Work
shops & Lectures
Ton Puey
Basic Fundamentals of the Movement of Montante
Despite resembling a long sword, the montante is a different weapon because of its length, weight and some of its morphological characteristics. In this seminar we will pay attention to these differences and how to optimize their management, both through specific exercises for it and through the different rules created by contemporary authors at their time of use, such as Figueiredo, Godinho, Viedma or Alfieri .
Ties Kool
"Come at me, Bro"
As much as we appreciate the manuscripts, technique isn't everything. You need the right timing and distance. You need to choose or create
your opening against an opponent who might react differently than what the fencing manuals would suggest. Being in full protective gear makes people react ever so slightly different compared to true blossfechten. In this workshop we will work around the concept of choosing safety over cool techniques and making sure you choose the engagement instead of being sucked into a slugfest.
Equipment:
Mandatory: Mask, throat guard, (light) gloves
Optional: Full (upper body) gear
Francesco Loda
HEMA as a Combat Sport
How to deal with HEMA as a combat sport? How, and how much, fighting from 3 to 5 rounds of continuous fencing in full gear, no stops, influences the tactical approach, the selection of techniques, and the model of performance and physical training? Through drills and matches simulations, the workshop will help the attendees to find out general trends and individual answers.
Equipment:
Even though this is applicable to any weapon-set, we will use rapier and rapier & daggers, with light/medium sparring gear.
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Kristine Konsmo
Stretching and Body Isolation: An Extended Warm-Up
It’s super important to warm-up the body properly to avoid injury. In fencing we use our body in some unusual ways and it takes a beating in a unique way. Focus is on joint mobility and flexibility.
Lessons From Modern Sport Fencing
Carl Ryrberg
Develop Your Longsword Fencing
The goal of the workshop is to help each student to establish their individual strengths and weaknesses of their longsword fundamentals and give tools and insights in how to take their own fencing further. What each student will practice and focus on during the workshop depends on the outcome of a few diagnostic drills, constructed to challenge a wide variety of the skills necessary to be a complete longsword fencer. The workshop will branch out in different directions for different students, depending the outcome of the diagnostic drills, and could be considered a private, joint seminar.
Equipment:
Mask and sword are the only requirements, but the more gear available the more alternatives for progression.
George Zacharopoulos
Subjection-Conclusion-Disarm
In the Spanish science of La Veradera Destreza conclusion -detain and disarm- is considered of high value and are used quite often due to the distance (closer) and position the Diestros choose to fight from. In Italian systems, disarms are also present, though less frequent. In this workshop we will examine and learn to identify the proper conditions in order to have a successful disarm or detainment: distance, moment (tempo), angles, body position, swords position etc. The Spanish school uses geometry and physics as a pedagogy tool. We shall do the same. After we establish the conditions, we will work on the ways in order to have our opponent follow our will, in other words how to manipulate and control them: feints, invitations, deflections etc. Disarm as a concept is easy. The difficulty, during the fight is to recognize quickly that the conditions are set, or how to set them yourself. Besides the Spanish conclusions, we will train in disarms from the early 17th century Italian systems.
Level:
Any
Equipment:
Mandatory: Rapier, mask, glove,
Optional: Chest Protector
Kristian Ruokonen
Rivalry Drills
In this workshop we will look at drills, where both you and your opponent are working on opposing tasks. You will learn how to practice both first intention attacks and feints, so that both of you are maximizing learning time and performing real actions, instead of having a scripted drill.
Equipment:
Required: Mask, Sparring gloves, throat guard, jacket
Lichtenauer Power Hour
Something to finish the day. Come and find out. You will be tired.
Sylvia Tomassetti
Wrestling
"Concessions to adversaries only end in self reproach, and the more strictly they are avoided the greater will be the chance of security."
- Thucydides, Peloponnesian War, I, 1.34-[3]
Hand to hand combat has been an enduring feature of human nature for as long as history has been recorded. This workshop will focus on three chief components of hand to hand fighting: control of ourselves, control of our opponents, and locking/takedown techniques.
Skill levels:
The workshop is suitable for all levels, as it begins by teaching some of the most basic principles of wrestling and gradually progresses to more advanced ideas.
Jack Gassmann
Thinking Like a Monkey… How to Use Tools to Go Beyond What Your Partners Can Offer
One of the perennial issues of training combat sports is how can you learn to fight someone who is faster stronger and smarter than your training partners without losing precious moments recalibrating. In this workshop we will be using various training tools to push our skills above what our opponents may be able to do. Whether this is because you are just starting off with your group or you are wondering how to be able to dance with the Russians and Poles, this class will help you train above what would otherwise be possible.
Skill levels:
These drills are suitable for all skill levels, they are not complicated but you will definitely get pushed.
Equipment:
The drills can be done slowly if you want, but it’s worth having medium sparring gear.
My first reactions as a student of sport fencing and how I have applied what I have learned to HEMA. This is applicable for any weapon-set but in this lecture we will use a longsword. Focus will be on strategy, tempo, distance management and footwork.