Whether this is your first WMAW or your eleventh, this year's Workshop will expose you to a wide-variety of new ideas, skills, methodologies and research by some of the finest instructors in the Western Martial Arts community.
We are proud to offer a diverse curriculum of classes, lectures, demonstrations and workshops, aimed at a variety of skill levels. For newcomers, those without regular training, or attendees looking to refine their basics, we recommend you pay special attention to the Body Mechanics, Physical Conditioning and Training for WMA classes, which are being offered on Thursday to help prepare you for the rest of the weekend. Concurrent Pedagogical Training and Curriculum Development classes are being offered for those who wish to develop their teaching ability, and are specifically designed to help determine how to work with historical source material, what to teach, how to teach it, and how to translate those drills and exercises into practical application. The remaining General classes are broadly divided by topic: Medieval Weapon Arts (Pre-1500), Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts (Post-1500) and Close Quarters Combat, are aimed at a wide variety of interests and skill levels, and occur in roughly 60 min, 90 min and three hour increments. Finally, as in previous years, there will also be a number of Lectures & Presentations throughout the weekend, designed to help give historical context or to present new research.
As you review the class roster and schedule, remember that most classes must be pre-registered and have attendance limits. Classes that are not Lectures & Presentations have a maximum attendance of 40 students, unless otherwise noted.
Instructor(s): Christian Tobler
Class Category: Close Quarters Combat
Day and Time: Thu, 10:30am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Low to Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Mask, gloves, a dagger trainer.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Marco Quarta
Class Category: Close Quarters Combat
Day and Time: Sat, 9:00am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: Low to Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None, but more wrestling knowledge the better!
Maximum Attendees: 40
In the mythology, Hercules during his trials had to wrestle with Antaeus the giant, son of Gaia, mother earth who was giving him his supernatural powers when they were in contact. To beat him, Hercules had to lift him up, reaching the sky where his own father, Zeus, was watching. By doing so, Hercules deprived Antaeus from his source of power, turning him into a simple human. That made easy for Hercules to crash Antaeus in the air, returning him down to earth powerless. Neoplatonics considered this challenge as a symbol between the higher and lower principles, like in the alchemic symbology of the ouroboros where a dragon and a snakes bite each others' tails, according to the idea of a continuous tension of the human soul. For Neoplatonics, human beings tend to the Good (Gods of Heaven). However, they are unable to reach the perfection due to a constant risk to fall into the irrationality moved by instincts (Gods of Earth). The drama of "being" is then challenged constantly by the awareness of running after this unreachable condition. The myth of wrestling become then, for the Hero, a sacred practice to fight himself, elevating his spirit to heaven, standing in the fury and tempest of the fight, in the reflection of himself observed in the grappling hug with the opponent.
In this workshop, we will focus on one specific aspect of Italian grappling, originated from ancient Greek-Roman wrestling: the domain of the inside center of mass to detach the opponent from the ground, nullifying his power by taking him in the air. The gain of that momentum will grant the wrestler the power of reverting the opponent's coordinates, "projecting" his head or face down, back to earth.
We will cross-reference Fiore's work across the different existing manuscripts of the Flos Duellatorum (early 15th century) with other sources of "lotta Italiana" of the Renaissance period. For instance, we will explore commonalities of Fiore's "abracar" in other sources, such as Petri Monti's Exercitiorum atque artis militaris collectanea in tris libros distinct (a Milanese manuscript printed in 1509) or the ca. 1500 lucta tiburtyna.
We will explore techniques and tactics of the "abracar" as they were integrated in the regular academic curricula by Renaissance fencing masters. To this end, original correspondence (dated 1443) between the Bologna city council and the Bolognese Master Filippo (o Lippo) di Bartolomeo Dardi (considered the master of Master Guido Antonio di Luca, who was himself the Master of Achille Marozzo) describes how "abracar" (named in the document as "zuocho dele braze") was part of the regular martial teaching. In particular, "abracar" was included together with stick, sword and dagger fencing classes, documents from "Archiginnasio" historical archive show. Practice still alive today in several regional and familiar Italian fighting styles across the Italian Peninsula.
We will cover both ends of the spectrum, dissecting the "abracar" in the use of "Zoghi di Concordia" (plays of concord) — for the playful practice — and "Zoghi d'Ira" (plays of anger and fury) for the defense and combat. To use the words of Master Antonio Manciolino, we will study the Art (of "abracar") for "il diletto, la scienza e la conservazione della vita": the delight, the science and the conservation of life.
