| CLASS DESCRIPTIONS |
| Title |
Instructor |
Description |
Requirements |
Youth Friendly |
| Advanced Rapier Strategies and Tactics for Single Combat |
Warder Maximilian der Zauberer |
Learn how to assess an opponent from a distance and how to adapt while in combat. |
Unarmored. Bring your rapier and favorite secondary. |
Yes |
| Basic Rotella Shield |
THL Aengus O'Nolan and Lord Williaume Navarre |
The purpose of this course is to provide a basic introduction to the rotella and its use in SCA rapier combat. The goal is to incorporate the rotella into your existing style, with a particular focus on the strengths and weaknesses the shield creates. We will cover openings vs invitations and basic parries and attacks with sword and rotella. |
Standard SCA rapier armor. Some loaner rotellas will be available. |
No |
| A Case for Case: An Introduction to Case of Rapier |
Warder Kai Tseng & Warder Peter Grau von Bremen |
A practical introduction to case of rapier, built on a foundation of Giacomo di Grassi's manual. This class will combine discussion and drills to introduce basic methods of attack and defense with two swords. |
Please come prepared with standard SCA rapier equipment. Two weapons of similar length and balance are recommended, but even a longish baton will do. Very limited loaner blades may be available. |
Division III only (case of rapier is forbidden for Div. I and II) |
| Counterattack and Countertime: Fundamental Rapier Tactics |
Ken Mondschein |
Most rapier masters are in agreement on one thing: Never defend without also attacking at the same time! In classical fencing pedagogy, we call this kind of action a "counterattack." This class will teach you some rapier counterattack techniques and how to apply them in tactical situations. Then we'll look at how the rapier masters tell us how to get out of those situations - the concept of "countertime." |
Full fencing armor and mask and a rapier simulator |
Yes |
| Creative Tournaments Without Losing Your Mind |
Baroness Moira MacGillavrey |
In this class, we will cover a wide variety of tournaments which the marshal-in -charge of a rapier event can run. It will include hints for the administration of tournaments to make running them a pleasant experience instead of a dreaded paperwork nightmare. |
None |
Yes, youth are welcome |
| Dubois/Lacaze Sword and Dagger: A Living Tradition of Two-Handed Fencing |
Ken Mondschein |
Dubois/Lacaze: In the early 20th century, the French fencing master Albert Lacaze and his associate Georges Dubois developed a unique method of "two-handed fencing" inspired by both Renaissance rapier and classical French fencing. More importantly, they applied a very effective pedagogy to sword and dagger training. This class will give you an introduction to a fast, fun, and furious school of sword and dagger fighting that not only gives an excellent method for training in Renaissance styles, but also happens to be a living tradition. |
An ordinary fencing epee (dry or electric; French, Italian, or pistol grip) and a dagger |
Yes, Dubois/Lacaze is very youth-friendly. It's a great system for kids. |
| Etude One for Single Rapier |
Don Christian Amaury de Launey |
A practical application of core fighting techniques, their relationships with one another and the transitions needed to move between them. A modicum of understanding about stance, wards and movement is expected of participants. A minimum of six month of training is suggested for participants. |
Single rapier or sword. No armor needed as this is a non-contact exercise. |
Yes, but it is not suitable for beginning students |
| Etude Two for Single Rapier |
Don Christian Amaury de Launey |
A practical application of core fighting techniques, that builds upon the elements practiced in Etude One. This study will emphasize angulation and grounding. A modicum of understanding about stance, wards and movement is expected of participants. A minimum of six month of training is suggested for participants. |
Single rapier or sword. No armor needed as this is a non-contact exercise. |
Yes, but it is not suitable for beginning students |
| Feints - A Practical "How To" and Strategic Application |
Warder Baron Terrance of Tynedale |
This class will cover the theory of the feint in Italian Rapier. Techniques of execution and strategic use will be taught through the use of class participation drills. The bulk of the class is based on the teachings of Nicoletto Giganti, with additional material from Capo Ferro and Salvator Fabris. |
Mask, gorget and gloves are required. There will be controlled contact so body armor is optional at each persons discretion. |
