AutumnFecht

Mr. Miyagi Needs to Read the Rules: How to Be a Coach
Mariana Lopez (she/her), MHFA

Coaching and teaching are completely separate skills. Why? Simple put, you'll never be able to teach a fencer how to fight mid-match.

In this workshop, we'll go through the skills of coaching for training and in competitive scenarios. Starting from the absolute basics, such as knowing coaching etiquette, tournament preparation basics, and tournament aftercare - to the deeper skills like understanding and reading the fight in order to rely on useful information, as well as learn when to shut up and provide water and a pat on the back.

At the end of this class, the student will know the right questions to ask a fencer before becoming their coach, learn how to adapt to every individual based on their unique needs, and how to become a help instead of a hinderance during a fight.

Gear Requirements: whatever you have. Participants will be matched up by weapon and amount of gear.

Predatory Defense: Patiently Aggressive Fencing with the Scottish Broadsword
Tom Proctor (he/him), Cateran Society/Snapping Turtle School of Defense

This class will explore the concept of Predatory Defense, a Fencing concept by which you take advantage of openings within your opponents guard and attacks as they initiate combat. Students can expect to breakdown and practice concepts such as timing, footwork for control of distance, and the mentality of being Predatory in your defense rather than just reactive.

Utilizing concepts taught through the Cateran Society curriculum by way of connected Broadsword masters such as Lonnergan, Page, and McBane, we will explore drills that relate to exploiting your opponents openings through patience!

Gear Requirements: Fencing mask, jacket, gloves, broadsword or military saber, and additional protection as you feel comfortable for joints and legs.

Don't Try This at Home!
Jeff Schmaley (he/they) and Christian Buettner, Maryland KdF

The manuals are rich sources of techniques and concept, giving us so much information that we can apply to our fencing. They also contain a host of plays and techniques that are not very useful in HEMA... as they would get you kicked out of any tournament.

From the infamous Mordschlag to 'how to rob peasants', we will be exploring "forbidden" plays and techniques. From Persian shamshir to German longsword, we will look at all the things you won't get to do in class!

Gear Requirements: mask, gloves, 1 handed sword, 2 handed sword

Ferdinand’s Smallsword meets HEMA
Jonathan MacKenzie Gordon (he/him), Maryland KdF

John Ferdinand was a fencing master based in Edinburgh, Scotland and published his Sword’s-Man pamphlet in 1788 focusing on smallsword, broadsword and spadroon. Ferdinand’s smallsword lessons are heavily influenced by Andrew Lonergan’s 1771 The Fencer’s Guide and are intended for students who are already familiar with the basics of
measure, footwork, basic feints and combination attacks.

This class will introduce the Primary Concepts of Ferdinand’s system with a focus on his Three Measures approach to the use of the Smallsword. Students will work on smallsword basics, such as establishing the perfect En Garde along with proper Guard and Footwork mechanics necessary execute the actions outlined Ferdinand’s manual. Select lessons will be used to highlight specific actions from the different measures and to streamline the response process and allow fencers to make critical tactical decisions in shorter timeframes. Students will work on using specific footwork and feint techniques to gather and process information to improve attack and defense actions.

Gear Requirements: mask, jacket, gloves and a smallsword. A limited supply of smallsword loaners will be available.

Belly Dance Skills and Drills
Yamê (she/her), SharqiDance

Belly dance is a social and performance dance from the Middle East and North Africa which emphasizes movements of the hips and torso such as isolations and shimmies.

In this class, you will learn essential belly dance techniques and effective drills to execute them. We will discuss:

belly dance posture & technique,
beginner steps & isolations,
some basic combinations & choreography, and
relevant musical & cultural information.

No dance experience is required. Just show up ready to do some serious muscle isolation work.

Gear Requirements: none. Just bring you.

Unjunk Your Body
Carolyn Lyons (she/her), Wild Girl Wellness

In this class Carolyn, aka Wild Girl Wellness, will take you through a series of mobility drills and stretching exercises designed to unjunk all the usual suspects for discomfort and imbalances in your body from your shoulders to your spine, hips, knees and feet.

The drills can be adapted for many different levels of ability as the goal is to get your body more more fluidly and comfortably. Hopefully you'll leave with some skills you'll want to practice on your own at home.

There is no requirement for you to be good or into yoga, stretching, etc already. All welcome - from true beginners to the experienced! Just bring yourself.

Gear Requirements: none.

Fence Like a Persian: Intro to Shamshir and Separ
Bizhan Khodabandeh (he/him), Virago Alley

The shamshir is the iconic curved sword of Persia. A legendary weapon with a history stretching from the 9th to the 18th century often historically paired with an offhand weapon or shield. In this introductory class, you'll learn to wield it alongside the separ, a traditional small Persian shield.

You'll learn the foundational footwork, cuts and guards and work on select techniques with partners.

Following the session, we will have sparring games and open sparring for folks with the appropriate gear and interest to try out the techniques covered in the class.

Gear Requirements: Fencing mask and gloves (minimum). We have some trainers available, but a practice saber and/or a buckler would help. Full protective kit is required for all sparring.

Winding and Binding For One
Mike Gilding (he/him), Maryland KdF

Rise up and resist the monopoly longsword holds over the tactics of Binding and Winding. Join me as we discuss how to break free of those two handed oppressors and highlight a whole new side of your favorite one handed fun.

Learn how to improve your flow, control, and defense as we keep our blades in the fight. Long edge, short edge, straight or curved… all have a place in this revolution. The lessons in this class can be brought into almost every single handed weapon and use sources all across the HEMA verse.

Gear Requirements: mask, gloves, and single handed weapon of choice. Messer, dussack, arming sword, sidesword, or sabers (Cut centric weapons)

We All Fall Down (With Daggers)
Patrick McCaffrey (he/him), L'Arte Historical Fencing

This class is focused on falling safely and practicing falling. In addition to falling practice, we will do a few grappling throws and take downs as well as throws and take downs with a dagger.

We will be working primarily from Fiore's il Fior di Battaglia, with a couple of plays from Ott and van Auserwald. If you feel uncomfortable throwing someone else or being thrown, you are welcome to just observe that part of the class.

Gear Requirements: Mask, gloves, rondel dagger, if you have one (we will have several provided). Mouthguard recommended. Jacket suggested. All experience levels welcome.

Nguni Stick Fighting
Samuel Godwin (he/him), HAMAA

Induku, or Nguni stick fighting, is a traditional stick fighting martial art of South Africa. For many years, this tradition has been used to train warriors, as a rite of passage for young men, as a ritual for weddings and as a folkloric tradition to celebrate culture and community. This fierce fighting style utilizes two sticks, one for defense and the other for offense.

In this workshop, we will be exploring the basics of Nguni stick fighting. At the end, you will learn the history of Nguni stick fighting and the basic fighting techniques.

We will have loaner sticks for the class on site.

Gear Requirements: Mask, gloves.

Montante Paired Techniques
Christian Buettner (he/him), Maryland KdF

While sparring with montantes, used like montantes, is inherently dangerous, they can be used for paired technique. In this class, we will be covering a few devices and reglas (rules) from multiple sources to show some of the breadth of action that is available to montante: from 1 vs 1 montante action to close-in fighting and disarms.

For this class, you have to have some montante experience. We will be working with partners and, if at any point I feel like you are being unsafe, you will be asked to leave.

Experience Required: intermediate montante experience

Gear Requirements: mask and SPES (or similar) gloves. Montante preferred, 5ft staff acceptable.

Schedule

Instructors and Class Descriptions