VOA慢速英语2015 US Restaurant Serves Medieval Art of Fighting

US Restaurant Serves Medieval Art of Fighting

European martial¹ arts, unlike popular Asian martial arts, are not widely practiced and are unknown to most people. But, a restaurant near Washington is the center of an effort to make the ancient fighting skill more popular.

The restaurant combines a show of visual, culinary and martial arts to bring medieval history to life.  

Suits of armor, sharp swords and shields can be seen at the European Martial Arts Academy, or EMAA. The school is in Alexandria, Virginia.

Grandmaster Thomas Booth is the owner of EMAA.  He is introducing the martial arts to his new students. European fighters used these defense² methods more than 700 years ago.

In Thomas Booth's academy, students in the beginner class use plastic swords to learn.  The students do not need to wear suits of armor. Mr. Booth corrects their fighting form and tells them about the history of swordplay.

Ashley Mills is a student at EMAA.  She attends the class with her friend, Belle³ Bredehoft.

"This is our second day here. It's been a lot of fun, something different."  

Belle Bredehoft used to study the Korean martial art Taekwondo.

"Basic foot work and step is the same.  It's just ((with)) one you are using your fist, and this you have a sword in your hand."

The European Martial Arts Academy says it teaches the martial arts technique and discipline to make students confident.

Thomas Booth also operates a restaurant in Old Town Alexandria.  The restaurant gives students an opportunity to show what they have learned to the crowd eating and drinking there.

Mr. Booth calls his students knights⁵. Knight⁴ Albert and Knight Conan are two of the best. The two are wearing suits of armor for their sword duel⁶.

Albert moves smoothly⁷ and scores twice.  Observers close to the action move back a little. Of course, the sword fighting is just a friendly competition. No blood is spilled.

Restaurant visitors become the judges. Tammy and Chark have visited five times.

"It's exciting. It's scary to hear the swords click, you know against each other, ((because)) they are not taking it easy on each other. They are making noises and we are loving it."

"There's literally⁸ sparks flying when they are fighting, it was awesome⁹."

Thomas Booth designed his restaurant to represent medieval times. Every weekend, there is a dinner and show called "Medieval Madness."  Visitors can order food known to be loved by King Henry the Fifth of England. And the servers, along with the owner, put on a medieval-themed play.

Mr. Booth combines all these elements to create an unusual event.

"So what we've done is to take a look at the culinary arts, the visual arts, the martial arts, the wine making arts, the brewing¹⁰ arts, the performing arts, modern and ancient, we've joined them all together to make a tremendous package."

The two-hour Medieval Madness ends with a storm of applause. Visitors leave feeling full and satisfied.

Words in This Story

practice – v. to do (something) regularly or constantly as an ordinary part of your life

culinary – adj. used in or relating to cooking

armor – n. a special metal clothing designed to protect bodies from weapons

shield – n. a large piece of metal, wood, etc., carried by someone (such as a soldier or police officer) for protection

confident – adj. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something

duel – n. a fight between two people that includes the use of weapons (such as swords) that usually happens while other people watch

applause – n. a show of approval or pleasure at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., in which people strike their hands together over and over

1 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 belle   

n.靓女

参考例句：

• She was the belle of her Sunday School class.在主日学校她是她们班的班花。
• She was the belle of the ball.她是那个舞会中的美女。

4 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

5 knights   

骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。

6 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

7 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

8 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

9 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

10 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。