Ahoy, everybody!
Spring might not have sprung just yet, but we will still spring into action this March with plenty of fun activities for you! We have some new courses available, lessons from one of our favourite historical manuscripts, and a new beginners course for first time swordfighters.
Beginners Broadsword Course
In the wake of our successful Longsword Course, we have another introduction level course on the 17th century regimental broadsword, starting on Saturday 9th March.
The course will take place over six weeks until April 13th, and will feature lessons in the movements, cuts, guards and tactics of the system, drills and sparring, and a chance to try test-cutting with a real blade. Participants will also receive a copy of Roworth’s “The Art Of Defence On Foot” which is our primary source for this example of historical martial arts.
The course will be an ideal start to a career in historical fencing, as well as excellent source of information and entertainment!
Full information and tickets are available here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/345635342949823/
Scottish Fighting Arts
The Scottish Fighting Arts classes at 8 o’Clock on Tuesday nights takes a different weapon for study each month, and in March we have chosen to explore the sword and buckler. This flexible combination of one handed straight sword and small shield (typically between 15cm and 30cm) was commonly used for self defence and dueling in the medieval period and beyond, and was known to be popular with the aristocracy of Scotland after an education on the continent. The buckler was also a common sight in the raiding parties of the border reivers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
In these sessions we will be learning the medieval German method shown in manuscript known as 1.33 or Tower Fechtbuch, which shares a lot of concepts with later German fighting traditions, but with some changes in tactics to make use of the shield, and some very fancy footwork!
Scottish Fighting Arts (buckler), Tuesday nights at 8.00pm
New Blacksmithing Course
Paul our blacksmith has been hard at work re-organising the workshop and the services we can provide, and is happy to announce that we will soon be able to host a Firestriker making workshop. Often referred to as a Flint and Steel, this tool will be hand-forged before being heat treated and incorporated into a fire starting kit in a protective tin, complete with all the items and instruction needed to start a camp-fire.
Make a booking
Get full details on the course and find out how to make a booking by contacting us here.
March Sparring
Never willing to let our skills and sense of healthy competition dwindle for too long, we have scheduled the afternoon of Saturday, March 30th to be our regular sparring meet. This will be an evening session, starting at 4.00pm, where participants can find opponents to play with and get supervision and coaching for their fighting. Some weaponry and safety gear will be provided for light sparring, as well as refreshments between bouts!
The sparring session will cost £10 per person (£8 for members), or count as one box of a session pass.