Live Teaching + Online Learning

Hello sword-and-shield enthusiasts,

Next year promises to be an exciting one for practitioners of the art of sword and buckler fencing. Cornelius and I will be teaching I.33 sword and buckler combat together, and giving lectures at Fechtschule 2025, hosted by De Hallebardiers. Join us, shield in hand, from 2–4 May 2025 in Bruges. You can find more information about the event on the Fechtschule 2025 Facebook pages.

In martial arts, nothing compares to live instruction. Cornelius and I are excited to offer you a first-hand experience of our approach to I.33 and historical sword fighting in general at Fechtschule 2025. However, for a deeper exploration, much more time is required, and this is where our online courses come in.

Sebastiaan Pollet, from the Fechtschule 2025 organisational board, is enthusiastic about our foundational online course:

If you're unsure how an online course works, feel free to check out the free previews.

Our journey continues with a new course currently in development. This second course will cover the wards with the sword raised over the left or right shoulder, along with their respective counters. We will demonstrate the options available to both fighters in the ensuing situations, adding an important range of techniques to what we cover in Course 1 on the first ward against half-shield. Additionally, we will address strategies for when one of the fighters is left-handed.

We are working hard to release this new course before the end of the year. It will frequently refer back to the fundamentals established in Course 1.

If you're eager to access the 6.5 hours of demonstrations, explanations, drills, and exercises from Course 1, you can now benefit from a 35% discount, available exclusively to my newsletter subscribers. Furthermore, owners of Course 1 will receive the best value when Course 2 is released, so now is the perfect time to lay the foundation for your medieval buckler combat journey.

Berlin Buckler Bouts

For experienced practitioners looking to test their mettle and enjoy the camaraderie of sword-and-buckler fighters from around the world, the Berlin Buckler Bouts are not to be missed. This twice-annual free training event will continue in 2025, with dates to be announced soon. However, the BBB 22 will take place over the weekend of 23–24 November 2024. Fencers from the US, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany have already signed up, so if you’d like to join us, don’t hesitate—send me an email to confirm your spot. You can find all the relevant information here.

So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your blade well-honed.

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To learn to fight, consult our sword & buckler online course.

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Yours,

Roland

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