Arena A | Arena B | |
09:00 - 09:30 | Arrival and Welcome (Venue opens at 09:00) | |
09:30- 11:15 | "'You Saucie Rogue' How to beat up McBane" Matthew Maries | "Fancy Flow and Spiffing Strikes" Thierry Flekier-Wathen |
11:30 - 13:15 | "Broadsword in Balance" Victoria Clow | "All About the Sauce... Italian American Broadsword" Chris Halpin |
13:15 - 14:00 | Lunch | |
14:00 - 15:45 | "Sorry, You Chose Wrong!" Kat Ferguson | "Just a Bunch of Simple Tricks and Nonsense" Stuart Beattie |
16:00 - 17:00 | Tournament | |
19:15 - Late | Pub Quiz and Pizza at the Victoria Park Bowling Club | |
Session #1A – 09:15 – 11:00
Matthew Maries (He/Him) – York School of Defence
“You Saucie Rogue” How to beat up McBane
Love him or loathe him Donald McBane and his “Expert Sword-man’s companion” holds a unique place in 18th century fencing virtu. Regarded by some as one of the greatest fencers of his time, he is held in low regard by others on various counts of plagiarism, fabrication and a litany of other misdeeds. One thing we do know is he was no stranger to close brushes with death and getting beaten in sword fights.
This class will take the two stalwart weapons of the early 18th century, and of McBane’s writing, the Spadroon and the Broadsword and pit them against each other in an epic duel that could come right out of McBane’s aggrandised autobiography.
We will look at techniques from contemporary sources as well as from McBane himself and explore mixed weapon combat. Hopefully, by the end of the class you’ll have enough tricks up your sleeve to hold your own against the “Saucie Rogue” himself; or else you’ll have some interesting things to take back to your own clubs and explore in sparring.
Minimum Kit: Mask, Light Gloves, Jacket or Plastron, Gorget. Smallsword and/or Spadroon and a Broadsword.
Session #1B – 09:15 – 11:00
Thierry Flekier-Wathen (He/Him) – The Vanguard Centre
“Fancy Flow and Spiffing Strikes”
A Showcase of Broadsword Techniques to Surprise and Amaze.
Drawing from Hope, McBane, Miller and even Silver this will be a broad look at three things:
Close fencing, false fencing and flow.
In all of these sections the main focus will be adding good flow to your movements and avoiding the brain reset when something doesn’t go to plan whether that is lying with your sword or just getting close and taking charge of the situation all the time whilst doing the most important thing in fencing, looking damn good!
Session #2A – 11:15 – 13:00
Victoria Clow (She/Her) – Saorsa Swords
“Broadsword in Balance”
Join me for a workshop looking at form and structure with the broadsword, and considering how proper body mechanics can allow you to beat your opponent even if they possess a physical advantage.
This session is open to students of all levels, all you will need is a mask and a pair of light gloves. Forearm guards are recommended if you have them but optional. Please bring a broadsword of some kind, if you do not have your own a number of synthetic ones will be available to borrow.
Session #2B – 11:15 – 1300
Chris Halpin (He/They) – York School of Defence
“All About the Sauce… Italian American Broadsword”
In this lesson we’ll dip our toes into Giuseppe Riboni’s unique manual “Broadsword and quarter-staff without a master”, exploring what makes it a little bit unusual compared to the standard British military fencing of the period, and taking some time to explore his techniques that can be used against multiple opponents!
As a Scilian who emigrated to the US, arriving just in time for the American Civil War, Riboni is uniquely placed to give us an incite into Sicilian fencing with the broadsword with a transatlantic twist.
A fencing mask, light gloves and a broadsword of some kind (nylon or steel) will be required for this class. If you have foam broadswords or sabres please bring them along. If you wish to train a bit harder you’re welcome to wear jackets, arm protectors and knee/shin guards.
Lunch – 13:00 – 14:00
Drink some water you dehydrated noodles.
Session #3A – 14:00 – 15:45
Kat Ferguson (She/They) – Dawn Duellists Society
“Sorry, You Chose Wrong!”
Tactics in skullduggery to feint and fake out your opponent, make them choose, and then make that choice wrong. We will work with deceptive preparations and properly timing your attack to inflict maximum humiliation.
Kit retirements: Full kit for steels but can be done with a mask and foams if available.
Session #3B – 14:00 – 15:45
Stuart Beattie (He/Him) – Saorsa Swords
“Just a Bunch of Simple Tricks and Nonsense”
Master the art of fighting foolishly – on purpose. This class explores the weaponized absurd: misdirection, exaggerated feints, suspicious footwork and tactics that look like mistakes … Until they work!
It’s not just nonsense, it’s strategic nonsense. Confuse the opponent, break their rhythm and, with luck, their guard.
Equipment: mask, forearm and shin minimum and an intent for discontent
Tournament – 16:00 – 17:00
“Deck the Balls”
A Singlestick Tournament.
The tournament is quite simple. You will receive 1 life, these life will be represented by a pretty paper bauble that you will hold in your off-hand. You will then have some random fights in which you will endeavour to keep your life and crush as many others as you can.
If we need to, there will be some tie breakers to decide the winner!
The person who has managed to take as many lives as well as keep their own by the end of the tournament is the winner!
You can wear as much or as little kit as you like however a mask, arm, shin and knee guard is mandatory alongside a box for those who need it. Jackets are optional but probably a good idea as the whole body will be a target as you hunt for ways to squish those baubles!