Instructor(s): Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani
Class Category: Close Quarters Combat
Day and Time: Sun, 3:15pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: Low to Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Mask, gloves, buckler and long dagger (obviously, a khanjar is preferred).
Maximum Attendees: 40
The khanjar is a curved, double-edged blade. The majority of Persian miniatures show the warriors holding a khanjar in a reverse position meaning that the tip of the blade is pointing to the elbow. Many Persian manuscripts describe the xanjar as a weapon for short-distance fighting. This dagger was almost always used in combination with a small shield to fight with. The present seminar describes the following techniques:
1) Main techniques for thrusting with the khanjar
2) Main cuts with the khanjar
3) Binding with the shield and attacking with the khanjar (building a bridge)
4) Shield strikes in combination with dagger strikes
5) Khanjar and separ in wrestling range
Instructor(s): Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani
Class Category: Close Quarters Combat
Day and Time: Fri, 1:00pm
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: Moderate to High
Pre-Requisites: None, but more wrestling knowledge the better!
Required Equipment: Comfortable training clothes, water-bottle and towel
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Daniel Jaquet
Class Category: Close Quarters Combat
Day and Time: Sat, 12:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate to High
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Armour and longsword (any type of simulator). At minimum: fencing jacket, gloves, fencing mask and longsword simulator.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Rob Runacres
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Sun, 1:15pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: None
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Daniel Jaquet
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Thu, 1:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: None
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Michael Chidester
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Sat, 2:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Non
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy, Bob Charrette, Christian Tobler, Daniel Jaquet, Gregory Mele, Scott Farrell, Sean Hayes
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Thu, 10:30am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy, Craig Johnson
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: null, 5:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: None
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Michael Chidester
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Thu, 3:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Sat, 12:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: None
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Gregory Mele
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Sat, 4:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: None
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
The Renaissance "duel of honor" is well-known, but beginning with Giovanni de Legnano in the late 14th century, Italian jurists had already made the case for "honor" to be an intangible property that could be stolen or damaged. As property, honor was thus something over which a legal, judicial duel could be fought.
This lecture looks at the process of challenge and response for the duel in the late 14th and 15th centuries in the Italian cities and along the way brings into question and context areas of interest to students of Italian swordplay, such as why Fiore dei Liberi is so coy about his five duels with rival masters and why the Bolognese tradition refers to its attacker and defender as "agente" and "paziente".
Instructor(s): Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Fri, 10:15am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: None
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Scott Farrell
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Fri, 9:00am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Marco Quarta
Class Category: Lectures
Day and Time: Thu, 5:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: None
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: None
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 3:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Fencing mask or equivalent, single handed "cutting" sword simulator (messer, arming sword, etc, but not a rapier or smallsword), gloves. Recommended: fencing jacket or better, forearm guard.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Benjamin Conan
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 10:30am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: This class is an introduction to the Flower of Battle, addressed either to beginners or to historical fencers from a different backgound interested in learning what makes Fiore so appealing.
Required Equipment: Dagger simulator (wood, steel or a newspaper rolled and duct-taped), Longsword simulator (wood, plastic or steel), fencing mask and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Fiore dei Liberi hardly needs to be introduced any more. The Friulian fencer authored the oldest known Italian treatise on the duelling arts, and around 600 years after his death, he is celebrated throughout the small but cheerful world of HEMA as one, if not the most prominent figure of the late medieval martial arts. Each of the four manuscript versions of his works that have been passed on to us is a treasure of knowledge for the art historian as well as for the student of the sword. They are beautiful riddles in prose and verse, rather skillfully illustrated, and the subject of many articles, books, lectures and workshops.
This class is meant as a down-to-earth introduction to Fiore's unarmored combat. We will work our way through key principles of the dagger and the sword, using postures and plays from the treatises to lay the groundwork of a general understanding of Armizare. If you are a seasoned fencer, familiar with everything the Flower of Battle has to offer and eager to learn revolutionary approaches, this class might not be for you. As a first-timer to WMAW, my intention is to offer a fresh perspective on a classic, and in the words of the WMAW Chairman, to give a chance for folks to see how someone else than the usual crowd introduces Fiore's sword and dagger.
Instructor(s): Gregory Mele
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sun, 9:30am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None, but the more familiarity with armizare the better.
Required Equipment: Participants will need a longsword simulator, dagger, mask, and protective gloves as minimum equipment. Spears or poleaxes or preferable, some will be available.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Devon Boorman
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sun, 3:15pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None, but the more familiarity with longsword fencing the better.
