When We Train
Please get in touch to discuss attendance at any of our classes; some are currently full and we can add you to a waiting list.
Tuesday 20:00 - 22:00
Medieval Swordplay and Combatives
This class focuses on medieval swordplay, starting with the use of the sword in one hand primarily from Johannes Lecküchner's 1482 treatise on the langes-messer or 'long-knife'. Once students become adept with the messer they can progress to study the two-handed longsword or the use of the sword with a buckler in the off-hand. We will sometimes look at medieval dagger and grappling techniques that support our work with the sword, and when time and space allow we consider other more specialist weapons from the German medieval tradition such as the spear and pollaxe.
Medieval Swordplay and Combatives
This class focuses on medieval swordplay, starting with the use of the sword in one hand primarily from Johannes Lecküchner's 1482 treatise on the langes-messer or 'long-knife'. Once students become adept with the messer they can progress to study the two-handed longsword or the use of the sword with a buckler in the off-hand. We will sometimes look at medieval dagger and grappling techniques that support our work with the sword, and when time and space allow we consider other more specialist weapons from the German medieval tradition such as the spear and pollaxe.
Wednesday 20:30 - 22:00
Bartitsu & Suffrajitsu
This class focuses on a number of combat systems from the Edwardian and Victorian eras, from the more popular Bartitsu (popularised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as Bartisu in the Sherlock Holmes Story "The Adventure of the Empty House") to more niche systems such as Defense dans la Rue and Savate. Whilst the main weapon of this class is the walking stick it also covers unarmed techniques that were borrowed from classical jujitsu as well as some kicking and boxing.
Bartitsu & Suffrajitsu
This class focuses on a number of combat systems from the Edwardian and Victorian eras, from the more popular Bartitsu (popularised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as Bartisu in the Sherlock Holmes Story "The Adventure of the Empty House") to more niche systems such as Defense dans la Rue and Savate. Whilst the main weapon of this class is the walking stick it also covers unarmed techniques that were borrowed from classical jujitsu as well as some kicking and boxing.
Wednesday 20:30 - 22:00
Classical Pugilism
(By appointment only, please get in touch)
This class aims to explore the bare knuckle boxing techniques that were popular throughout the 18th and 19th centuries up to the publication of The Marquess of Queensberry Rules in 1867 that saw the sport largely vanish. Classical pugilism includes wrestling (known as chancery) and kicking (referred to as purring) as a part of the system and we explore these along with the punching side of the art.
Classical Pugilism
(By appointment only, please get in touch)
This class aims to explore the bare knuckle boxing techniques that were popular throughout the 18th and 19th centuries up to the publication of The Marquess of Queensberry Rules in 1867 that saw the sport largely vanish. Classical pugilism includes wrestling (known as chancery) and kicking (referred to as purring) as a part of the system and we explore these along with the punching side of the art.
Thursday 19:00 - 20:15
Reality Based Self-Defence
No-frills techniques designed to help you identify, avoid, de-escalate and should the worst occur, deal with violent 21st century confrontations that could happen to each and every one of us. This class is not run directly under the umbrella of the York School of Defence and does not focus on historical techniques. Rather it considers situations from a modern point of view and will help you learn how to avoid potentially violent situations but equip you to deal with with them if required.
Reality Based Self-Defence
No-frills techniques designed to help you identify, avoid, de-escalate and should the worst occur, deal with violent 21st century confrontations that could happen to each and every one of us. This class is not run directly under the umbrella of the York School of Defence and does not focus on historical techniques. Rather it considers situations from a modern point of view and will help you learn how to avoid potentially violent situations but equip you to deal with with them if required.
Wednesday 19:00 - 20:30 and Thursday 20:30 - 22:30
Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling
Catch wrestling is where the phrase 'no holds barred' originates from, the origins of the system appear to date back to the 1700's and it can trace its lineage back to Lancastrian and other traditional wrestling systems. It is often referred to as 'the violent art' with the aim being to either submit your opponent by making them forfeit a match through the application of pain or pin your opponent by controlling them in such a way that both shoulders are on the floor and they cannot move.
Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling
Catch wrestling is where the phrase 'no holds barred' originates from, the origins of the system appear to date back to the 1700's and it can trace its lineage back to Lancastrian and other traditional wrestling systems. It is often referred to as 'the violent art' with the aim being to either submit your opponent by making them forfeit a match through the application of pain or pin your opponent by controlling them in such a way that both shoulders are on the floor and they cannot move.
