A weekend workshop on medieval fencing anybody?

[Colin]

I'm thinking of running a weekend long historical fencing workshop of the medieval systems I know. Its main aim will be to try, explain and practice what I've been concentrating on for the past two years.

For want of a better expression it would be 'master class' focused. In the past I've struggled to get through the material I've wanted to cover, because some people lack basic coordination and so take up a lot of my effort. While I ordinarily don't mind such being there, I really want to get my theory out there, critiqued and understood. I believe a weekend might go a long way into that territory, but only for those that have basic locomotion mastered already.

I've also noticed that in the past, those that already have these basic skills covered they can handle a weekend of intense training. Beginners, for want of a better expression, burn out.

Would there much interest? It would be in the Hutt Valley, New Zealand. Depending on numbers my own gymnasium or if the numbers are large, hiring somewhere.

[mikronn]

Hi Colin

Depending on the timing, I'd definately be in.

mike

[Colin]

It seems that I have gotten quite a bit of positive feedback to go ahead, especially via FB.

I was thinking of Autumn (March to May), but am open to suggestions.

[Callum]

I'm going to continue running our 2-monthly workshops this year with the first one most likely in mid april.

[Colin]

My idea of a workshop has quite a different focus: essentially I want people to critique what I've been up to. This means having people test and experiment with it after leaving this workshop and feeding back their tests, i.e. that works, that doesn't, that needs some more work and so on and so forth.

Whether a weekend is enough is another story.

[ladywarriorofthebluemists]

Hello All,
Was wondering if anyone has a nice rapier they want to sell? Have begun rapier training and am very keen!
Thanks,
Liz

[ladywarriorofthebluemists]

PS, weekend workshop on medieval fencing (Rapier) would be great for me, poss my son and another friend or two... thanks.

[Chantelle]

dont forget to check it is sca legal my love xxxx

[ladywarriorofthebluemists]

All good!!! Thanks Chantelle! See you Sun???
hope so!
L
Bringing Elliot and friend Christine up as well. she's done Rapier YEARS ago in UK.
Mad keen...
L
XX

[Colin]

It is my intention to do a stereotyped Renaissance weekend at some point. I'd be focusing on both the Italian and Spanish versions of the rapier as well as some English material.

I also plain to do a late 18th century/early 19th century workshop at some point focusing on the smallsword and sabre/broadsword. I might include early forms of boxing as well.

However the weekend above is aimed at the late medieval styles that were written down. So the main focus will be on the two handed sword and sword & buckler, with some unarmed and dagger material also included. I am going to try and fit in pollaxe.

[ladywarriorofthebluemists]

Hi Colin,
just new to rapier, will you be working within SCA format/ rules/ teaching? Thanks!
Liz

[Colin]

My interest is in the reconstruction of dead European martial arts. As such I do not teach to anybody's rule system (including ones I've helped create.) If what I teach fits in with whomever's rules, great. If not, too bad.

I have regularly taught rapier to SCA practitioners. All of whom have done well with rapier in the SCA (at least while they practiced with me.)

In fact it was this success (with the SCA), that has caused me to re-think how to interpret and teach two handed sword. Something I now believe to have revolutionised: it is quite a lot different to what I've seen taught around the world and what I taught two or more years ago. However it needs a wider audience to put my interpretations under scrutiny and duress.

This is my motivation for running this weekend workshop. I want people to kick the proverbial tyres.

This format is a work in progress:

Friday
6.30pm General theory
7.30pm Theory expounded through wrestling
8.30pm Theory expounded through dagger
9.30pm Finish

Saturday
9am I.33 Sword and buckler
12pm Lunch
1pm I.33 Sword and buckler
2pm Liechtenauer longsword
6pm Finish

Sunday
9am Fiore dei Liberi two handed sword
12pm Lunch
1pm Fiore dei Liberi two handed sword
2pm English two handed sword
4pm Le Jeu de la hache poll axe
6pm Finish

There will be no rapier taught in it. To be quite honest there probably isn't enough time to cover all the topics that I've included above anyway let alone adding more to the mix.

[ladywarriorofthebluemists]

Thanks Colin!
Sounds great. Will just stick to rapier for right now, but interested for future. Thanks,
Liz

[Colin]

We will be holding a workshop 13,14,15 April 2013.

This will be at 190 Knights Road, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt.

I will be expounding on my fencing theory, I.33 Sword and buckler, German longsword and Fiore dei Liberi's sword in two hands. This will be a master class and is not for beginners.

I will attempt to put my entire fencing theory out there.

For those wanting to attend, please fill in the form found here:

http://www.swordsmanship.co.nz/wsema/The_WSEMA_Autuum_workshop.doc

[Colin]

By we, I mean WSEMA