Friday
The Obstacle is the Way
Ties Kool (He/Him)
The Obstacle is the Way is a quote from Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and stoic philosopher. He tells about how you should solve problems in front of you, not to avoid them.
Becoming a better fencer works the same. In training you need to face your problems, solve them and get better.
In this sparring workshop Ties will teach you about Purposeful Practice, a growth mindset about stoic philosophy to give you the tools you need to reach the next level as a fencer.
This is a workshop based around sparring in a training setting. A basic understanding of fencing and sparring is a must
Weapon: Longsword
Gear advice: Full body gear
Gear minimum: Full Upper Body Gear
Vor and Nach – The When and the How of Liechtenauer’s Combat Doctrine
Christian Trosclair (He/Him)
Before the application of technique in any given confrontation, you need the clarity of tactics to ensure success. Liechtenauer gives you these two pragmatic options to shutting your opponent down. Vor and Nach answer the questions of when and how you shall attack. Come learn to answer these questions yourself with easy to understand drills and labs that you can immediately apply to your own combat training, regardless of weapon or style. Gear requirements are mask, gloves, gorget and longsword at a minimum. Bring more if you want to up the intensity. Sideswords, bucklers and staff weapons are welcome.
Get on my Level
Christian Buettner (He/Him)
This is a class that will explore how the rise and fall of our body from our fencing stances can affect our power generation, control, use of momentum, entry into grappling, agility and other aspects of our fencing. No dance background required, minimal fencing background required, mask gloves and a sword required. While some aspects will be more obvious with a longsword, or a greatsword, any sword will do for this class.
Fencing Into the Bind
Roux Nelson (They/He)
Tired of flitting fencers shying away from the bind? Unsure what to do once you’re in the bind? This workshop will showcase how to seek out the bind, the importance of the bind, and the actions that can be taken once a bind is achieved to gain and maintain an advantageous position once distance has closed. This workshop accepts all experience levels (though familiarity with a longsword is a plus!) and is friendly to both boffers and steel. Longsword specific, please wear the appropriate gear for the sword you bring.
Spring into Action: Developing Agile and Dynamic Footwork Nathan Weston (He/Him)
In this class we’ll work on developing footwork which is fluid, adaptable, and responsive to the actions of our opponent. We’ll explore ways to work with momentum, rhythm, and direction changes to achieve an advantageous position in fencing.
Recommended Equipment: Mask, gloves, weapon
Experience Required: None
Dueling: The Legal Proceedings of an Illegal Activity
Collin Vredenburg (He/Him)
In this workshop, we will explore the Legal Art of the Renaissance (and later) duel. Participants will work in groups of Four, where two pairs of gentles will be rather quickly entwined in a “Beef.” As is tradition, their seconds will need to come to a legal agreement on what weapons, what time, and all the intricacies of the duel, with very little input from the fencers themselves. They will then arrive on the field, and complete the duel until honor is satisfied.
This course is intended to be a fun way to educate participants about the policies and procedures surrounding duels – mostly to illuminate truths and discard common misunderstandings by presenting duels in a historically accurate context. Participants will be fined and/or jailed for cheating, or breaking any rules, but the rules themselves will be largely left up to the participants. There will also be direction and education about what rules we know would be very commonplace, and which would be outlandish, as well as direction on proper procedure when completing the duel.
Equipment requirements are only as required by the rules of the duel in which they participate, but Jacket, Mask, and Gloves will be required for any fencing. Participants will be encouraged to bring everything they have, as their seconds will need to take stock of their equipment, and adjust the Duel Agreement accordingly.
(Note, After a first round, the fencers and seconds will swap places so that everyone will have a turn!)
*LECTURE*
Reading Between the Lines: Analysis & Application of Textual Sources
Bart Walczak (He/Him)
This is a prerequisite for Practical Advise for Reading Between the Lines
A brief explanation and examples of concepts useful for in-depth analysis of textual sources and their application for reconstruction and how to conduct a valid internal and external critique of one’s own research.
