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University of Illinois South Quad

1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana, IL 61801

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Site Map

Schedule:

	General	Blue	Red	Green	Discussion
8 am	Site Opens
9 am
10 am		Intro to Naval Cutlass	Mastering Tempo		How to Issue a Challenge
10:30 am					Drop Tester Signatures for MIT
11 am	Lunch Available	Sword vs Spear		Office Hours: Master Gwynneth	Review of Youth Rapier Rules
Noon		Spear 101	Fighting Case: Melee and Single	Looking Good: Theatrics of Fencing in the SCA	Marshal Continuing Education
1 pm		Why Grapple?	How to Analyze a Fight	Finding and Gaining the Blade	Rethinking the Road to Peerage
2 pm		Musashi and Rapier		Intro to the Five Words of Liechtenauer		Footwork for Fencers with Disabilities
2:30 pm						Methods of Learning
3 pm	St Jude Presentation	Grappling: Why Historic Tecniques Aren't Working			Setting Your Victory Conditions
3:30 pm
4 pm	Company of St Jude Challenge
5 pm
6 pm	Potluck Picnic: Pickups remain open
7 pm
8 pm	Site Closes

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Time: 10am - 11am
Class: Intro to Naval Cutlass 101
Instructor: James Dunbar
Description: Focusing on elements from Angelo and Lt Pringle Green. A 1 hour basic course on gripping the Cutlass, basic footwork, a few cuts and parrys. Cutlass was designed to be taught to the common man with no prior training. Loaner weapons will be a available. While this is a bit past the SCA cutoff these basic principles will easily transfer into C&T and will give a good foundation to build on

Time: 10am - 10:30am
Class: How to Issue a Challenge
Instructor: Sir Logos vom Schnecke
Description: A brief guideline on how to issue challenges to schools and for duels based on historical examples.

Time: 10am - Noon
Class: Mastering Tempo
Instructor: Warder Raphael di Merisi
Description: Tempo can often present itself as one of the most elusive aspects of fencing. In this hands on class, we will firm up our understandings of what tempo really is, how it was perceived in period, and how we can use it in our fights today. What we learn here will apply to all weapons forms seen across the SCA.

Time: 10:30am - 11am
Class: Drop Tester Signatures for Marshals in Training
Instructor: Warder Roland de Sullane
Description: A class on the proper use of a drop tester from the Midlands Regional Marshal for all MIT still needing this signature.

Time: 11am - Noon
Class: Office Hours with Master Gwynneth
Instructor: Master Gwynneth verch Ieuan
Description: Receive one-on-one attention and advice in 5-15 minute batches on improving your game from Master Gwynn.

Time: 11am - Noon
Class: Sword VS Spear
Instructor: Maitre Philippe de Lyon
Description: A look at what the period manuals had to say about defending yourself with a sword when your opponent has a Spear.

Time: 11am - Noon
Class: Review of Youth Rapier Rules
Instructor: Baroness Oda Umi
Description: MIT process, youth authorized, and marshal review for youth rapier combat.

Time: Noon - 1pm
Class: Looking Good: The Theatrics of Fencing in the SCA
Instructor: Baron John Inchingham
Description: An overview of rapier combat as a GAME within the Society for Creative Anachronism, this fast-paced class, filled with insight and perspective, has been popular at Fencing Academies and Workshops since before Rapier Combat was a legal Middle Kingdom activity. Students are asked to bring fencing equipment and weapons but NO sparring will take place.

Time: Noon - 1pm
Class: Spear 101: Spear Basics
Instructor: Warder Kat die Herrliche
Description: A focused introduction to the basics of using a spear based on period manual instructions on useful rapier and melee spear context.

Time: Noon - 1pm
Class: Continuing Education for Midrealm Rapier Marshals
Instructor: Warder Roland de Sullane
Description: Rules and policies review and refresher. All Midrealm marshals must have completed this course no later than September 16th 2023.

Time: Noon - 1pm
Class: Fighting With Two Swords in Melee and Singles.
Instructor: Master Kai Tseng
Description: You have two hands. Why not use two swords? Learn strategies and tactics for the use of two swords in single combat and and melee.

Time: 1pm - 2pm
Class: Why Grapple and What Do I Do With My Body?
Instructor: Warder Giovanni aus Innsbruck
Description: This class teaches the basics of grappling and what to do with your body. This class is beginner friendly and has lessons to pass the grappling authorization - like learning how to fall and roll.

Time: 1pm - 3pm
Class: How to Analyze a Fight
Instructor: Warder Raphael di Merisi
Description: Working from the ground up, this class will help you gain a deeper understanding of why your opponent does what they do as well as why your hands are going where they're already going.

Time: 1pm - 2pm
Class: Rethinking the Road to Peerage
Instructor: Master Gwynneth verch Ieuan
Description: A fresh look at the journey to Peer but without the burnout. It’s not worth it if you run out of gas.

Time: 1pm - 2pm
Class: Finding and Gaining the Blade
Instructor: Warder Liu Kuaici
Description: A clarification of the distinction between Finding the Sword and Gaining the Blade. How each are done and what advantages you gain from them.

Time: 2pm -2:30pm
Class: Learning Footwork for Fencers with Disabilities
Instructor: Lord Teodor Ben Dov
Description: This class will be an informal discussion on how to best adapt the lessons from fencing manuals to the needs of new fencers with disabilities that affect footwork.

Time: 2pm - 3pm
Class: Musashi and Rapier
Instructor: THL Kurosawa Hayao
Description: A basic class discussing what Musashi says on the use of 2 handed weapons and how it can translate in use against rapier. Only a mask will be required.

Time: 2pm - 4pm
Class: Intro to Using the Five Words of Liechtenauer
Instructor: Apollonia von Berlichingen
Description: The Five Words of Liechtenauer are said to contain the whole of the art of fencing, and lay at the heart of the broad German fencing tradition. Learn what these words are, what they mean, and how to apply them to your fencing in this intro-level course.

Time: 2:30pm - 4pm
Class: Methods of Learning: Developing An Approach for Your Student
Instructor: Master Gwynneth verch Ieuan
Description: Do you teach or help others with fencing? Do you know nothing about pedagogy, either? Come get the quick and dirty on how people learn so you can be more effective for each of your students.

Time: 3pm - 4pm
Class: Why Don't My Historical Tecniques Work?
Instructor: Warder Giovanni aus Innsbruck
Description: This class shows how to get past oponents guards to be able to execute grappling historical techniques. You need to have a basic understanding of grappling for this class.

Time: 3pm - 4pm
Class: Setting Your Victory Conditions
Instructor: Master Kai Tseng
Description: Tournaments can only have one winner. Let's discuss ways to set victory conditions for students at different levels of practice to empower students to measure their progress constructively.

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Thorbjorn's Favor

At the next Midlands Academy of Defense (September 2nd, 2023) hosted by the Shire of Caer Gwyn, fencers will be asked to elect a new bearer of Thorbjorn's Favor. The current bearer is Warder Raphael di Merisi.

Thorbjorn's Favor is a traveling honor, created in remembrance of Master Thorbjorn the Greysides, awarded once a year to an attendee of the Middle Kingdom Academy of Defense. Citizens of the Middle Kingdom and of the kingdoms of Northshield, Ealdormere and Calontir are eligible. Those gentles who have already borne the favor (see list below) are not eligible to bear it again. The bearer is chosen each year by a vote of those fencers in attendance. