Learn to fence at one of our Historical Martial Arts classes in NSW & Tasmania
It is a curiosity that British fencing sources are all but devoid of instructions on knife or dagger fighting. Continental medieval and renaissance sources generally spend a considerable time on defence from the dagger, both with a dagger and unarmed, yet no British source even mentions it, apart from a very brief and rather unsatisfactory … Continue reading English Knife Fighting – The Alehouse Dagger
Why a shinai? The "singlestick" or "cudgel" was a traditional training tool for the practice of English backsword, as well as being a weapon in its own right. Sporting singlesticks were made from light ash saplings, kept soaking in a trough of water to keep them flexible, and given leather or wicker basket-hilts. Armour consisted … Continue reading Making a Basket Hilted Shinai
Despite common perception, armour was in fact not uncommon in the Highlands up until the 17th century, at least for the elite of the clan warriors. There are a number of written references describing Highland armour: 1) In 1322, at the seige of Roxburgh, Donald of the Isles came with a great body of men … Continue reading The Highland Cotun
Stoccata School of Defence 