Required Equipment: Participants will need a longsword simulator, mask, and protective gloves as minimum equipment.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 1:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Basic
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Armor is encouraged, but students without armor may use a fencing mask and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Jake Norwood
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 5:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Participants will need a longsword simulator, mask, and protective gloves as minimum equipment.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Sean Hayes
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Fri, 9:00am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Arming sword, buckler, jacket, mask and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Benjamin Conan
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 4:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Dagger simulator (wood, steel or a newspaper rolled and duct-taped), Longsword simulator (wood, plastic or steel). Fencing mask and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
As a combat system, the Flower of battle is most famous for the emphasis it puts on wrestling and close contact play. With or without armour, with dagger, sword or poleaxe or even on horseback, there is no section of the manuscripts where Fiore doesn't expose proudly his contempt for the zugador's personal space. It is impossible to understand armizare and to perform it well without a regular and informed practice of the narrow play. Disarms, breaks and binds are, for most students of the art, one of the trickiest part of fencing, since it requires both the ability to read tempo and distance to get close and a solid practical knowledge of body structure and joint manipulation.
During this class, we will explore some of the ligadure that Fiore favours. We'll focus on what makes a lock possible to get, and how to force your opponent to put himself in this most delicate of situations with your bare hands, dagger, sword or polearms.
Instructor(s): Jake Norwood
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 9:00am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Participants will need a longsword simulator, mask, and protective gloves as minimum equipment.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 12:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: Students should have an intermediate skill level of some kind of cutting weapon (example: longsword), or take the previous class An Introduction to Single Hand Sword Usage.
Required Equipment: Fencing mask or equivalent, single handed "cutting" sword simulator (messer, arming sword, etc, but not a rapier or smallsword), gloves. Recommended: fencing jacket or better, forearm guard.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 5:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: Low to Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Mask, gloves, spear or staff (6 - 7.5 feet long).
Maximum Attendees: 40
Spears have always played a very important role in Iranian military history, and the lance was highly regarded as a weapon among the Iranians. Spear bearers had a long reach on the battlefield, and spears could be used effectively in war. In all cultures, spears and lances played a very important role as the main weapons on the battlefield. This was also the case through Iranian military history. The long reach and cheap production costs of such weapons were important factors for consideration when establishing formations of spear fighters and lance fighters. Persian neyze is both a thrusting and a cutting weapon. The following class deals with the following topics:
1) Persian neyze as a thrusting weapon: Main targets for the thrust with the spearhead (eyes, throat, belly, chest, legs, etc).
2) Persian neyze as a cutting weapon: Main cuts (hands, arms, head, neck, legs, etc).
3) Using the spear butt (bon-e neyze) as a mace
4) Using the shaft for leverage and wrestling techniques.
Instructor(s): Christian Tobler
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sun, 1:15pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Mask, gloves, a poleaxe trainer — and armour if you have it!
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Scott Farrell
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 4:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Longsword, mask, hand protection (heavy HEMA gloves or gauntlets). Armour not required.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Benjamin Conan
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 2:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None, but Armizare is a pre-requisite.
Required Equipment: Longsword simulator (wood, plastic or steel). Fencing mask and gloves mandatory. Padded jacket, gorget, cup, elbows and knee protection at your convenience.
Maximum Attendees: 40
"To those who learn my crossings, I will grant fame and renown", says the longsword, queen of weapons against whom none could prevail. As opaque as it is to the modern eye, the internal organization of Fiore's treatise, with its bearded kings, remedy masters and gartered scholars is clever and unique. The masters of the crossings, kings of the wide and narrow play who rule on the teachings of the sword have a key role in it. They articulate the tactical framework of the plays and give us hints to their application context in a free-flowing combat. In this class, we will explore the parameters that will help you transitioning swiftly from the crossings to the plays, and we will lay the groundwork to build a solid decision-making system out of the elements of Fiore's combat system.
The class will go from static cooperative drilling to quick-thinking decision making exercises in pair. A good knowledge of Fiore's plays will help you get the most of this workshop but as long as you are comfortable enough with a sword, you should be able to follow it.
