Bridge City Blades - Historical Martial Arts

Already training and looking to widen your circle of sword friends? Want to spar with new people, test your mettle, or just nerd out about sources and gear?
Open Floor at Bridge City Blades is a FREE 2‑hour unstructured sparring space where folks can connect, cross swords, and explore different corners of the HEMA community. Spar at slow speed, go full speed, troubleshoot techniques, and share what you’ve been studying — from weapon tactics to fencing treatises.
Come for the community, stay for the vibes.
1305 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR
2 Hours | FREE
Come meet new training partners and grow your HEMA network.

A Gremlin in the system over here - slight correction to the Calendar. Mondays do not have another Sidesword class on offer. Instead, it's clinic time. Consider stopping by and working with a friend or the instructor on a finer point or class topic. Struggling to get your swing just right? Clinic hour will set you right.

Lots of great stuff happening in the Sala this month!

We’ve expanded our schedule for May, added more training opportunities, and brought something new to the mix:
⚔️ Rapier class starts May 10th
⚔️ Saber and Sidesword Fundamentals — Sundays at 1pm with alternating weapon focuses on the 1st and Second and Third and Fourth! This class is a great option if you've been curious about different weapon systems or want to build a stronger foundation in your practice.

Also: Bivo‑Whack is already halfway full! Super Early Bird pricing ends May 15th, so if you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time for the best price. Normal Early Bird Prices end June 15th and ticket sales will end for the year August 15th!

See you in the sala.

Hi there Sword Friends!
Bridge City Blades is heading out to nature. Come join us for the second annual Blades Bivo-WHACK 2026 on August 28th–30th at Camp Cedar Ridge in Vernonia, Oregon!
It’s a full weekend of sparring, workshops, friendship, and mead — all in a relaxed, non-competitive HEMA retreat setting. BCB is known for being a bunch of friendly folks and this event is no exception. Expect open sparring, playful games (naval boarding tactics, anyone?), tournaments (optional, fun, maybe even featuring jenga), campfires, and plenty of time to train, learn, and connect with fellow sword nerds.
All-inclusive (2 nights lodging + 6 meals + all workshops & activities)
All-inclusive

Limited to 40 spots
Pricing:
Super Early Bird – $400 (ends May 16 at 12:00 AM)
Early Bird – $425 (begins May 16)
General Admission – $450 (price increases June 16)
Lock in the lowest price before May 16th!
Event details & registration:
https://www.bridgecitybladeshema.com/event-details/blades-bivo-whack-2026

⚔️🔥 Last Chance! 🔥⚔️
Blades BivoWhack is almost here — October 24–26 at Camp Cedar Ridge!

This is your final call to register for a weekend of:
✨ Workshops
✨ Sparring & games
✨ Campfires & community

Registration closes Sept 30th — don’t miss out!
🎟️ Link in bio to grab your spot today.

⚔️ Instructor Spotlight! ⚔️
We’re excited to announce that Andy Plymate, Lead Instructor of Bridge City Blades, will be teaching at Blades BivoWhack 2025!

Andy is bringing a 2-hour workshop on “Attacks to Miss” — a deep dive how to turn “missing on purpose” into a winning strategy.

📅 October 24–26 | Camp Cedar Ridge, Vernonia OR
🎟️ Registration closes Sept 30

https://www.bridgecitybladeshema.com/event-list

🎉⚔️ Fun & Games at Blades BivoWhack! ⚔️🎉

This retreat isn’t just about workshops and sparring. We’ve got light-hearted competitions to test your creativity and courage:

🧩 Jenga Duels – Pull a block, reveal a rule, and fight under hilarious twists. Strategy meets chaos.
💀 Totentanz – The push-your-luck ruleset where wounds, bleeds, and bold choices decide who walks away.
🌲 Bandits in the Forest – An ambush scenario where a traveling caravan must fight off raiders in the woods!

📅 October 24–26 | Camp Cedar Ridge, Vernonia OR
🎟️ Register by Sept 30 — https://www.bridgecitybladeshema.com/event-list