plenty of people who don’t do any or all of those – that doesn’t mean chivalry is dead … it just means people still aren’t perfect. That hasn’t changed since the Middle Ages.)

If you look for chivalry in the social customs of 50 years ago (or more) it will seem as dead as rotary phones, vinyl records and cars with tailfins. Chivalry evolves with the times.

Related posts:

1. A Return to Chivalry? – Part 1
2. A Shift In Chivalry
3. A Little Lesson in Chivalry

Still, even as this story was being covered in papers from the LA Times to the NY Times, there were plenty of people scoffing that this wasn’t a real sports story – because something like this could only happen in a girls‘ league, and only girls would be soft enough actually do something nice for an opponent.

Stephen Colbert gave us a great satire of this sort of attitude when he claimed that girls’ softball, with its inherent decency and chivalry, was the fourth largest threat to national security in his regular “Threatdown” on Monday, May 12. (Of course, “bears” were number one.) Take a listen to the audio of Colbert’s Threatdown

It was a marvelous comedic jab at the ridiculous notion that only little girls are capable of being decent to each other on the playing field.

Visit the Colbert Report Website to enjoy more of his biting satire!

Related posts:

1. Chivalry Rounds the Bases
2. Episode 12: Cheating and Chivalry
3. Saturday Jousting Report

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