Seneca Savoie

Lesson: Tactical Funnels in Lecküchner's Messer

Weapon: Messer Student

Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Equipment: Mask, Gloves, Gorget, One-Handed Weapon (Messer, Dussack, or equivalent)

Seneca has been practicing HEMA since 2020, and currently coaches at Arena Weapon Arts, growing the club to one of the largest in Texas. A Messer fanatic since 2021, Seneca leverages his previous experience in powerlifting, kettlebell sport, and Filipino martial arts to build adaptable athletes. Drawing from The Art of Swordsmanship by Hans Lecküchner, this lesson focuses on learning a series of cues for beginning Messer fencers to manage distance, initial contact, selecting guards in the approach, and limiting opponent options by funneling and responding to committed attacks. Come and get a fresh perspective as Seneca teaches this streamlined approach to Messer! Sign up today and don't miss out!

More from Arena Weapon Arts: https://www.arenaweaponarts.org/

Charles Turner

Lesson: Don’t Make Rapier so Difficult!
Weapon: Rapier
Student Level: Beginner to Advanced
Equipment: Bring your rapier!

After being involved in HEMA for 10 years, Turners’ primary area of study is late period Italian rapier, specializing specifically on the mixed traditions of the French, Spanish, and Italian systems in the late 16 and early 1700s. Come join us as Charles presents an overview on the late period masters' preference on blade engagement and how to manipulate the bind through a number of stacked advantages including: footwork, grip style, areas of the blade, and distance control.

Tim D'Ambrosio

Lesson: Lateral Movement in Longsword
Weapon: Longsword
Student Level: Beginner
Equipment: Mask, Gloves, Gorget, Longsword or Feder

Tim is the owner and head instructor of Monarch Historical Fencing, and has been fencing and studying treatises since 2008. Tim uses his experience teaching after school programs and streaming video games to make his classes more than just educational, but entertaining as well. With a heavy focus on the Italian system of Fiore de Liberi, Tim's martial ambition for his students is "If an evil wizard teleports you to 14th century Italy, I want you to be able to defend yourself with and against the weapons of the day." Tim believes that the art of fencing is a canvas, and each of us must find what brushes, paints, and strokes fit our style the best. He works hard to encourage individuality in his students.

In this class students will learn lateral footwork, how to use it, and how to recognize its use and efficacy in popular fencing techniques by Fiore and Meyer. Don't worry, there will only be a little bit of reading!

More from Monarch Historical Fencing:
https://www.monarchhf.com 

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Phil Tucker is a fantastic and acclaimed fantasy writer that is well known for his intense but realistically written action and fight elements in his novels. 

Mr Tucker is attending Gesellen Fechten to help share some of his love of writing incredible fantasy and fight scenes with people that might appreciate it the most! Phil incorporates HEMA (and in our opinion he captures the Art perfectly) into his recent series "Throne Hunters", a series loosely based on fencing, and rpg leveling and dungeon mechanics. 

Phil will be teaching and discussing his methods on combat in fiction and how to balance that line between fantastical and realism to capture the readers imagination. 

Link to his info here: 
https://authorphiltucker.com/

Tim Guerinot

Lesson: Reading Intention & Executing the Engagement
Weapon: Rapier
Student Level: Beginner to Advanced
Equipment: Mask, Gloves, Gorget, Rapier, Sidesword, or Smallsword

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Tim Guerinot is a passionate historical fencing leader and instructor with deep expertise in both modern and historical fencing. With multiple students ranked in the top 30 worldwide and numerous U.S. Fencing Association championships to his name, Tim is recognized for his excellence in Italian fencing pedagogy and his dedication to advancing the art through programs like the youth-focused Musketeer initiative.

This workshop immerses fencers in the art of reading an opponent’s intention and executing decisive engagements drawn from Francesco Marcelli’s Rules of Fencing. Participants will learn to approach safely from out of distance, use engagements to reveal intention through scommosa, and apply binds, pressures, and oppositions with precision—even against a refused guard. Whether you’re new to the Neapolitan system or refining advanced skills, this session sharpens control of tempo, distance, and tactical response. Bring your rapier or transitional weapon and come ready to test intention against action!

More from All For One Fencing at afofencing.com

Josias Arcadia

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Lesson: Bind over Matter: Trust in the Thrust

Weapon: Longsword Student

Level: Beginner to Advanced

Equipment: Mask, Gloves, Gorget, Longsword or Feder

Josias Arcadia has been studying and practicing HEMA for over ten years and specializes in Kunst des Fechtens, taking a holistic approach to the lineage and tradition of Lichtenauer. Josias is a student of James Reilly of Goliath Historical Fencing and holds the rank of Scholar.  Students will learn the basic mechanics of the thrust with the longsword in order to constrain their opponent and remove guesswork during a bind. All skill levels will learn something from this class: beginning students will develop mechanical and technical skills; advanced students will develop understanding in the framework underlying binding actions and the Five Words of Kunst de Fechtens. Drawing from 3227a, Ringeck, Danzig, Lew, and Meyer, this lesson will teach students how to structure and time a thrust correctly, how to continue developing a sense of structure and rhythm, follow up actions to the thrust, and the basic heuristics of Lichtenauer's art to continue skill development beyond the seminar.

Donny McKay

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Lesson: I.33 - From Theory to Practice

Weapon: Sword and Buckler

Student Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Equipment: Arming Sword/Sidesword and Buckler + Mask, Gloves, Gorget

Donny McKay began his HEMA training in 2017 with the Schlüssel Historical Fencing Group in Belton, TX. A historical enthusiast and head instructor of Vier Blossen Historical Fencing, McKay has studied longsword, messer, sabre, and sword and buckler extensively. With an emphasis on exploring the binding sequences of I.33, this lesson will offer techniques and strategies from the pages of the famous Fechtbucker and how to best translate them into a competitive HEMA context.

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Find more of McKay's content at:

https://FunkyBuckler.com