Iron Gate Exhibition

Lectures and Workshops

Lectures

Art and Tradition: The Transmission of Mastery across generations - By James Reilly (He/Him)

This lecture will look at the nature of Art in its essence, and how, while the definition has come to be associated with aesthetics and narrative story telling, historically it communicated the application of all embodied practice. We will look at the function of Tradition in this context as a means by which to create an intellectual framework to integrate new philosophical conception and integrate personal experience into a broader, yet coherent body of knowledge. We will examine the nature of the distinction between Art and science, namely that the core assumption in Tradition is that our forefathers had it right, where as the core assumption in the academy is that they had it wrong.

Finally, we will look at the function of innovation and stylistic variance with respect to fidelity to tradition. We’ll discuss the personal and unique nature of all art, and look at ways to develop traditional ideas, rather than replace or undermine them.

The age of Kings and Queens is rife with parallels to our own present and how we choose to lead. This lecture explores the challenges of building and running an organisation, avoiding the mistakes of poor leadership, and creating something lasting. The pitfalls of power and the burdens of authority are all elements that we will explore in this lecture

 

In this talk I’ll be looking the pedagogy behind coordination and the subtle ways in which passive mechanics support and accelerate the learning process.

Consider learning to ride a bike. Despite the complex whole-body coordination involved, proficiency can often be achieved in hours rather than weeks, with very little external input. Likewise, the postural adjustments themselves are often minimal relative to their impact. 

This represents a class of movement that shares a root with traditional weapons training, where the passive alignment with motion takes precedence over actively creating it. A shift in focus that shapes the learning experience towards turning minimal intention, into maximal motion. A key component in a single exchange where every fraction of a second matters.

Follow-up lecture on last year’s discussion of the Helm incendiary and explosives manual. Further research, demonstrations, and explanations.

Lecture will be with demonstrations.

Workshops

The Systematics of Kunst Des Fechtens By James Reilly (He/Him)

In this workshop we will examine several layers of Systematics rooted within the kdf Tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer, and create a coherent framework for integrating all of them into a robust and elegant method for guiding our behavior in exchanges.

The Systematics we will define and observe will be:

  • 5 words
  • Provoker Taker Hitter Frequens Motus
  • Uberlauffen, hausetz, nachreissen
  • Vorschlag, Nachschlag
  • Zufechten Krieg Abzug

Gear needed: Mask, gloves, longsword (or weapon of choice as long as you have a training partner with the same weapon)

Don’t you hate bullies? I do. However, with fencing as with life you have to learn to deal with them. They’re not always malicious, sometimes it’s just someone bigger and stronger than you trying to use their physical advantages to their benefit.

I’ll be looking at how to deal with this, touching on attitude and techniques you can use to gain the upper hand, even if you’re shorter, smaller or physically weaker than your opponent. This will, hopefully, help you to not feel like you’ve just been bullied, but instead help you hold your own and kick some ass.

Requirements (for participants): Longsword, mask, gloves, gorget, and ideally jacket, plastron and armguards. Suitable for all levels, though some experience is preferred. 

You find yourself on a medieval battlefield, a lowly man-at-arms of little repute with an empty purse. Lo and behold, you find yourself blade to blade with the Duke d’Or Leon. Dead, he is worth nothing. Captured alive, he could forever change your fortune.

For the most part, HEMA focuses on how best to hit your opponent and score the most points. However, many of the techniques we see in the sources have more to do with subduing our opponents rather than striking them down. This workshop will explore the most efficient way of taking an opponent hostage and making your name.

The body mechanics of dance and fencing have a lot in common. There are only so many ways to move the body with speed, precision, and elegance. In this class we will cover some core (pun intended) elements of ballroom dance posture and apply them to our fencing. These elements will allow for greater freedom of movement both in the feet and with the sword. This will reduce fatigue, and make your fencing quicker and more controlled. This class is system agnostic- these principles will be applied to both one-handed and two-handed weapons.