Instructor(s): Bob Charrette
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Fri, 1:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Longsword, dagger, spear or pollaxe. Armour preferable.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Scott Farrell
Class Category: Medieval Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 1:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate to High
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Protective equipment required for sparring with moderate speed/intensty - mask, gorget, gloves and light body protection.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Robert Rutherfoord
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 1:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Sidesword/arming sword, mask, gorget and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Robert Rutherfoord
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 12:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Sidesword/arming sword, mask, gorget and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Robert Rutherfoord
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sun, 3:15pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Sidesword/arming sword, mask, gorget and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Reinier Van Noort
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Fri, 9:00am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Mask, jacket, gloves, rapier.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Ton Puey
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 3:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate to High
Pre-Requisites: None but more familiarity with Destreza the better.
Required Equipment: Montante, spadone or longsword, mask, jacket and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
During the sixteenth century this massive weapon abandoned the battlefields to settle in the city streets, on both sides of the law: a narrow street, a square, to launch an ambush or to separate those who are fighting. It was held in such prestige, that, even at the height of the rapier's popularity, the montante was the symbol of a master.
In this workshop we will compare the different rules created for similar situations of the two most important Portuguese authors, Domingo Luiz Godinho and Diogo Gómez de Figueiredo.
Instructor(s): Tim Rivera
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 10:30am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: Familiarity with cutting and thrusting with a single-hand sword.
Required Equipment: A single-hand practice sword suitable for cutting and thrusting, and a training parrying dagger. Also standard protective gear: mask, gloves, and jacket.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Tim Rivera
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 2:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate to High
Pre-Requisites: Familiarity with cutting and thrusting with a single-hand sword.
Required Equipment: A single-hand practice sword suitable for cutting and thrusting, and a strapped round shield of any material, convex or flat (a couple loaners will be available). Also standard protective gear: mask, gloves, and jacket.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Devon Boorman
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 5:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: Foundation in sidesword and buckler. Doesn't have to be bolognese but you should be comfortable with foundational cuts, defences, and use of the buckler and sword together.
Required Equipment: Mask, gloves, buckler and sidesword or arming sword.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Reinier Van Noort
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sun, 1:15pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Mask, jacket, gloves, rapier, side-sword or saber.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): John O'Meara
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sun, 9:30am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: Familiarity with basic techniques of Italian rapier: guards, lunge, finding the sword (a.k.a. stringere) and cavazioni
Required Equipment: Jacket, mask, gorget, gloves & rapier.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Ton Puey
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 9:00am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None but more familiarity with Destreza the better.
Required Equipment: Rapier, mask, jacket and gloves. A longer, lighter rapier is better, a cup or shell hilt is strongly preferred.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Roberto Gotti
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sat, 2:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate to High
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Montante, spadone or longsword, mask and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
In 1509, a large compendium of the martial works of condottiero, fencing master and scholar Pietro Monte was published in a densely type-set volume, made even denser by its Latin text filled with Italian and Spanish loan words. Not a "manual" by any stretch, the Collectanea provided short sets of instruction and ideas on a wide variety of weapons.
Like many authors of the period, Monte prioritizes the two-handed sword, and his chapter on its use reveals a short sequence, the levata, which forms the foundation of his teachings with *all* weapons. We will look at the levata in its various forms.
Instructor(s): Ton Puey
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Sun, 9:30am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None but more familiarity with Destreza the better.
Required Equipment: Rapier, dagger, mask, jacket and gloves. A longer, lighter rapier is better.
Maximum Attendees: 40
In the discipline of "Verdadera Destreza" Francisco Lorenç de Rada is the master who best and most extensively describes the use of the sword and dagger in the third part of his book Nobleza de la Espada (1705). In that book he deals exhaustively with the use of the so-called "arnés doble", both to use it in the confrontation against practitioners of the same discipline, as to do it against the practitioners of what he calls "destreza italiana", as well as the so-called "vulgares", armed with "arnés doble".
In this workshop we will focus on the basic principles and techniques described in the text of Rada for the confrontation with another fencer of the school of "Verdadera Destreza".
Instructor(s): Rob Runacres
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Thu, 3:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: Familiarity with basic rapier or side-sword skills.
Required Equipment: Students should bring full fencing equipment, including mask and jacket, as well as a single sword, such as a side sword or 'heavy' rapier.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Overshadowed in modern HEMA by contemporaries such as Fabris and Capoferro, Girolamo, Cavalcabo's "Bolognese" treatise of 1595 was in his time translated into French and German. His fame such that he became fencing instructor to the sons of Henri IV, Louis and Gaston, with his son, César, serving both brothers until 1642.
This workshop will consider Cavalcabo's single sword, examining the use of Bolognese methodology into this "late" period.
