Welcome to the School of Arms and Armour. This is a guide to information and resources that will guide you through your study of the Kunst des Fechtens.
If you have not already found it, the website Resources page has a range of information and links.
Classes
Classes are held at the Weston Creek Community Centre. Entry is through the carpark side doors.
- Monday (Blossfechten- longsword, dagger and wrestling) 6:30pm – 8:30pm.
- Wednesday (Harnischfechten- pollaxe, spear and ½ sword) 6:30pm – 8:00pm.
- Most classes finish with a visit to either Raiders or the Irish Club for food and drinks.
Uniform
Our school uniform consists of a black V-Neck martial arts top, with black track pants and dark shoes (trainers or skate shoes are recommended, avoid heavy boots). The tops are normally in stock (speak to a committee member to buy one), until then a black t-shirt is fine. More elaborate types of practice jackets may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Class Rules
- We are all training in an art reserved for gentlewomen/men and warriors, and all students will behave in accordance with these ideals at all times.
- All students will salute their training partners before each round of practice.
- All students will acquire the uniform of the school as soon as possible and will wear it correctly in each class. The uniform must be neat, clean, and in good repair.
- All techniques must be performed safely and responsibly.
- All students are responsible to maintaining the equipment they use and ensuring it is clean and in good repair.
School Structure
Our School Grading System (add link to grading document) is loosely based around that of a medieval guild.
A beginner is a ‘novice’. From there the School has two distinct pathways. Blossfechten (unarmoured fighting) and Harnischfechten (armoured fighting). You may grade up in one without grading up in the other.
The grades denote the level of competency a student has over techniques in the curriculum and the level of understanding they have over fight concepts. knowledge of medieval history, culture, and source material such as manuscripts is a part of curriculum. Grades are denoted by a leather leg strap or garter that is tied around the left leg just under the knee.
The grades are:
- Novice – no garter
- Apprentice – black garter
- Journeyman – red garter
- Master – white garter
Grading tests a scheduled throughout the year.
Videos
There are a huge number of instructional videos over on the Die Schlachtschule YouTube channel. I highly recommend you watch these until we can get our own content happening.
A play list of basic instruction can be found here.
It is always a good idea to review the relevant videos both before and after class…WTFV…
Books
We use the books published by Hugh Knight. The full list is here.
The Knightly Art of the Longsword. This is the main book for longsword. You should get your own copy and I would recommend getting the spiral bound version.
Die Schlachtschule Fechtbuch. This an aide mémoire for students of our school to learn all of the techniques we practice.
There are a number of other books and you should be getting them as you begin working with that particular weapon form.
Equipment
Yes, everyone wants to race out and get themselves a cool sword…
We have the basic equipment for you to begin training. However, at some stage you will want to get your own gear. Good training sword do not come cheap, so it is best to stage purchasing equipment over time. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING without talking to your instructor or senior students. We require very specific gear in class. This goes double for armour. We do regular bulk orders for wasters, masks and swords to try to keep the cost down.
Here is a list of what you will eventually need.
Waster (wooden training sword)
Steel training Sword-
Alternatively, I have cash to burn and want the best.