This is a prerequisite for Practical Advise for Reading Between the Lines.
Meyer’s Heresy: Meyer as Advanced Liechtenauer
Jess Rozak (She/Her)
Joachim Meyer’s supposed heresy is actually no heresy at all once you drill down into the manual and provide some context. When it comes down to it, Meyer is just advanced Liechtenauer.
In this class, we’ll discuss some of the cuts and guards that appear alien to the German longsword tradition as well as some extra sneaky cuts and footwork that make Meyer’s system look so unique.
Equipment required: mask, gloves, longsword
Medieval Games and Sports
Shane Scallin (He/Him)
People have always played games, and the games that a culture prefers can give insight into how that culture approached battle, what that culture valued in daily life, and what the relationships between regular people of that culture were like. This workshop focuses on providing information and instruction in various popular games and sports of medieval Europe. Participants would learn about the context and application of sport in medieval Europe (with a focus on specifically sports and games of the lower class), as well as have the opportunity to practice and compete in certain games. Stone throwing, tug of war variations, medieval forms of racing, medieval board games, wrestling in the pit, fencing for sport, team sports, and other sports and games would be discussed. No gear required, no experience required.
Intro to Historical Archery
Marcus Bernier (He/Him)
The class is going to cover basic archery information. What is “period” vs traditional, vs modern archery. Equipment basics, types of bows, basics of physics of bows and equipment (with a focus on arrows and their importance as part of the archer’s gear.
There are no equipment requirements to attend the class.
Practical Advise for Reading Between the Lines
Bart Walczak (He/Him)
Prerequisite needed:
Reading Between the Lines: Analysis & Application of Textual Sources
Hands-on class for analyzing and interpreting textual source material. Attending the “Reading Between the Lines” lecture is required. We will build upon these concepts and try to apply them in practice. Depending on the interest, we can work with long sword techniques from Jud Lew, pole-axe techniques from Le Jeu de la Hache and dagger techniques from Codex Wallerstein.
Students should have at least 1 year of any HEMA experience. Weapon simulator and fencing mask required for daggers and jacket plus gloves strongly suggested for long sword/pole-axe. The class shouldn’t be larger than 12 people
Fiore Plays (Largo & Stretto)
Jordan Mock (He/Him)
Fiore dei Liberi is at once one of the most axiomatic figures in HEMA, and one of the most overlooked when it comes to looking for sources from which to draw inspiration for competitive fencing.
One of the biggest complaints I often encounter online, at workshop events and tournaments is that “Fiore’s Plays just don’t work.” I think that this comes from a misunderstanding of what makes up the games of distance.
The workshop will examine the tactical application of the Zogho Largo and Zogho Stretto and how we can reframe our understanding of the plays in order to make them more functional in free sparring. The transition between the games is a subtle one, and not quite as black and white, as many fencers believe. Exploring this will give fencers better insight and tactical decision making power.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate.
Gear requirements: Mask, gloves, gorget and jacket.
*LECTURE*
So You Want to Run a HEMA Event?
Rebecca Glass (She/Her)
This lecture looks at the nuts and bolts of what it takes to run a HEMA event, from a small, one day first-time event, to a massive event on the scale of IGX, AGO, or SoCal Swordfight. This class is open to all, no experience necessary, no equipment required, though attendees are welcome to bring a journal or other aid to take notes.
Dirty Tricks in the Dark
Collin Vredenberg (He/Him)
In this workshop we will explore the world of “Dirty Tricks,” going over some of my favorites from historical treatises, but also diving into the understanding of what conventions or relational rules are relied upon when fencing, even if it isn’t explicit, and how we can bend those rules without breaking them. We will also explore the elements of deception in fencing, which I believe come from three tenants: Concealment, Misdirection, and Dissimulation.
We will learn about and practice several ways to set up, and execute plays which use deception in both the context of history, and also a modern tournament. Afterwards, the participants will break into small groups to create their own Dirty trick, to share with the larger group for us to categorize and learn from.