Instructor(s): Roberto Gotti
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Fri, 9:00am
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: High
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Montante, spadone or longsword, mask, jacket and gloves.
Maximum Attendees: 40
This intensive class will throw students head-first into all of Marozzo's teachings on the two-handed sword, which he presented in the form of three assalti, or solo forms.
In the first hour, we will look at parts 3, 4 and 5 from the First Assalto, both solo and with a partner. In the second hour, we will contrast this with parts 3, 4 and 6 from the second assalto, and then in the third hour we will work with 10 strette, or close plays, for, the third assalto. The more gear you bring, the more intense and "contact" driven the class will be, with students sorted by how much safety gear they have.
This is as big sword and a long class, so come ready to work and sweat!
Instructor(s): Rob Runacres
Class Category: Renaissance and Early Modern Weapon Arts
Day and Time: Fri, 1:00pm
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Intermediate
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: The workshop is suitable for beginners, though some knowledge of sword and dagger forms would be of use.
Required Equipment: Students should bring full fencing equipment, including mask and jacket, as well as a single sword, such as a rapier, and a dagger.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Dating to the early seventeenth century, Livre Des Leçons (Book of Lessons) is a compilation of fencing instructions, attributed to the soldier Pedro De Heredia, who served in the Spanish Netherlands. Many of these lessons can be interpreted as vulgar destreza and there is one section dedicated to countering the "mathematical form".
This workshop will concentrate on the sword and dagger forms described in the treatise and in particular, working against strong binds or direct, linear attacks.
Instructor(s): Devon Boorman
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Fri, 1:00pm
Class Length: 3 hrs
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: Strong foundational knowledge in a martial art discipline (preferrably rapier, longsword, or sidesword so that we can match you with other training partners). There will be no martial techniques taught in this class, the focus is on learning about learning.
Required Equipment: Appropriate light sparring equipment for your discipline.
Maximum Attendees: 40
How do you take a skill from drill to combat application in the shortest time? How do maximize retention of new skills? When you've identified a problem what's the quickest route to correcting it in your form under pressure? In this course we'll explore a formal system, based in sport science, for answering these questions to create the fastest learning environments for yourself and others.
We'll look at:
Variable and blocked training
How you group together skills that you learn and the patterns you use for practicing them can dramatically increase or reduce your retention of new skills. We'll look at the most effective models for correctly motor patterns, skill retention, and tactical decision making.
The Perception-Action-Consequence model
Bringing skills into a combat-like environment as early as possible dramatically increases ability to apply those skills successfully. Yet the fastest learning environment is not combat itself. We'll explore tactical cueing, and the increase and decrease of contextual difficulty.
Drill-Integration-Performance cycle
A new skill or skill correction must move from a focused environment (drill) to an open environment (combat) in a way that allows for the new changes to be retained and not lost as soon as the variables open up. We'll explore bridging drills, exercises, and games that help integrate new learning into your performance system in the shortest time possible.
Although medieval martial arts are extremely popular in modern HEMA, most students of the "Knightly Art" have had little exposure to actual knightly combat: fighting in armour, in deeds of arms, or on horseback. Cost, access to good armour and understanding how armoured combat parallels and differs from unarmoured combat are all some of the real challenges and barriers to getting into armoured combat. Nevertheless, a small circuit of armoured Deeds of Arms is slowly growing around the country, and this track aims to help that grow.
This year we present a special track of classes aimed at combining the usual skills-based armoured combat classes (see descriptions in the medieval and close quarter track), with a selection of round-tables, lectures and sparring clinics. The full track includes:
Instructor(s): Bob Charrette, Scott Farrell, Sean Hayes
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Sun, 9:30am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Good eyes! You can come without armour, if you are interested in learning how to marshal and judge armoured deeds!
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy, Bob Charrette, Christian Tobler, Gregory Mele, Scott Farrell, Sean Hayes
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Sun, 10:45am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Please bring whatever weapons (sword, axe, spear and dagger) you wish to work with; some weapons will be available. Full protection for the hands (lacrosse glove minimum), neck and throat is required. Armour is not necessary, but the more you have, the better the experience will be!
Maximum Attendees: 40
Note: This class runs five times throughout the weekend. You can attend one or five as you like. Instructors may vary from session to session.
Having issues in getting or using your harness? Having problems understanding a play in your favorite source? Having trouble executing a technique? Bring your questions along and we値l take a stab at them. Instructors and experienced harness fighters will be available for one-on-one work and discussion. All are welcome to observe.
