Events

The sword of honour for all 18th century aristocrats.

Join us with instructor Lorne Williams, as we learn how wield an elegant weapon from a bygone age.

The class will be run for eight weeks. All skill levels welcome. Loaner swords and protective equipment will be available, though the more people with their own kit the better!

Schedule
First session Tuesday 21 April 6:30 PM – Bentleigh Uniting Church
Then every Tuesday at 6:30 PM until,
Last session Tuesday 9 June 6:30 PM – Bentleigh Uniting Church

Self defence for the Victorian Lady, Gentleman, and Gentlebeing, with the cane.

Join us with instructor Lorne Williams, as we learn how to defeat 19th century ruffians and the patriarchy with the walking cane, umbrella, or parasol.

The class will be run for eight weeks. All skill levels welcome. Loaner canes and protective equipment will be available, though the more people with their own kit the better!

Schedule
First session Tuesday 24 February 6:30 PM – Bentleigh Uniting Church
Then every Tuesday at 6:30 PM until,
Last session Tuesday 14 April 6:30 PM – Bentleigh Uniting Church

What and why with a cane?

In the late 19th century and early 20th century there was a new fad for physical fitness and mysterious eastern martial arts, amongst the well to do.

This was driven by the movement of rural populations to the cities of Europe and the Americas as a result of the industrial revolution. This caused a lot of poverty and some of the highest crime rates in recorded history.

In short the toffs were anxious about being mugged by Apache gangsters on the streets of Paris with knuckle dusters and knives. While, the suffragettes needed fighting techniques to fight off police and protest busters as they fought for the right to vote with style and elan.

In this course we will explore the systems and methods they developed, which mixed indigenous English and French fighting methods for the sabre, and fists with eastern art of jujitsu and other methods. These methods were published in news paper articles and books from the time.

Join us with guest instructor Nelson McGuigan, as we work try to learn and apply the form and tactics of the Italian duelling sabre.

The class will be run for seven weeks. All skill levels welcome. Some loaner equipment will be available, though the more people with their own kit the better!

Schedule
First session Friday 9 January 7 PM – Preston
Then every Friday at 7 PM until,
Last session Friday 20 February 7 PM – Preston

Join us as we work try to learn and hone our understanding of the form and tactics of British military sabre in the Napoleonic era. To round out the course, we will also touch on later sabre systems, and the earlier traditions of smallsword and broadsword fencing. This course will work through sources such as Roworth & Angelo, Silver, McBane, Page, and Waite.

The class will be run on a temporary basis over the first quarter of this year. All skill levels welcome. Some loaner equipment will be available, though the more people with their own kit the better!

Schedule
Friday 12 January 7 PM – Preston
Friday 19 January 7 PM – Preston
Friday 2 February 7 PM – Preston
Friday 9 February 7 PM – Preston
Friday 16 February 7 PM – Preston
Friday 23 February 7 PM – Preston
Friday 1 March 7 PM – Preston
Friday 15 March 7 PM – Preston
Friday 29 March 7 PM – Preston

The spear, sometimes known as the “king of weapons”, is often considered the most influential weapon in human history. From the earliest conflicts up until the invention of the socket bayonet in the 18th century the spear and its immediate descendents comprised the vast majority of weapons found on battlefields the world over.

Over the course of 7 weeks we will be covering; the fundamentals of the use of the spear, the spear and shield and the pike both by itself. The course will be primarily referencing Achille Marozzo’s Opera Nova treatise first printed in 1536, in Northern Italy, part of the Bolognese school of fencing. Elements of other traditions will also be touched on across the course.

As the basics of these weapons can be taught relatively quickly there should be a good amount of sparring opportunity available toward the end of most classes.

Preliminary course plan:
Week 1 – Single spear: Fundamentals, attacks and defences
Week 2 – Single spear: Making attacks and controlling the fight
Week 3 – Single Spear: The close fight
Week 4 – Single Single Spear and Pike: Revision and pike awareness.
Week 5 – Spear and Shield: Fundamentals, attacks and defences
Week 6 – Spear and Shield: making opportunities and controlling the fight
Week 7 – Spear and Shield: Revision
Each class will be proceeded with a quick warm up and revision of relevant material covered in previous classes.

Costs:
$100 for the whole course, or
Included in the standard SHF class subscriptions.

Schedule
Friday 5 May 7 PM – Preston
Friday 12 May 7 PM – Preston
Friday 19 May 7 PM – Preston
Friday 26 May 7 PM – Preston
Friday 2 June 7 PM – Preston
Friday 9 June 7 PM – Preston
Friday 16 June 7 PM – Preston

Join us for this 5 week course on British Fencing for the Sabre.

In this course we will put together a sabre game by looking at fencing principles in British sources of the 17th, 18th and 19th Century. From Silver and Page, through Roworth and Angelo, to Waite; join us as we explore the science of defence!

This is a temporary regular class held at the School of Historical Fencing. It is aimed at students who already have some fencing experience. Equipment is provided though ideally you would have your own.

Schedule
Friday 3 February 7 PM – Preston
Friday 10 February 7 PM – Preston
Friday 17 February 7 PM – Preston
Friday 24 February 7 PM – Preston
Friday 3 March 7 PM – Preston