Trainer Line-Up

A groundwork oriented workshop for developing your binding and Zufechten skills – knowledge that will easily translate to different weapons as well. Weapon: Longsword Source: Liechtenauer and related Over the course of numerous different HEMA workshops in the past years I realized a certain lack of understanding the basic rules of creating good Vor (and […]

 “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” Theodore Roosevelt Weapon: Staff Fencing with the staff is the basis for the handling of all pole weapons in Joachim Meyer`s system. But apart from that it is also a great exercise to develop body mechanics. In this workshop we will start with guards […]

One weapon is simply not enough! Weapon: Rapier & Dagger This workshop will deal with Joachim Meyer`s sword and dagger. In the 16th century the sword was often worn in conjunction with a dagger. While not a primary focus of his system, Meyer still describes how to use the dagger together with the sword if […]

How does the reality of medieval warfare affect the necessities and priorities of the medieval warrior? Lecture As the numerous actual campaigns of the 15th century unfold, we see a plethora of actions that define the image of what a ‘man-at-arms’ need to be prepared for. About the lecturer – Arne Koets Arne Koets has […]

Stab, strike, lever and throw… fun rowing through your enemies with style. Weapon: Pollaxe (Halbard/Bill/Goedendag) Source: Talhoffer (Falkner/Kal) Simple but effective use of the pollaxe is not exclusive to armoured combat, let’s see how the flow of the weapon can be a fun and interesting thing to play with. With a few simple rules you […]

 A structured approach to training Longsword, using building blocks to improve your way of moving. Weapon: Longsword Teaching online during the Pandemic showed me how important it is to describe movements clear and simple. In this workshop we will work through my approach to training Longsword. Growing as a swordfighter requires information, the chance to […]

Why just disarming your opponent, if you can break his wrist or arm and throw him to the ground? Weapon: Dagger Source: Goliath Fechtbuch (MS germ. quart. 2020) The anonymous dagger section of the Goliath Fechtbuch contains very interesting pieces that focus mostly on disarming and disabling an attacking opponent. We will go through some […]

Learn to defend yourself without a weapon and get a good attitude. Weapon: Your Fists Source: Pugilism manuals of the 19th century The old pugilism is practically sword fencingwithout a sword, and follows in all its movements, or rather, should follow, the same principles. This boxing style was used for hard bare-knuckle contests and for […]

The duel for justice and honour – besides war and sport, another reason to be good at fencing in the Middle Ages! Lecture In the illustrated fencing books, the judgement of God is often depicted as a duel in court, typically with sword or baston and a special “stechschild” (a big pointed shield). The wooden […]

Exercises and compound actions of the methodical order in Liancourt. Weapon: Smallsword Source: Exercises and compound actions of the methodical order in Liancourt The class will be based on the first and second part of the methodical order of the French Master-at-Arms Sieur Liancour (1685) based on the exercises that he creates between teacher and […]

Medieval fencing is based on wrestling. Change my mind. Lecture Source: Codex Wallerstein – Cod.I.6.4º.2 Codex Wallerstein /Baumann’s Fechtbuch / Cod.I.6.4º.2is widely acknowledged to be one of the most important, if not THE most important sources on combat wrestling in 15th century Germany. The older section (1420ies/30ies) is possibly unjustly often overlooked in comparison to […]

Why the lance is the weapon of choice in war. Weapon: Lance/Spear and Shield Source: Interpretation of sources from 9th to 12th century using lance and shield In this Workshop you learn handling and fighting with a lance like an armed Warrior of 9th to 12th Century. Skill level of Participants: All levelsNeeded Equipment: Spear […]

The sabre fencing described by Eiselen in his handwritten manuscript “Das Säbelfechten zu Fuß und zu Pferde” from 1836 Weapon: Sabre Source: Eiselen 1836 The Berliner Schule was established by Friedrich Friesen in 1808 as the fencing system taught in one of the fencing schools of the German Turner Movement in Berlin. His pupil Ernst […]