Expectations: Familiarity with the basics of your weapon of choice so that you can apply these concepts. Mask and gloves required. Bring full kit for your weapon of choice if you wish to pressure test these concepts at the end of the class.

This workshop covers two throws found in HEMA and two very similar throws in Judo, including the cultural and mechanical reasons for the differences and similarities. 

Attendees should wear wrestling clothes. Loaner jackets and belts are available. There will be a brief introduction on falling safely

 

ARMOR NOT REQUIRED, but wear it if you have it. We will go through some plays from fechtbooks and hopefully get a little sparring in.

Step into the armored world of late medieval combat and explore the art of the poleaxe within the German Liechtenauer tradition. This class examines how poleaxe techniques align with core principles taught in KdF longsword and wresting then add their own unique flair with this specialized armored weapon.

Participants will work through plays drawn from masters Paulus Kal, Hans Talhoffer, and Peter Falkner, getting a sample of options for fighting with the poleaxe.

As even training weapons can be dangerous, this class is for those who already have at least basic experience in martial arts. 

Masks, heavy gloves, and jackets required.

 

In this class we’ll go over a number of exercises for exploring and calibrating our posture for enhanced movement and reduced injury risk. We’ll be building on core principles that stem from protecting the spine whilst wearing armour, but including various elements from my background in corrective exercise. The drills will be aimed at increasing our intuition for good posture and optimising movement. Then we’ll apply these principles to combat techniques.

Individual lessons are a powerful tool which can be used to quickly diagnose problems, explore new techniques or tactics, and fine-tune a student’s fencing. In this workshop we’ll learn to give individual lessons which are adapted to the needs and abilities of each student.

We’ll explore a framework for teaching individual lessons which is accessible to practitioners of all levels. We’ll learn to create lessons which are flexible and challenging; how to build skill that is directly transferable to fencing; and how to scale our lessons to match each student.

Participants will both give and receive lessons during the workshop. Come prepared to fence, and have an idea of something you’d like to work on.

Equipment: a fencing weapon and appropriate protective gear for

sparring (mask, gloves, jacket, etc). 

In this class, we will learn the basic steps of Spanish Golden Age dance, an introduction on how they can be applied in Destreza, and a short dance to develop these movements after the event. No experience required.

No Equipment Required 

Danza de Diestros: or How to Apply Dance to improve your Destreza – In this class, we will take the footwork and notation of the previous class and apply them into a series of actions to act as a starting point in exploring how the dances done in the era of Destreza can be applied into your fencing. No experience required, although the earlier class will help.

Equipment: jacket, mask, rapier, gloves

Retreat! Because sometimes stepping back is your best attack.

Are your fencing matches always ending in hugs. Pommels, pseudo wrestling, or kissing distance ALL.THE.TIME?

This workshop will provide drills and games to develop more intentional retreats, distance management and spatial mapping. As well as a better understanding of the benefit of distance

This workshop is good for everyone, but particularly recommended for chronic advancers…

Full gear needed

Thibault Quick Start Guide:

Thibault for beginners, getting started with the system with fundamentals.

Mask, jacket, gloves, sword required

Coiléar agus Uille, anglicized as Collar and Elbow, was arguably the most popular style of wrestling in Europe and the United States for almost the entirety of the 19th century, adored by the common man, by celebrities, and even by presidents.

But, by the 20th century, the sport was already considered a dying art, and today in Modern Ireland, most have never even heard of it. What caused the popularity of this unique form of folk wrestling to skyrocket, and then vanish into history nearly as quickly?

In this class, we’ll take a look at this important-yet-forgotten part of Irish history, learn theorized recreations of some of the techniques, and engage in some free-sparring utilizing its modern ruleset (if we have time). A Judo or BJJ jacket will be required, but a limited number of loaners will be provided. Students should have prior experience with breakfalls and basic grappling safety, but no other information will be required.