Equipment Requirements: Mask, Jacket, Gloves, A favorite Sword.
Equipment Recommendations: A lamp or lantern, as this class will be after sunset.
Saturday
*LECTURE*
Sport Science In HEMA: How to Train to be a Better Fencer
Ties Kool (He/Him)
In this lecture I will explain what we can learn from Sport Psychology, performance coaching and a professional sports attitude. This doesn’t mean you need to see and train HEMA as a very modern sport. All of the theory applies to becoming a better fencer, however you want to approach that. Whether you compete, “just” spar or “only” train HEMA.
No equipment required.
Absolutely Stabulous- Escalation of Force by Context with the Rondel Dagger
Christopher Valli (Any Pronouns)
While we often think of “the past” as a lawless, violent time, laws existed throughout history to outlaw violence and murder. Along with those laws are varying cultural and legal allowances for self-defense, where context is key. A bar room brawl and a battlefield are drastically different situations with just as drastically different expectations for escalation of force.
This class will look at some different historical contexts for the use of the knightly rondel dagger, commonly carried by the middle and upper class of the 15th Holy Roman Empire, for civilian self defense, battlefield use, and judicial duels. We will gain an understanding of why fencing masters such as Talhoffer, Kal, Huntsfeld, and Lignitzer provide both lethal and non-lethal options for their dagger plays.
No experience necessary, loaner daggers will be available. Participants will need fencing masks and light gloves; plastrons, jackets, heavy gloves, et cetera are optional for added comfort.
Intro To Montante
Christian Buettner (He/Him)
This class will explore a few of the basic mechanics and cuts that form a foundation for the use of greatswords. This is system agnostic and is more about learning the fundamentals that will allow entry into any sources ‘reglas’. There will potentially be some scenario/regla work at the end. Having a montante would be ideal. I will provide a few but any 5 ft long staff/stick/broom will do the trick as well.
Fiore’s Abrazare: What if Greco & Thai Clinch had a Child?
Ian Carmichael (He/Him)
This class will quickly introduce a clinch platform to contextualize the first half of the Abrazare plays in Fiore. We will end on a competitive drill to incorporate both the plays and the clinch platform in an ecological approach.
Equipment: regular athletic clothing
Once You Pop, The Fun Don’t Stop: Willieam Pringle-Green’s Cutlass and Pistol
Scott Loescher (He/Him)
In this class you will learn about the Right Honorable William Pringle-Green and his recommendations to the Admiralty in 1812. You will learn how Pringle-Green suggested training sailors and marines in the use of the cutlass, and how a flintlock pistol could be used more effectively in conjunction with it. You will then learn how to fight as a group in a boarding action against a hostile vessel. Finally, you will practice what you have learned in group melees to simulate these naval engagements. I await your attendance with the greatest enthusiasm. I am, and shall remain your most humble and obedient of servants, Scott Loescher.
Gear:
Singlestick gloves and mask required
Jacket and elbow protection recommended
Weapons will be provided. Don’t bring your saber, it is too long!
*LECTURE*
The Speaking Window: Ethics, Communication, Consent and Culture in Martial Arts
John “Pax” Crum (He/Him)
A lecture and discussion about ethics, communication, consent and culture of modern swordsmanship and martial arts. It covers inclusion, language, coaching and includes multiple contexts, from combatives/self-defense to competition and martial arts as exercise or self-cultvation. It also provides talk on the nature of combative sports in the law, and alternate disciplines for students whose goals may not align with a club.
Talls VS. Smalls
Christian Buettner (He/Him) & Jess Rozek (She/Her)
We’re looking to help people overcome the huge size gap between fighters. Historically, fencers were all roughly of the same size – average male height. There would have been a much smaller gap in heights (other than a handful of examples) than we see in HEMA today.
This class would be a focus on techniques/strategies for tall and smalls. Talls would go with Chris, smalls with Jess. Each group would get specific advice, tactics, and concepts focused on fighting people are vastly different heights. This includes footwork drills, modifying guards and cuts to move safely, and thinking about varying tactics. At the beginning and end of the class, we will discuss on how these concepts fit together.
