Class list
Here is the list of classes which the instructors so far have offered to teach at ISS2018.
More class anouncements are being prepared and will be published here, as we receive them from the instructors.
equipment: Just Gloves in the beginning, later we will probably need full protective gear. A short (ca 65ish cm blade) steel or nylon sabre would also be good to have.
Fencing with the klewang and carbine (KNIL) by Martin de Jong
A few people know about a manual called the VOVBW but there is more than just this one manual.
The purpose of this class is to show you a glimpse of the world of the klewangfencer and to have fun.
experience level: beginner
equipment: because a good klewang-trainingsimulator doesn’t exist at this moment, nylon sabres or modified sabres will be sufficient. Further more: fencing mask, gloves, groinprotector, and a fencingcarbine (no rifle) if you have one.
The Berliner Schule was established by Friedrich Friesen in 1808 as the fencing system taught in one of the fencing schools of the German Turner Movement in Berlin. His pupil Ernst Wilhelm Bernhard Eiselen formalised the system in the 1810’s and wrote the first book on the Berliner Schule in 1818. In the following 50 years you will find books written by A. M. Boettcher, v. Görne / v. Scherff / Mertens, W. Lübeck, FR. W. Quehl and E. F. Seidler showing the development of the Berliner Schule during the 18. Century.
This introduction will provide inside into the historical background of the Berliner Schule and its link to the German Turner movement. The differences to other 19. Century fencing systems will be explained and potential reasons for them will be indicated. A demonstration of the techniques unique for the Berliner Schule will be given in form of historic drills. The practical exercise for the participants will focus on the training concept provided by E. F. Seidler in 1843 for cavalrymen on foot or horseback. The basic stance, attacks and defence will be shown and practised. Finally the techniques can be used in a less restricted practice form of “Contraschlagen”.
experience level: Beginners
equipment: mask, gloves, body protection and any Bügel-Säbel / stirrup-sabre (steel or plastic);
An important element of Covered-Cut-Fencing is what August Fehn calls Vorhieb, the parry and riposte in one tempo, if you will. This technique in its various forms can be found in every manual on our style, often also under the name of Kontratempo- or A-tempo-Hieb.
In this class, we´re going to try out the specific Vorhiebe Fehn describes, both from the hanging and the steep guard as well as what you can do to prevent them.
experience level: Some experience with the sabre is recommended
equipment: Mask, gloves, arm protection, sabre (ideally with basket)
experience level: Beginners and Advanced fencers are welcome.
equipment: Backsword, Sabre etc. or Singlestick, your favourite offhand weapon/tool, fencing-mask and gloves.
equipment: Masks and gloves are required, a gorget and a form of chest protection may be pleasant as we will be working with thrusts.
experience level: For beginners it contains valuable principals. For advance students it shows special details. For instructors it provides another point of view on these wide known concepts.
equipment: For this class you will just need a sabre. A single stick will do the trick a well.
The „Theoretisch praktische Anweisung des Hau=Stoßfechtens“ from 1838 is one of a few sources in saberfencing of this timeperiod which includes a lot of offline-footwork. The footwork is usually applied in the tempo of the opponent combined with arrets -stopthrusts- or ramassements, wich are actions against the blade.
We could have a look on a few volts and some ideas to bring it better into practice or some more volts for a better overview of the source. This depends on the participants.
experience level: The workshop is suitable for beginners and advanced.
equipment: A fencingjacket would be great, but you absolutely need a flexible blade for this workshop!
This workshop will introduce an interesting sabre fencing system, which applies concepts of Destreza for the use of this weapon. Simon de Frias was a new-spanish fencing master, a diestro not only in sabre, but in rapier and small sword. It should be noted that Simon de Frias was a master of arms certified und accredited by the New Spain government.
His book “Tratado, Elemental de la Destreza del Sable”, published in Mexico in the year 1809, it is a unique example for the adaptation, under solid principles and rules, of the spanish fencing art for the use of the sabre. An essential part in this system is the so-called body motions or opposition of planes; it is a footwork enhanced by bodywork, which it is not found in any other known western sabre fencing system.
In this class the theoretical background of the system will be introduced, which, together with a series of drills, will allow the participants to be proficient in de Frias’ body mechanics.
This workshop aims at presenting the techniques described in the 1876 method of Joinville, which was destined to French mariners. Though these techniques were supposed to be put into practice with cutlasses, they turned out to lean more toward “sports” than toward military use, and contained the seeds of a sport that we still know today : cane fighting.
After some brief specific warm up, we will present the different guards of this methods and the 4 ways of attacking. The method will be presented, tested and finally applied during fun exercises.
experience level: beginner/medium
equipment: saber (nylon, steel or wood), mask and gloves
This lecture is based on my master’s thesis, presented in 2018.
In this lecture we will identify the different phases of the evolution of saber fencing and lance fencing in the French cavalery, from the Napoleonic campains to the Second World War. We will also dive into a real-life romantic conflict that lasted several decades and opposed Alexandre Muller and various cavalery officers at the time when fencing on horseback became mendatory in the French army.
experience level: participants should have a basic knowledge and experience in sabre
equipment: steel sabre, mask, cup – optional: full fencing gear (for free sparring and/or full speed practising)
If you are new to sabre fencing this is the class with which the ISS should start for you.
This class will address common concepts of sabre fencing (parry-ripostes, cuts, lunges etc.) aswell as some basic fencing theory, like forte-vs-foible, fencing time, second intention etc.
experience level: Beginners
equipment: Safe practice sabre (steel or nylon) or a wooden stick of about 90 – 100 cm length and about 20-25 mm in diameter.
experience level: The session will be suitable for all levels of sabre experience.
equipment: Normal sabre training kit
We will explore the application of the sabre (and related weapons) in group combat. While we will not be enough people for ‘battles’ we will have to make do with ‘skirmishes’. Expect different scenarios and goals, eg. ‘capture the flag’.
Protective equipment: minimum: mask, gloves; full HEMA gear is recommended.
Weapons: Nylon sabres (loaner sabres are available), approved simulators for all kind of other battlefield gear – no missile weapons!