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy, Bob Charrette, Christian Tobler, Gregory Mele, Scott Farrell, Sean Hayes
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Fri, 2:30pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Please bring whatever weapons (sword, axe, spear and dagger) you wish to work with; some weapons will be available. Full protection for the hands (lacrosse glove minimum), neck and throat is required. Armour is not necessary, but the more you have, the better the experience will be!
Maximum Attendees: 40
Note: This class runs five times throughout the weekend. You can attend one or five as you like. Instructors may vary from session to session.
Having issues in getting or using your harness? Having problems understanding a play in your favorite source? Having trouble executing a technique? Bring your questions along and we値l take a stab at them. Instructors and experienced harness fighters will be available for one-on-one work and discussion. All are welcome to observe.
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy, Bob Charrette, Christian Tobler, Gregory Mele, Scott Farrell, Sean Hayes
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Sat, 10:15am
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Please bring whatever weapons (sword, axe, spear and dagger) you wish to work with; some weapons will be available. Full protection for the hands (lacrosse glove minimum), neck and throat is required. Armour is not necessary, but the more you have, the better the experience will be!
Maximum Attendees: 40
Note: This class runs five times throughout the weekend. You can attend one or five as you like. Instructors may vary from session to session.
Having issues in getting or using your harness? Having problems understanding a play in your favorite source? Having trouble executing a technique? Bring your questions along and we値l take a stab at them. Instructors and experienced harness fighters will be available for one-on-one work and discussion. All are welcome to observe.
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy, Bob Charrette, Christian Tobler, Gregory Mele, Scott Farrell, Sean Hayes
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Sat, 2:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Please bring whatever weapons (sword, axe, spear and dagger) you wish to work with; some weapons will be available. Full protection for the hands (lacrosse glove minimum), neck and throat is required. Armour is not necessary, but the more you have, the better the experience will be!
Maximum Attendees: 40
Note: This class runs five times throughout the weekend. You can attend one or five as you like. Instructors may vary from session to session.
Having issues in getting or using your harness? Having problems understanding a play in your favorite source? Having trouble executing a technique? Bring your questions along and we値l take a stab at them. Instructors and experienced harness fighters will be available for one-on-one work and discussion. All are welcome to observe.
Instructor(s): Bill Grandy, Bob Charrette, Christian Tobler, Gregory Mele, Scott Farrell, Sean Hayes
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Thu, 3:00pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Beginner
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Please bring whatever weapons (sword, axe, spear and dagger) you wish to work with; some weapons will be available. Full protection for the hands (lacrosse glove minimum), neck and throat is required. Armour is not necessary, but the more you have, the better the experience will be!
Maximum Attendees: 40
Note: This class runs five times throughout the weekend. You can attend one or five as you like. Instructors may vary from session to session.
Having issues in getting or using your harness? Having problems understanding a play in your favorite source? Having trouble executing a technique? Bring your questions along and we値l take a stab at them. Instructors and experienced harness fighters will be available for one-on-one work and discussion. All are welcome to observe.
With the popularity of the term "HEMA" over the last decade as a catch-all term for everything from modern tournament fighting to research-focused delving into German, Iberian, Italian and English fighting traditions, it is assumed that HEMA and WMA are simple cognate terms, or the former has replaced the latter. This simply isn't true! HEMA is a *subset* of Western Martial Arts, which certainly include the reconstructed arts of Europe, but also include traditional living arts such as Classical Fencing, Boxing, Italian stick and knife fighting, savate or Jogo do Pau, but also include those of the larger Western world, that developed through colonialism and cross-cultural influence. Arguably, since antiquity, no region has had more cultural contact and cross-polination (both positive and negative) with Europe than Africa, or played a role in shaping the creation of the colonial and post-colonial New World cultures. We are excited and pleased to introduce a number of this vast continent's martial traditions to WMAW attendees for the first time.
Instructor(s): Da'Mon Stith
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Sat, 4:45pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Swords will be provided but if you have an arming sword or saber you are welcome to bring it. If you have any sparring gear please bring it.
Maximum Attendees: 40
Instructor(s): Da'Mon Stith
Class Category: Special
Day and Time: Sun, 1:15pm
Class Length: 90 min
Experience Level: Any
Intensity Level: Moderate
Pre-Requisites: None
Required Equipment: Round shield or Buckler (Some bucklers may be available) and sparring gear (Head and arm protection).
Maximum Attendees: 40