Loading Map....

Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/02/2024 - 28/02/2024
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Location
Redfern Town Hall Large Hall

Categories


(L)ongsword, (G)reat sword, (B)astard sword,  (T)wo-handed sword:

Queer swordplay workshops (on a Wednesday)

Join us as we celebrate pride month with a series of lessons on fencing with longsword for the queer community (and friends).

We’ll be running two lots of workshops one on Tuesdays and the other on Wednesdays, this pass is for the Wednesday series of workshops.

For the month of February we’ll be learning the two-handed sword system described in Alfred Hutton’s Old SwordPlay (https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Old_Sword_play/A_ZBAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0). The lessons will cover the basics of longsword fencing technique and provide a gentle induction into sparring with longswords. The system we’re using is based on the writings of Victorian Era gentleman fencer Alfred Hutton, who was one of the first modern people to reconstruct medieval swordplay. A video lesson detailing the system can be found at: https://youtu.be/4wyECk2yxzw

The Old Sword Club is a proud part of the queer community. We were founded by queer people to be a safe and encouraging space for queer people to practice HEMA, and boast a predominantly queer membership, including the instructor and organising collective.

The workshops will take place each Wednesday from 7.00pm in the Redfern Town Hall (73 Pitt St, Redfern NSW 2016) a short walk from Redfern train station.

Workshop schedule

Workshop 1 – Basic attacks and defence (7/2/2024)

  1. Warm up
  2. The engaging guard
  3. The six basic cuts
  4. Cutting with passing steps
  5. The guards of quarte, tierce, second and septime
  6. Ripostes
  7. Chatting, bouting, plastron sessions, and a drill for Tim until we go to the pub

Workshop 2 – Distance and footwork (14/2/2024)

  1. Warm up
  2. Theory of distance
  3. Advancing and retreating steps
  4. Measuring extension distance
  5. How to lunge
  6. Measuring lunge distance
  7. Chatting, bouting, plastron sessions, and a drill for Tim until we go to the pub

Workshop 3 – Parry Riposte (21/2/2024)

  1. Warm up
  2. Review of cuts
  3. Review of guards
  4. Combining guards with attacks
  5. Slow riposte drill
  6. Chatting, bouting, plastron sessions, and a drill for Tim until we go to the pub

Workshop 4 – Thrusting and pommel strikes (28/2/2024)

  1. Warm up
  2. Thrusts in tierce and quarte
  3. Parry and riposting thrusts
  4. Pommel strikes
  5. Chatting, bouting, plastron sessions, and a drill for Tim until we go to the pub

While regularly attending training at The Old Sword Club you will count as a member of the club and gain all the benefits that come with that.

If you have any questions, please contact admin@theoldswordclub.com

Anyone attending events run by The Old Sword Club is expected to abide the following:

  • Mutual respect – the Club’s culture is built on a basis of mutual respect, treat every single person, member or not, that is attached to the Club with courtesy, respect and politeness.
  • We are progressive and very anti-bigotry – the Club is designed to be a safe space for marginalised groups. We do not tolerate sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism or ageism.
  • Respect for boundaries – Do not touch, hug or enter into the personal space of someone without checking if they’re okay with it first.
  • Don’t play to win, Win by playing – Sword fighting is a fun hobby, and while there are competitive aspects our main goal is to create a friendly atmosphere that is enjoyable for everyone. Don’t get fixated if you “win” or “lose”, the point of the club is to have fun fencing without needing to keep score or be better than anyone else.
  • Ask for consent before sparring or drilling – Before engaging in drills, sparring or anything involving weapon you must have the full informed consent of your training partners. A person may withdraw their consent at any time, they are not required to explain why or justify doing so.
  • Active communication with participants – Make sure you are activity communicating with your training partners about your needs and regularly check in with them. Especially check in about safety expectations, injuries, and the intensity of drilling or bouting to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of your training partners.
  • Follow the safety rules – Make sure you follow the safety rules and safety directions from instructors and other participants.

We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people as the custodians of the land in which our events take place and pay our respects to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal Peoples. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

Bookings

This event is fully booked.

Leave a Reply