Siblings Lucas, 13, Arianah, 8, and Jessikah, 22, of Canton, take their first sword fighting class Thursday March 17, 2016 with the Fellowship of Christian Swordsmen at Pollard Park in Tyler. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

As he wields his rebated steel sword against a fellow class member’s sword, Dawson Bodenhamer’s endurance and training are put to the test in a theatrical sword fighting class held by the Fellowship of Christian Swordsman.

Beginners in the class use shinais, bamboo practice swords, but Bodenhamer and others who are experience sword fighters can perform many tricks on command – such as flipping their swords around and catching them with one hand.

Bodenhamer said he joined the class about five years ago, after he was in a play that involved swordfighting. Since then, he has learned many things and enjoyed the experience.

“I wanted to learn to do all those moves,” Bodenhamer said. “There really is no limit to the amount of moves you can learn.”

While he added that getting to practice with fellow Christians has made the experience even better.

“It’s kind of fun and you get a community like this, good Christian friends,” he said.

Chris and Alison Chadwick founded the Fellowship of Christian Swordsman about 13 years ago, after each gaining years of jousting and sword fighting experience. Mr. Chadwick said that after years of working and hanging out in bad environments, he stopped sword fighting after he received salvation from the Lord.

However, after being asked to do a sword fighting demonstration at church, others began to request his services and he and his wife began offering the classes.

Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick said that since they started they have taught over a thousand kids, some who now teach others about sword fighting.

Mr. Chandwick said the class has many benefits.

“It’s just a physical, fun activity and we keep it safe,” Mr. Chadwick said. “It builds confidence and usually iron sharpens iron, it says in the Bible.”

The class takes place at Pollard Park and each of the moves are designed to look realistic without causing injury.

“Theatrical sword fighting is what you see in movies and plays and so forth,” Mr. Chadwick said. “Basically it’s for film and stage where you theatrically fight without killing each other, just like in ‘Lord of the Rings.’”

Each student in the class starts out using a shinai until they gain about 60 weeks of experience, Mr. Chandwick said.  He also said classes include a prayer and devotional. He encourages those who would like to learn more information to go to the group’s Facebook page.

While Mr. Chadwick said sword fighting could be physically rewarding, he hopes that those who leave the class also feel spiritually uplifted. 

“I love oozing Christ on people,” Mr. Chadwick said. “To me it’s just an opportunity to come together and love each other.”

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