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 19:00 - 20:30
Medieval Longsword
This class focuses specifically on the use of the longsword or the sword-in-two-hands from a variety of different sources. We are blessed with a wealth of manuscripts from the late medieval and early renaissance periods from many different places around Europe that precisely detail how to use the longsword in various situations ranging from on the battlefield through to self defence and even judicial duelling. We will occasionally look at grappling techniques or the use of the dagger as these support our training with the longsword, and when time allows we will delve into other related weapons from the period such as the spear, staff, and pollaxe.
Medieval Longsword
This class focuses specifically on the use of the longsword or the sword-in-two-hands from a variety of different sources. We are blessed with a wealth of manuscripts from the late medieval and early renaissance periods from many different places around Europe that precisely detail how to use the longsword in various situations ranging from on the battlefield through to self defence and even judicial duelling. We will occasionally look at grappling techniques or the use of the dagger as these support our training with the longsword, and when time allows we will delve into other related weapons from the period such as the spear, staff, and pollaxe.
Tuesday 20:30 - 22:00
Medieval Single Handed Sword
This class focuses on the use of the sword-in-one-hand, primarily from Johannes Lecküchner's 1482 treatise on the langes-messer or 'long-knife'. As with the longsword class 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 that support our studies such as the spear, staff, and pollaxe.
Medieval Single Handed Sword
This class focuses on the use of the sword-in-one-hand, primarily from Johannes Lecküchner's 1482 treatise on the langes-messer or 'long-knife'. As with the longsword class 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 that support our studies such as the spear, staff, and pollaxe.
Wednesday 19:00 - 20:30
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.
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 - 21:45
Modern 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.
Modern 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.
Thursday 19:00 - 20:30
Classical Pugilism
On Thursday evenings we take a look at classical pugilism, the bare knuckle prizefighting martial art that dovetails very nicely with our work on catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Sparring is optional but encouraged and generally speaking we wear headguards and light MMA gloves. As fun as it would be to re-create the prize fights of old we all have jobs to go to the next day that would frown upon broken noses, cut eyebrows and black eyes. Each lesson consists of solo work, pad work and partner drill so you can learn the intricacies of these unique fighting systems before choosing to spar should you so wish to.
Classical Pugilism
On Thursday evenings we take a look at classical pugilism, the bare knuckle prizefighting martial art that dovetails very nicely with our work on catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Sparring is optional but encouraged and generally speaking we wear headguards and light MMA gloves. As fun as it would be to re-create the prize fights of old we all have jobs to go to the next day that would frown upon broken noses, cut eyebrows and black eyes. Each lesson consists of solo work, pad work and partner drill so you can learn the intricacies of these unique fighting systems before choosing to spar should you so wish to.
Thursday 20:30 - 22:30
More Catch wrestling! This class began as a more advanced class with the Wednesday night originally aiming to be something of a beginner focused class. Whilst we still recommend newer students attend the Wednesday night we can make exceptions if you are keen to give wrestling a try but cannot make the Wednesday classes.
More Catch wrestling! This class began as a more advanced class with the Wednesday night originally aiming to be something of a beginner focused class. Whilst we still recommend newer students attend the Wednesday night we can make exceptions if you are keen to give wrestling a try but cannot make the Wednesday classes.