Lastly, the two groups will come together and we will focus on putting all the techniques and concepts together with an actual person to work with. A Tall and a Small will pair up and they will work through the drills and concepts discussed in class.
Experience: any
Gear: longsword, mask, and gloves (required), jacket, elbows, gorget (recommended)
Lignitzer Sword & Buckler
Brittany Saint Leafy (She/Her)
“This class will cover the use of the arming sword and buckler per the 6 plays attributed to Andres Liegniczer. This simple system is easy to digest for beginners while also being extremely effective when applied by more experienced practitioners.”
Minimum required gear: mask, gorget, and appropriate gloves (heavy for sword hand, light if needed for buckler hand). Some bucklers will be provided, but BYO buckler is appreciated. Arming swords preferred, but messers, sideswords and similar are acceptable.
Good Will Hunting: Michael Hundt’s Rapier
Connie Burns (They/Them)
This class is a primer on the rapier of Michael Hundt, and will help students learn fundamentals for a transitional rapier manual with a focus on footwork and breaking down complex and lengthy plays into bite sized chunks.
The class is for all skill levels, and requires a mask, gloves, and a rapier or sidesword!!
Basics of Formation Movement
John “Pax” Crum (He/Him)
No gear, but there will be formations and marching. This will discuss various formations, tactics and safety for mass combat practice, and it will include practice with marching, commands and formations. Weapons can be brought, but there will not be fighting nor contact.
I Don’t Mean to Disarm You- Wait, Yes I Do!
Kimberleigh Roseblade (They/Them)
There is a very special feeling that every longsword fencer gets when they successfully disarm their opponent. In this workshop, students will look at the different disarms that are presented by Fiore in the Getty manuscript. Participants will get the chance to breakdown and look at the core motions and physics that allow each of these disarms to be performed with ease. As students’ become comfortable with these disarms they shall then see that, as Fiore says: “I’m not lying when I tell you that I can now strike you to my heart’s content.”
Sunday
*LECTURE*
The Presence of Albrecht Dürer in the Study of Historical European Martial Arts
Brittany Saint Leafy (She/Her)
This lecture will highlight the intersection between art history and HEMA by using the works of Albrecht Dürer as a focal point. Dürer created his own fencing manual, which immediately connects him to the study of HEMA, but his influence permeated even deeper into other works that we know and study.
*LECTURE*
Food and Drink of the Medieval Soldier
Alyson Szabo (She/Her)
Soldiers’ Rations of the 100 Years War
During the 100 Years War (1337-1453), some of the earliest known organized rationing was done. The French did not want their soldiers ravaging the locals for food, because they had to continue governing the people, which required their good will. The English had to be able to guarantee an end to ravaging the locals if they won, thereby gaining the approval of the people. So how were the English and French troops fed? What did they eat? How was it prepared? Let’s take a short dive into the history of the food of the soldiers of the 14th century.
Alcohol will also be a topic discussed in this lecture.
Calibration in Practive: A How-To
John “Pax” Crum (He/Him)
Working with gloves, masks and swords, we’ll talk about how to safely calibrate force, estimate where your comfort level is for a given day, and discuss the importance of patience, self-knowledge and consent in fencing. NOTE: This would be most effective AFTER The Speaking Window.
Rules! Rules! Rules! Meyer’s Regeln
Charles Murdock (He/Him)
Joachim Meÿers works are filled with dos and don’ts. Some of these are explicitly stated rules, others are implicit understandings tucked within the multiple weapons addressed in the text. We will explore how a selection of these rules apply to the longsword. Can Meÿers halberd section help with my longsword fencing? What about dagger? Dussack? This class will attempt to answer these questions (and more) and give participants a chance to learn and apply these rules to their own fencing.
Equipment commensurate with level of contact desired. Minimum: helmet, gloves, gorget.