Well it's not youth unfriendly, but I don't plan to spend time teaching basic skills so they will need to be up to speed from the beginning. |
| Fundamentals of Sword and Buckler |
Warder Lisabetta Temperani |
An introduction to buckler and rapier use in single combat. Reviewing material from period manuals and SCA observation, attendees will gain an understanding of buckler styles and positioning for effective defense. |
Full armor, bucklers required. |
No |
| The Funny Stance of Doom! Fabris 101 |
Lady Phaedra de Vere |
Learn the basics of Salvator Fabris's 1606 treatise Scienza d' Arme, a style so effective that many later masters heaped praise on its creator and Flemish master Thibault dedicated several pages explaining how to face. We'll go through basic stance, the four guards and how they're used, as well as proper parrying and lunging. You'll also learn some basic solo drills so you can keep practicing even if you don't have a partner handy. |
Bring your rapier. Armor/masks not needed. |
Not really, unfortunately. |
| Gaining the Sword: Taking Your Single Sword Work to the Next Level |
Don Prospere de Montsegur |
In this class you will learn how to use the fundamentals of Italian Rapier to first gain control of your opponent's weapon through mastery of the 3 advantages of the sword: crossing, edge, and leverage. Then you will learn how to use this position of mechanical advantage to control the fight strategically and tactically. |
Rapier, gorget, mask |
Yes provided they have proper proficiency and physical endurance. 14+ |
| Guards, Counter-Guards, and Parries |
Master Christian Fournier |
Learn to protect yourself with greater efficiency and strategy. |
Full rapier armor and weapons |
Yes, youth are welcome |
| Fleeting Contact (or "Good Touch/ Bad Touch") |
Master Christian Fournier |
An exploration of where and how to "draw the line" around legal, deliberate hand-to-hand contact in SCA fencing. |
Sword or dagger optional |
Yes, youth are welcome |
| Historic Sword and Buckler |
Baron AElfred of Chester |
Sword and buckler combat was used throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The earliest surviving text on European historic fighting is the sword and buckler system of Royal Armories MS I.33 dated to about 1300. The latest is from about 1600 when George Silver wrote his books. This class will examine how wards/guards from the various systems of the time can be used to create a set of plays to be used to teach the basic concepts of the sword and buckler. |
Full C&T armor and a C&T single handed sword and buckler |
No |
| Intermediate Dussack |
Sir LOGOS vom Schnecke |
This class will present concepts and plays that build upon the basic drills presented in the Beginning Dussack class. It will include theories of defense and offense for the ubiquitous German renaissance sport weapon and one of the most fun and useful trainers for C&T combat. The Beginning Dussack class or previous experience with dussack play is required. |
A wooden or leather dussack is required. There will be a limited number available to loan. Normal rapier protective equipment is required. |
No |
| Intro to Bolognese Sidesword and Buckler |
Don Prospere de Montsegur |
This 2-hour workshop will introduce you to the fundamental postures, movement, guards, attacks and defences generally applied within the Bolognese sidesword system of the 1500s, building from the treatises of Achille Marozzo, Antonio Manciolino, and their contemporaries. This class is ideal for beginners and requires no prior swordplay experience. |
Sidesword or short rapier, mask, gorget, buckler (preferred but not required). |
Yes provided sufficient endurance. |
| The Martial Magic of Body Mechanics |
Warder Adrian Flechyr |
This class covers a host of tiny mechanical/body structure concepts and tweaks that can allow knowledgeable fencers to seemingly break the rules of physics, and especially shorten the length of time needed to both learn and teach new and related techniques - from improved stability and strength in stance and movement; to better control and impact absorption in weapon grip - to nearly eliminating (of a sort) the need for mechanical advantage to control an opponent's sword. |
Mask, Rapier or other Single Handed (C&T) Sword |
No |
| Meyer's Four Dusack Drills |
Warder Cecil du Pont |
This class will be a basic overview of the initial 4 drills from the dusack chapter in The Art of Combat, by Joachim Meyer. In addition to the drills, participants will learn the basic attacks and blocks with the dusack |
No contact in the class, strictly drills. Bring a dusack simulator. The Instructor will have 8 to loan out. |
Not really. |
| Move Your A$$: A Void Intensive |