Everything you didn’t know about the buckler. What is there to know about the buckler? Lecture An overview of the buckler in regards of construction, usage and typology. About the lecturer – Herbert Schmidt Herbert Schmidt founded the Austrian Club Ars Gladii in 1999 and has been its trainer since.He began to reconstruct the art […]

Gelobt seý maria vnd ir kint vnd alle die pey in wonhafft sind  (CGM1507 / 48v)Praised be Mary and her child and all who live with them Weapon: Longshield Source: Gladiatoria – MS Germ.Quart.16 / fol.49v ff In this workshop we will do the franconian pieces and counters just with the longshield and then the swabian […]

Presenting the tools for bringing techniques from the pages into your grappling repertoire. Weapon: unarmed Source: Talhoffer I will present the tools for bringing techniques from the pages into your grappling repertoire. This involves a progression of exercises aimed at building the ability to attack and defend with realistic timing and intention for setting up […]

 A field still relatively unknown and  somewhat underrated in the community, but with appreciation  and interest growing, I expect the  quality of training methods and hence HEMA fencing overall (especially, but not only, for women) only to further increase over the coming years. HEMA both as a martial discipline and as a sport could become […]

How to incorporate technique into dagger sparring! Weapon: Dagger Dagger fighting is characterized by speed and close fighting distance, two factors which make it a difficult weapon to execute a clean technique with, in sparring. The workshop will provide a variety of exercises focusing on moving and recognizing the »opportune moment« that will help students […]

Get a Messer, join and have fun, whilst learning how and where to cut. Weapon: Messer Source: Leckuechner and others In every manuscript there is a lot of talk about the Strike/blow or the thrust. A lot of training time is spent on doing this with various techniques and versions. But there is also one […]

The Legend of Zelda can teach us a surprising amount about longsword fencing. Follow the workshop to see how you can apply the Triforce of Wisdom, Courage and Power to improve your fencing!   Weapon: Longsword No, this workshop is not about magical spin attacks, throwing bombs or how to yell HYAH HYUH HUH HIIAAAAA while […]

Make it look good, but also make it safe! An introduction to showfighting Weapon: Any, Longsword preferred  Show-fighting is nearly as old as fighting itself. Even HEMA-resources refer to “Klopffechten” as a kind of presentation of fighting skills with blunt weapons on a stage in order to entertain people.Nowadays you can encounter show-fighting everywhere, from […]

This lecture won’t answer all the questions you may have about Falkner’s lost manuscript, but it will try. LECTURE Peter Falkner is nowadays mostly known for his fencing treatise, unique in its own, conserved in Vienna. He apparently produced another one, probably not illustrated but much more bigger, but nowadays considered as lost. Fortunately, enough […]

How to pretend to fence like Liutger Weapon: Sword & Buckler Source: I.33 The class is aimed at Sword & Buckler newcomers. The basic idea is to develop the stance, footwork and the most essential bind after the „zufechten“. At the end of the class, the participants should be able to have an idea on […]

Deceiving your opponent and creating opportunities with the Dussack! Weapon: Dussack Deception is a vital component of a powerful engagement with dussack, especially when the opponent is used to managing the time and space in combat. The workshop focuses on upgrading the tactical capacities of the weapon with deception or in PC lingo: “creating opportunities”. […]

Half Staff, Poleaxe and Halberd according to Paulus Hector Mair Weapon: Poleaxe Source: Paulus Hector Mair MSS Dresd.C.93/C.94. The participants of the workshop will get to know some interesting differences and similarities in techniques, targets and strategies in using the Half Staff, Poleaxe and Halberd according to Paulus Hector Mair’s Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica […]

The fundamental differences between tournament fencing and source based fencing in HEMA. Lecture What are we adapting for in the last twenty years? The requirements of the historical combat systems or the systems we are training in? A look at HEMA and some of its core problems through the systemic lense. About the lecturer – […]

