The core of what we do is Fiore dei Liberi’s martial system, but without the horses, they are scary things. Building on that we also study near contemporary late mediaeval sources as well as early renaissance martial arts, especially Italian masters such as Vadi and the Anonimo.
Structure
Apart from our foundation rank, our curriculum is modular, rather than ranked. So we study and assess various aspects of the art individually, for example Fiore’s longsword or Bauman’s messer.
Skills
- Modules are made up of a sets of distinct skills and technques, for example basic footwork, how to strike with a sword, throws, how to defend with a spear etc..
- When your instructor believes you have learned a skill, they will ask you to briefly demonstrate it to them in class. This should only take a few minutes at most. They may even pass you on the skill by simple observation, without needing you to demonstrate it.
Modules
- A module is a collection of skills that are all related to each other, and my call back to earlier modules or relate to other modules.
- At the end of a module you will be assessed as to how well you have learned the necessary skills.
- Passing a module will earn you a badge (in the form of a flower of course!), more advanced modules in the same discipline will earn recognition by awarding you further badges.
Fundamentals Course
The closest thing to a ‘rank’ we have is our fundamentals course. This teaches you the basics of movement, grappling, dagger combat, sword in one hand and sword in two hands. It’s purpose is to get you to the point where you can spar safely in those disciplines and with enough knowledge to have fun. It won’t turn you into the ultimate mediaeval fighting machine, that comes later. Passing the fundamentals course will get you your first badges in unarmed, dagger, single sword and longsword.
Modules
Our modules are generally split into several levels above and beyond what was learnt in the fundamentals course. We teach the following…
- Dagger Combat
- Based on Fiore’s extensive repertoire of techniques.
- Mediaeval One Handed Sword
- Based on Fiore’s sword in one hand along with Bauman’s messer and with elements of Lignitzer’s sword and buckler.
- Longsword
- Base on Fiore’s, Vadi’s and Bauman’s longsword.
- Early Renaissance Sword
- Based on the Anonimo Bolognese and Manciolino
- Armoured Longsword
- Based on Fiore
- Armoured Spear
- Based on Fiore
- Armoured Poleaxe
- Based on Fiore