Treyson Ptak |
Ahhh, voids, love 'em or hate 'em, they are an integral part to effectively fighting with the rapier, and a technique that every fencer should have in their arsenal. We'll look at why the void works, what makes it work, and what makes this possibly a more desirable option than other actions. This intensive will focus on the different types of voids performed, when to perform them, how to set them up effectively, and when to move your a$$ when you get caught flatfooted. |
Practical rapier simulator, mask, gorget, jacket, gloves |
No |
| Obedience and Mind Control |
Sir LOGOS vom Schnecke |
Ever fight opponents who seemingly can predict every move you make? Chances are they have mastered the art of obedience. While simple in theory, the ability to force an opponent into the actions that benefit can be hard to master, but is certainly another key to improving your fight. The class will explore obedience in concept and present drills and plays that should help you develop some skills beyond simple attack and parry. |
A blunt rapier or sword simulator is required along with the normal protective gear. Drills will be controlled, but some will be antagonistic. |
Youth are invited to participate, but drills will not be made less rigorous to accommodate them. |
| Pedagogy for the Sword - The Art of Teaching Swordplay |
M. Niccolo Falconetto |
This class will be a study of problems and techniques for teaching swordplay for groups of different sizes and styles. This is not a single teaching method, but a large collection of tools and perspectives that can assist with your current teaching style. |
Pen and paper minimum. It will be helpful if some participants have single sword and armor. |
While this is an Intermediate/Advanced class, it will be youth friendly. |
| The Point of Measure - How To Defeat Your Opponent Using Measure |
Ian the Green |
An advanced class on integrating measure with tempo and line so you can better defeat opponents. |
Weapons and Armor most games are single sword but we are not limited to that |
Yes, for anyone who may use heavy rapier blades |
| Practical Zweihander for SCA Rapier Combat |
Don Edmund the Lame |
Christian Tobler has done remarkable applied research on the works of Johannes Lictenhauer and the German Longsword. Edmund has taken this research and applied it to the Zweihander (a custom weapon designed by Darkwood Armoury) over the last four years in both war and tournaments. He teaches folks both how to use the Zweihander safely and also how to defeat it (just to be fair). This class is an introduction of how to use the Zweihander in the context of rapier combat in the SCA (not C&T) in the manner of Johannes Lictenhauer. Elements covered will include basic sword positions, footwork, basic attacks and defense with the zweihander, and adding a dagger to the zweihander for close defense and attack. |
Standard SCA rapier armor preferably with the addition of armored/padded gloves. If you are able to bring your own longsword or Zweihander (and a dagger - not main gauche style) that would be good. Longsword & dagger wasters are good too. |
No |
| Psychological Warfare From Beginner to Advanced |
Warder Martyn Baxter |
This class is how to prepare yourself for the ring and/or switch gears for melee. All are welcome to help share what they do to prepare for a tourney and or melee. This class is to help fighters understand why sometimes what they do in practice doesn't make it to the field. |
Mask, Rapier or other Single Handed (C&T) Sword |
No |
| Shield Tactics in SCA Rapier |
Warder Cyveiliog McKinely |
An Interactive class involving the construction and use of shields in SCA rapier. This class will explore the historical use of shields as well as the sport applications as they pertain to SCA combat. |
A shield of any sort would be recommended. Armor is required to participate in any active portions of the class, but is not required. |
Yes |
| Towards a Western Philosophy of Combat |
Master Christian Fournier |
In this class, we'll examine (through both discussion and fencing movement) principles of Western philosophy that can inform how we fight and train. |
Bring a steel training sword of any sort, and eye protection (mask or goggles) |
Yes, youth are welcome |
| Youth Rapier Rules, Round Table, and Overview |
Warder Michael McCay |
The class will begin with an overview of the new Midrealm Youth Rapier rules. The class will then use these rules as a starting point for discussing Youth Rapier rules in different Kingdoms and proceed to discuss training methods, techniques and experiences in training youth fencers. |
None |
Yes, youth fencers are welcome to attend the class. |