Understanding Indes through the epicentre concept, a way to systematically train one of the hardest parts of combat. How can you train Indes techniques and how do you prepare your subconscious mind to act in chaos of sparring and free fights? In this workshop, I will show you a possible way. Weapon: Any weapon (Longsword, […]

»while coming into position with the hilt high above your head, and thus complete« Meyer Weapon: Longsword Source: german fencing school »while coming into position with the hilt high above your head, and thus complete« (Meyer): The Unterhau is part of the basic training in longsword, but it is rarely used in free combat. It […]

August Fehn is part of a fencing lineage that has been around for a surprisingly long time. What defines Gedecktes Hiebfechten, i.e. “Covered-Cut Fencing”? What does Fehn in particular have to offer? Find out what makes this fencing style so Fehn-tastic! Weapon: Sabre Source: August Fehn “Die Fechtkunst mit Stoß- und Hiebwaffen” 1851 Gedecktes Hiebfechten, […]

These positions obey the new needs of the time and the influences of other schools. Weapon: Rapier Source: Francisco Lorenz de Rada (1705) In the last years of the 17th century, some of the authors specializing in “la Verdadera Destreza”, the prevailing school in the Hispanic kingdoms, began to mention and describe body positions different […]

Sparring with low or no protection gear enforces another way of fencing which enables the contestants to practice fencing techniques more consciously and deliberately. It teaches your all-round perception and enables reflected training Weapon: Longsword Source: German school Modern HEMA-culture tries to emphasize a high level of “realism” by setting standards for equipment for free […]

Using an exemplary sequence of techniques, we will show the common features of fencing between Rast and Liechtenauer in bloßfechten. Selected techniques from Rast’s harnischfechten show thrusts to the face or in the visor. Weapon: Longsword Source: Rast The widley unknown fencing treatise by Anthony Rast (d. 1549) belongs to the so-called “Nuremberg group” of […]

Shephards strike and Brain blow – having fun with Meyer`s staff!

Pressure and distance management for Meyer’s staff techniques & how to be able to use every part of the staff successfully in a fight.

A little look through tactical decisionmaking, biomechanics, semantics, geometry and defense.

In this session, we will explore foundational principles of battlefield combat, including close combat from knife fighting, skirmishing geometry, and spearwork mechanics for generating power.

Can’t decide whether you like Longsword or Messer more? Why not Messer up your Longsword with Peter Falkner?

Damn, a tournament is coming up in 5 weeks! I got this important deadline at work, and the city trip with my loved one is also around the corner! How to prepare with the limited time I have, without getting booted out of work and/or the bedroom? No clue – let’s ask Bert, maybe he got an idea…

An elegant and simple fencing style, by a 75 years old master with a lot of experience, the class includes funny and unusual exercises.

They say the book is limited to communicate complex body motions… the screen overcomes the still image, but also has limits of its own.

Federschwert? Experts know, how much do you know about them? Come and test new replicas that bring us closer to the original swords.

How to exercise Fühlen in an effective and instinctive way.

The mysteries of a lost German manuscript from the 16th century.

Have you ever thought that Ringen (wrestling) is too complicated? Look no further than Wallerstein section C – with only eight techniques to smite them all!

Fiore’s Dagger Masters show us several aspects of fighting with (or against) a dagger. You must know them all.

Wrap your cape around your arm, so you can elegantly harm – Rapier & Cape, the epitome of elegance.

Experience the highlights of early renaissance dagger fighting. Be prepared to hit the ground!

Stop giving your opponent an easy time. Make your defence as offensive as Liechtenauer would have wanted.

Move past sword‐tag! Explore how swords cut, and what modern fencers can do to learn to cut correctly and to enhance their swordplay with effective cutting technique.

Liechtenauer tells us not to do what the “common fencers do”…but what did they do, and why was it common? Because it works!