Workshops
Introduction to Spanish fencing
beginner
Sean Reichman
Introduction to La Verdadera Destreza the Spanish sword fighting style with its basis in maths to make it the true fight.
Saturday 10am - 10:30am
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Introduction to French fencing
beginner
Chris Slee
Learn basic fencing as described in 16th/17th century and 19th century French fencing texts.
Saturday 12pm - 12:30pm
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Introduction to fencing in the Proud Bolognese Style
beginner
Julian Biddle
Covering the basics of fencing (Distance, Tempo and Strong Weak) using fighting techniques of Medieval/Renaissance Italy.
Saturday 2:30pm - 3pm
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Introduction to French fencing
beginner
Chris Slee
Learn basic fencing as described in 16th/17th century and 19th century French fencing texts.
Sunday 10am - 10:30am
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Introduction to Spanish fencing
beginner
Sean Reichman
Introduction to La Verdadera Destreza the Spanish sword fighting style with its basis in maths to make it the true fight.
Sunday 12pm - 12:30pm
Click to read more
Introduction to Fencing in the German Messer Style (single-edged sword featuring knife-like construction)
beginner
Julian Biddle
Covering the basics of fencing (Distance, Tempo and Strong Weak) using German Messer.
Sunday 2:30pm - 3pm
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Adapting HEMA to Your Body
research
Eddie Ngaluafe
There’s no single ideal body shape for fencing, but there may be better ways to use the one you have.
Saturday 9:30am - 11am
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The Double Standard
refinement
Ryan Tanzer
Examining what leads to mutual exchanges and how to mitigate them.
Saturday 9:30am - 11am
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Applying La Verdadera Destreza to Spear
research
Sean Reichman
Sean's take on applying the La Verdadera Destreza (LVD) principles into using spear, including spear hot takes and trash talk of other spear styles.
Saturday 11:30am - 1pm
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Old Swords, Modern Concepts
refinement
Ross Davies
Modern fencing coaches often use the Tactical Wheel to explain how fencers create and exploit opportunities through a cycle of actions and responses. This workshop explores how that framework can be applied to historical fencing, using Bolognese sword and buckler as a case study.
Saturday 11:30am - 1pm
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Hawe about it? Utilising rotation actions (hewing) in your fencing
research
James Buchannan
Working from Liechtenauer's zedel, this workshop will demonstrate how the idea of 'cutting' can be separated into two distinct motions - the rotational, point-leading 'hew'; and the lateral, strong-leading 'slash'.
Saturday 2pm - 3:30pm
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Internal Kung Fu mechanics
refinement
James Wran
Internal arts of Chinese Kung Fu: Demystifying the woo woo... Or structure! structure! Structure!
Saturday 2pm - 3:30pm
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Battle of the Crosses
refinement
Jonathon Lee
Wrenching with the crossguard and pommel to gain advantage.
Sunday 2pm - 3:30pm
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Pendulum and Lever - the divided framework of 19C German Fencing
research
James Buchannan
This workshop will explore the distinction between 19C German Hiebfechten (cut fencing/sabre) and Stossfechten (thrust fencing/smallsword)...
Sunday 9:30am - 11am
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The Shield Within the Sword: Closing Lines and Creating Two-Tempo Versetzen
refinement
Dan Arnold
The longsword is not only a weapon for striking — it is also a means of controlling and denying space. This workshop focuses on the use of the strong of the blade as a “shield”...
Sunday 9:30am - 11am
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Understanding Renaissance Fencers and their Treatises: a Social History of renaissance Fencing and how Fencers Read their Treatises
research
John Chinn
A social history of fencing in the late sixteenth to mid seventeenth century either looking just at England...
Sunday 11:30am - 1pm
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Defense dans la Rue - the French art of personal combat
refinement
Craig Gemeiner
As a French system of personal combat Defense dans la Rue, meaning ‘defense in the street’....
Sunday 11:30am - 1pm
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Smallsword 101 - So. Much. Panache
research
Sharon McHugh Reichman
Welcome to the most elegant of swords! This will be an introduction to smallsword, with a composite system that draws from a range of source texts...
Sunday 2pm - 3:30pm
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Acknowledgements
Swordwork Brisbane was made possible thanks to the Lord Mayor’s Community Fund, and the hard working volunteers in the fencing community.
We acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people as the traditional custodians of this land. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
We are an Inclusive Community
We aim to be a welcoming, safe, and fun. We are committed to making our event open to all, and to ensuring that HEMA reflects the communities in which we live. We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming place for people of all ages, abilities, genders, cultural, ethnic or religious backgrounds or socio-economic status.
Discriminatory language or anti-social conduct is not tolerated in any form. We honour Companion Cards issued by state governments.
Contact
Location: Queen of Apostles School hall,
10 Thuruna St, Stafford, QLD
10 Thuruna St, Stafford, QLD
Email: swordworkbrisbane@gmail.com
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