A Rapier Workshop with Tommaso Leoni

When ? March 31, 7-10pm; April 1-2, 2006 – 9am-5pm more or less
Where ?  River Valley Community Complex (formerly Leaf River School), 
                    605 Main Street, Leaf River, IL 61047
$$ ?           $100 until March 1; $200 thereafter      Member Discount applies!
                    Students 14-18 welcome with waiver signed by attending parent; ask about Family Rate!

Salvator Fabris (1544-1618) was a legendary fencing master from Padua in northern Italy. He taught throughout Europe, instructing the Archbishop of Bremen and King Christian IV of Denmark, among many others. His reputation was unrivaled as he influenced and garnered praise from later masters including Giganti, Alfieri, Marcelli, and Thibault. While in Denmark, he published his groundbreaking rapier treatise, "Lo Schermo, overo Scienza d’Arme" (1606). 
     Perhaps more than any work before (or since), this treatise clearly and thoroughly describes the concepts and practices of the teachings of Fabris, which rely on precise understanding of measure, guards, tempo, lines of attack, and the mechanical properties and angles of blades. While falling somewhat into obscurity after his death, Fabris is now gaining popularity in the Western Martial Arts community as more practitioners discover the merits of his system, aided by the research and teaching of Tom Leoni.

Tom Leoni was born in Switzerland and grew up in northern Italy. He has an extensive education in humanities including Latin, Greek, history, philosophy, Early Music, classical music composition, and business administration. While pursuing an interest in European swordsmanship through extant primary sources, Tom discovered the works of Salvator Fabris. He has since become a tireless devotee and advocate of the master’s techniques. To the delight of many WMA students, Tom’s research culminated in 2005 with the publishing of The Art of Dueling, an excellent translation and presentation of "Lo Schermo, overo Scienza d’Arme." 
     Tom’s workshop for Gallowglass will present the rapier techniques of Fabris over two days. This is an advanced workshop primarily for student already familiar with Fabris. Sunday’s session will feature rapier and dagger techniques.

Friday evening session (with instructor Tim Lyon) is particularly for those without experience in the style of Fabris, or who have not previously trained with Tom Leoni.

Lunches & Sunday continental breakfast included. Weather permitting, we may train outdoors at River Valley Complex (605 Main Street, Leaf River, IL 61047). Please dress accordingly, and bring something to sit on during breaks. Preregister by check, money order, or by credit card thru Paypal.

Class Descriptions:

Stick Wrestling for Warm-ups and Conditioning  (Peck)
     Stick Wrestling is an age-old game that is applicable to most styles of weapon combat.  For the warm-up and conditioning portions of Scholar’s Weekend, we will learn the basics and fundamental mechanics.  Stick Wrestling is oft-times is seen as a competition easily won by a bigger or stronger participant.  Using footwork and leverage, however, even the smallest player can out-play the largest people in this game.  The first day of warm-ups will be devoted specifically to basic skills.  The second day will be devoted to competition and matching wits with your fellow attendees.
     Gear:  48” dowel rod, gloves, fencing masks.

Introduction to the Fight of George Silver  (Lyon)

     This class will introduce students to the practice of fighting with a single sword as advocated by George Silver. We will focus on the concepts of measure and tempo as well as the “True Place” and how to achieve it. In addition we will discuss Silver’s wards and how to apply them in different tactical situations. Finally, we will practice a series of passes that build in complexity to explore the variations available for each type of fight that will hopefully give students a basic repertoire of attack and defense.
     Gear: 
- Blunt backsword or sidesword of a proper length (30” – 36” blade) with a substantial hilt (a few loaners may be available)
- 3 weapon mask or equivalent
- Gorget
- Fencing jacket or equivalent padded jacket
- Sturdy gloves
- Appropriate groin protection
- Elbow and arm protection recommended

English Bare Fist Fighting   (Velez)
     This class, based on George Silver's principles of the perfect fight, Terry Brown's teachings, and my own studies, will introduce students to a system of pugilistic combat used, in part, in the early days of prize fighting in England. This often-brutal system maintains a high level of relevance for self-defense today, and is much more than a fists-only style. Along with the basic guards, blocks, and hand strikes, the class will also cover the grips, kicks, and throws of the system. Throughout, special attention will be given to key considerations of defense and power generation.

