The main purpose of this event is to give folks practicing HEMA/WMA in and near Michigan a chance to meet and the opportunity to fence with others outside their own club.

We have reserved a reasonable size shelter, in case of inclement weather, that also has restrooms, water and grill. The surrounding area is grass with lots of shade trees.

Basic Schedule(Details Below):
10:00 - 11:00 Arrive
11:00 - 5:00 Classes, activities, open fencing (a signed waiver is required for participation)
5:00 - ???? Open food

Food: The Sword Club will provide hot dogs, burgers, buns, condiments and chips along with ice and charcoal. BYO beverages (beer and wine is permitted - after fencing) and anything else you may desire.

Suggested Donation: $10.

Equipment: There is no specific equipment requirements for this event. Plan on bringing the weapons and protective gear that you normally train with. A limited number of fencing masks, gloves and weapons will be available.

10:00 - 11:00 - Arrive, make introductions, sign waivers, etc.

11:00 - 11:30 - Conditioning Swap Meet, David Farrell (Ars Gladii), an informal warmup session where participants or groups are encouraged to bring an exercise to share.

11:30 - 12:30 - An introduction to medieval dagger fighting, Kyle Tansek (Michigan Medieval Combat Association), Participants will learn the basics of 15th century German dagger fighting, through techniques described by Andre Leigniczer.

12:30 - 1:00 - Longsword: Seeing pathways through the fight, David Hoornstra (Ann Arbor Sword Club), A short presentation with exercises. Focus is on seeing, feeling and using direct and indirect pathways to the target with special emphases on footwork and “riding” on and “through” the opponent’s sword. Includes a short digression on creating pathways where none appear.

1:00 - 1:30 - Break, open fencing

1:30 - 2:30 - Vigny La Canne, Chris Gregurich (Capital City Martial Arts), A system created by Pierre Vigny in the 1800s based on a mixture of several indigenous European self defense methods, resulting in an effective stick fighting method using a gentlemen's walking stick.

2:30 - 3:30 - L’Arte d'Armizare of Fiore dei Liberi, the CliffsNotes Version, Dave Farrell (Ars Gladii), This class will briefly explore some core principles of the Art of Arms (L’Arte d’Armizare) as described by Fiore dei Liberi around 1410, using the relationship between the sword in two hands and other weapons described in his manuscripts. Equipment Needed: Longsword trainer, dagger trainer, mask.

3:30 - 4:00 - Break, open fencing

4:00 - 5:00 - Paired Techniques Demo/Competition, Adam Franti (Ann Arbor Sword Club), A demonstration of interpretation and execution of a specific technique from a period manual in a way that shows your familiarity, application, skill and control in (safely) pulling it off at speed. Those who wish to present/compete, please download the “Spar-BQ Paired Techniques Details and Rules” from the "Document Downloads" section of this page or the “Files” tab on the Michigan HEMA Associations Facebook page.

5:00 - ???? - Open Fencing, Open food