Stav Retreat 2006
Learn an ancient yet extant tradition that has been proven to be an effective warrior art through the centuries.
In this four-day course, held at Redwoods Forest Ranch in Mendocino County, learn “STAV” a living Norse tradition of life and warriorship. STAV is not only a system of technical combat, but also a complete lifestyle that includes Norse mythology, Norse Rune lore, health and healing.

You will be introduced to and practice:

• Martial training with the long stick, walking stick, scramasax(knife), battle ax.
• Norse Rune interpretation and rune oracle casting
• “Rune Breathing”
• Learn about your personal fylgje (ancestral guiding spirit)
• Mythology of the Gods and Goddesses of the Norse pantheon
• Traditional Healing via Mått(bone setting and joint manipulation), Megin (Energy manipulation), Diet and Herbal remedies.

Mornings will begin with Rune Breathing and Martial Training, followed by theory and healing classes. In the afternoons there will be another training session followed by evening classes in mythology and rune lore. Three nourishing, delicious meals will be provided each day.

WHEN:
Sept 6th-10th

You can check in at the Ranch as early as 3pm on the Wednesday the 6th. Please arrive by at least 5pm in order to give yourself time to set up camp before the 7pm introductory class.

Check out will be by 12pm on Sunday the 10th.

WHERE:
The retreat will be held at the Redwood Forest Ranch, a remote 400 acre valley ranch, half way between Willits and Fort Bragg in Mendocino County. You will be camping in this pristine mountain setting amidst ancient, towering redwoods, abundant, untouched wildlife, and the scenic Noyo River. Miles of hiking trails and swimming holes provide opportunities for exploration and relaxation.

Directions:

• Take Highway 101 to Willits, which is 130 miles north of the Bay Area.
• Turn left on Highway 20 going towards Fort Bragg 6¾ miles to IRMULCO RD., which is the very first road past the IRMULCO RD. sign on Hiway 20.
• Ignore the NO TRESSPASSING signs and the NO MUSHROOM PICKERS signs. These signs are for unauthorized persons only.
• Turn right on IRMULCO RD. staying on the main road for 5 miles to where you will see a sign post with BELLO ½ WAY sign pointing to the LEFT, take the left fork crossing a bridge and RR Track. Do not take a left into a private driveway but go straight then follow the main road along the RR Tracks for 3 ½ miles, cross a concrete bridge to where it looks like the road comes to an end. (Northspur)
• Turn RIGHT; go straight for about 1 1/2 miles to a large sign that says BELLO 2 MILES pointing to the RIGHT. You will come to a locked gate COMBINATION is 6633, align the numbers on the bottom of the lock, push in and pull out the shackle.
• Follow the BELLO SIGNS for another 1 ½ MILES traveling along the North Fork of the Noyo River to another GATE WHICH IS UNLOCKED BUT HOOKED ON TO A LOCK. If it should be locked by mistake the 6633 combination will also work here.

Caution: Checking odometer will help as the first time traveling this road will seem like you have been traveling forever when you have, in fact, only gone only a few miles. It should take you about 45 minutes on the gravel road to travel the 11 miles from Highway 20 to the Redwood Forest Ranch during daylight hours.

INSTRUCTORS:
Ivar Hafskjold
Ivar Hafskjold comes to us from the United Kingdom where he is the chief instructor of the Stav International Association. Of Norwegian decent, he is the heir to forty-four generations of unbroken tradition of natural lifestyle and spirituality, including teachings of philosophy, health cultivation, mythology, runic oracle casting, trance mediumship and martial arts. Ivar learned the art of Stav as a young man and traveled throughout the world testing the Stav principles. He spent fourteen years in Japan comparing systems and studying with the finest Japanese masters. For over twenty years he has been transmitting and teaching the art of Stav.

Kolbjorn Märtens
During lengthy and intensive training with Ivar, Kolbjorn was formally recognized and adopted as the 45th generation lineage holder of the Jarl class tradition of Hafskjold Stav.

With an emphasis on the meditative, martial and healing aspects of the Stav tradition Kolbjorn teaches Mått, Megan and dietetics as well as rune breathing and martial techniques using primarily the long stick, walking stick or cudgel, knife and spear. He also instructs his students in the oral Hafskjold STAV mythology and rune casting.

FEES:
$550 early registration (due by July 25h), $625 late registration

includes campsite, three meals a day, four days of extraordinary teachings.

A deposit of $125 may be paid to hold your reservation. The entire fee must be paid by July 25th in order to receive the early registration discount. All registration fees must be paid full two weeks prior to the retreat.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Tent and camping gear (sleeping bag, therma-rest, flashlight etc.)
• Snacks that don’t require refrigeration
• Notebooks, pens and pencils
• Cool clothes for hot days and warm clothes for cold nights
• Swimsuit
• A stick that reaches from the ground to your armpit and is 3/4-1’’ in diameter.
• A walking stick or stick that reaches from the ground to the top of your hip.

Further questions can be e-mailed to info@martensstav.com