Workshops and seminars

Matt Galas

Jeff Tsay

1) Unraveling The Rose

Over the course of its roughly 200-year span of documented history, the German tradition mentions a mysterious technical term known simply as The Rose.  Appearing in only a handful of sources and described in very little detail, this is a technique that remains a challenge to define, let alone put into practical use. 

This hands-on workshop will present a number of these documented techniques to give participants an introduction into this elusive concept, and then explore an interpretive strategy for how the community might further unravel not only this mysterious technique, but others that are similarly challenging.  Sources that may be referenced include Meyer, Paurenfeindt, and Mair, as time permits. 

In practice, the exploration of The Rose will allow participants to train the mechanics and tactics for winding, particularly to the outside of the opponent's blade: a tactically challenging scenario that suggests this is an advanced technique.  For participation, no experience is required.  For equipment, a longsword trainer and head and hand protection are all that are required. 

2) Lessons from Wallerstein: connections from Durer through Mair

Dating from the mid-15th century, the so-called Wallerstein manuscript (HK I.6.4o.2) contains a broad spectrum of weapon forms, and is a valuable source with which we can examine the German medieval martial tradition because of its potential influence on specific techniques in later manuscripts.  This presentation will summarize connections between Wallerstein and later manuscripts attributed to Albrecht Durer, Antonius Rast, an anonymous source currently located in Berlin (Libr. pict. A 83), and the trio of surviving Mair manuscripts. 

With respect to the unarmored longsword, there are 42 illustrated techniques (26 with text, 16 without) that have been translated by Zabinski and Walczak since 2002, and have been available to study by the WMA/HEMA community since that time. 

This hands-on presentation will aim to take these individual well-known techniques from the Wallerstein manuscript and provide an over-arching tactical framework within which they appropriately fit.  In addition, sample techniques will be used to highlight the value of the combined perspective of the later manuscripts that appear to have been influenced by Wallerstein.  All together, this framework will provide several theoretical and practical advantages for those interested in studying the Wallerstein material:

- Provide new students a process far more efficient than simple memorization for integrating these individual techniques into immediate practical sparring
- Provide experienced students a framework to analyze and discuss details of both individual techniques (some new innovations to be presented!) and the fundamentals of the underlying tradition.  Furthermore, the framework should be a useful tool through which to introduce and explore winding and grappling techniques. 

For participation, no experience is required.  For equipment, a longsword trainer is required (any material is fine, as long as there is a matching trainer available for your partner).  The hands-on portion of the presentation will allow participants to respond with these techniques against an opponent using limited sparring scenarios, and in this case, head and hand protection are required. 

Falko Fritz

Messer fencing

Phil Marshall

Tomas Nylökken

Fiore longsword

Anders Egemalm and Anders Nilsson

Poleaxe
This is a basic poleaxe workshop. We will go through the weapon and it´s use. We will use drills to train attacks, defenses and tactics with this versatile weapon. If time permits, there will also be some coached sparring.
Equipment: If you got you own poleaxe waster, please bring it. Some poleaxes will be awailable to borrow. Sturdy mask, sturdy gloves and a cup. Chest and arm protection is optional.

Danilo Rossi

Sicilian knife fighting

Jacob Norwood

Reinier Van Noort

Sickle of Paulus Hector Mair

Hans Jörnlind and Mika Keskitalo

Mixed weapons sparring class

This is not a class – it’s a sparring experience
We want to invite you to a sparring session to give you a chance to meet other weapons than the usual ”Longsword vs Longsword” or ”Sword & Buckler vs Sword & Buckler”. We thought it would be fun to mix it up a little. So for instance:

”Sword & Dagger vs Longsword”
”Sword & Buckler vs Rapier & Cape”

The combinations are endless, just tell us what kind of weapon you can bring and want to spar with. Steel and nylon weapons only.  Ten people max.  Experience:  At least three years training and sparring.

Equipment: Steel and Nylon weapons, fencing mask and protective gloves.
Remember, bring weapons you know how to use.