In this episode of The Sword Guy, I talk to Kaja Sadowski, author of the must-read Fear is the Mind-Killer, about training with two swords, training in high-stress situations, and lots more training besides!
Kaja has been a physical instructor since 2004, teaching figure skating, rock climbing, and mountaineering before coming to martial arts in 2010. They joined the coaching team at Valkyrie Western Martial Arts Assembly in 2012, and created their beginner program shortly afterwards. They currently teach group and private lessons to students of all experience levels, and run the school’s self defense program.
Their primary weapon is the rapier, and they also teach unarmed striking, grappling, and knife combat. Their interests vary from the historical to the modern, and range from recreational martial arts to practical self defense and professional use of force. They have been a civilian auxiliary with the Vancouver Police Department’s Force Options Training Unit since 2015, participating in realistic tactical training scenarios and providing guest instruction to their Special Municipal Constable program.