ABOUT US
'If you don't teach it, the art is going to die.'
Founded by Jon A. Reeves in 2010, Combat Ready Art continues the long tradition of blacksmithing in the City of Kalamazoo.
Jon started working with metal in the 1970s as a teenager, mostly structural, building theatrical sets in the high and college productions. After college, “I started hanging out with the wrong crowd, Renaissance Fair people,' he always said with a smirk. Once they saw he had some skills, they apprenticed him off to an “old, angry blacksmith”, who taught him the benefits of a coal forge and a good hammer. He learned blacksmithing, weaponry, armory, all while being a live steel combatant in the fairs.
Around 1990, Jon moved to Kalamazoo to be the Technical Director of the Civic Youth Theater, teaching children 9-18 how to work in a shop and build sets. Later, he became the Director of Technical Theater at Kalamazoo College, while also working in every theater that has existed in Kalamazoo (and some regional theaters) in the last 35 years. Jon also made numerous theatrical weapons, like broadswords, daggers, and rapiers. In 2015, he was a recipient of the Community Medal of the Arts, the area's most prestigious award for regional artists.
During his time working in theater, he was always blacksmithing. He was an instructor at Smart Shop, owned by Holly Fisher, teaching blacksmithing and metalwork, until the unfortunate closure in 2010.
It was then that Jon opened Combat Ready Art in the Park Trades Center building, continuing the teaching of blacksmithing, welding, and other metal arts.
Jutta joined the forge in 2018 when her youngest child became interested in blacksmithing. As a photographer, she started photographing classes and the forge, and then managing the behind the scenes things (the boring office stuff Jon didn’t want to do ;) ). Pretty quickly though, Jon and Jutta fell in love ——
”Hold it, hold it. What is this? Are you trying to trick me? Where's the sports? Is this a kissing book?” (princess bride)
—— and an unofficial apprenticeship began. She started learning blacksmithing and metalwork from Jon. Jutta learned everything Jon would teach. When she said she didn't know how to use a tool, Jon's reply was 'well then you need to learn.' In 2022, Jutta became a co-owner of Combat Ready Art.
In December 2023, Jon was unexpectedly diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive, non-curable form of brain cancer. The cancer journey lasted one year. Jon A Reeves passed away on December 15, 2024, with Jutta by his side.
Closing Combat Ready Art was never even considered.
Jon started this forge.
Together they grew it.
And now it's Jutta’s turn to continue it.
Jon had a passion for teaching the art. 'If you don't teach it, the art is going to die.'
Jutta continues that mission today, teaching blacksmithing, bladesmithing, welding, and metal art.
Because of Jon’s experience working with youth theater, and Jutta’s experience as a mother of 3 and volunteering in schools, classes are open to anyone 9 years old and up. Teaching children the tradition of blacksmithing gives them the chance to create something truly unique. Many of the younger students continued classes for years, developing their skills and even becoming professional metal artists themselves. For older students who may have done some blacksmithing or metalwork in their childhoods, it’s always fun to see them relive that part of their lives. Most students, though, are people who have never done any metal work before, or even used power tools. They leave with a new sense of accomplishment and confidence after making a railroad spike knife, a hook, a steel flower, or any of the other many projects at the forge.