"Whosoever mindeth to exercise himselfe in this true and honorable Art or Science, it is requisite that he be indued with deep judgement, a valiant hart and great activitie, in which three qualities this exercise doth at it were delight, live and florish."
–Silver

"To avoid desperate combats my advice is for all gentlemen to take a hearty cup, and to drink friends to avoid trouble."
–McBane

Bastoncello: The Stick as a Defensive Tool     (Jacobs)

     Fiore De Liberi's manuscripts give the barest glimpses of the use of a bastoncello (small baton) as a defensive implement. These glimpses show consistent application of principles that are presented in various sections of the manuscripts. Using our understanding of the underlying principles of Fiore De Liberi's combative system, we can attempt to reconstruct how the bastoncello is used in situations beyond the glimpses shown in the manuscripts.

     Drawing mostly from the abrazare (wrestling) and daga (dagger) sections of the Getty and Pisanni-Dossi manuscripts, we'll examine some principles of Fiore's system and how those principles can be applied to various combative situations shown in the manuscripts.

     Gear Requirements:  Bastoncello - hardwood dowel, 12 to 24 inches long, 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches diameter

     Optional:  Fencing mask, padded (aka "boffer" ) bastoncello trainer, notebook & pen

Weekend Schedule (as of 5/15/06)

Saturday June 10

• 6:30 AM Warrior Track and Dousing (@"Gallowglass Manor" -- bring swimsuit and/or shorts) 
• 8:30 Site Opens (@RVC)
• 9:00 Stick Wrestling Part I (Peck)
• 10:00 Bare Knuckle Fighting (Velez)
• Noon Lunch Break
• 1:00 Intro to Silver (Lyon)
• 3:00 Staff (Tindill)
• 5:00 Review
• 6:00 Dinner!

Sunday June 11

• 6:30 Warrior Track and Dousing 
• 8:30 Site Opens
• 9:00 Stick Wrestling II (Peck)
• 10:00 Bastoncello (Jacobs)
• Noon Lunch Break
• 1:00 German Longsword (Peck)
• 3:00 Bowie (Reed)
• 5:00 Review
• 6:00 Dinner/Head for Home

Train for an entire weekend with Scott for $50 ($100 after June 1)!

 +=+=+=+=+=

October 28-29

Scheduling for WWLD has to accommodate Dr. Bill's Sunday departure time, so we'll open the training hall at 9am on Saturday, and get going by 9:30.  Sunday, we'll open at 8:30, and get going by 9am sharp.  Lunch will probably be closer to 1pm or 1:30, and then Dr. Bill's driver Kato will whisk him away.

What Would Lichtenauer Do?
An exploration of the Fechtkunst

Join Gallowglass Academy for a unique approach to the medieval German art of combat !

Many Italian masters of defense wrote about how to train a student to survive a duel with but a few days' work.  None of the available fechtbuchen of the medieval German tradition discuss such a problem.  However, Lichtenauer's precepts are well suited to meet that challenge.  Dr. William Ernoehazy will lead a weekend's training in the Fechtkunst, built on the premise that the students have but a weekend to prepare for a duel with the signature weapon of the Lichtenauer tradition, the langeschwert or longsword. The lessons will follow the fundamentals found in the teaching merkeversen.

Because of the way this weekend is organized, students need not have extensive familiarity with the Lichtenauer tradition.  However, students should have familiarity with basic historic fencing, and be prepared at times during the weekend to give and receive blows.  As close-quarter grappling and blows are an integral part of German fight, students should also be prepared to learn, give and receive such techniques, as the need arises.

Equipment:  At a minimum, students should have a stout fencing mask; a protective gorget for the neck; a fencing jacket; good gloves; and groin protection.  Wooden longsword and dagger wasters may be helpful.  Ideally, students will own a longsword simulator designed for assaults, such as are available from Darkwood Armory or MK Armory; contact the instructor -- dedoc@mac.com -- for details if you are unfamiliar with this type of fencing weapon.  A limited number of masks, gorgets, gloves and wasters may be available for loan.

About the instructor: Dr. William Ernoehazy Jr., MD, FACEP, is an emergency medicine specialist in northeast Florida. He has been an expert witness in several criminal trials dealing with emergency medicine, trauma, and strangulation. Dr. Ernoehazy is also an avid martial artist, who has studied classical saber and aikido; he currently practices and studies medieval German combat (armed and openhanded) as a member of the Tattershall School of Defense.  An avid science fiction fan, Dr, Ernoehazy often attends Worldcons, DragonCon, and the occasional relaxicon. He is also a Naval veteran, a pistol expert, and a past NASA/University Of Florida Physician Affiliate for Shuttle launch operations. Following Steven Brust’s example, he hopes to get some sleep Real Soon Now.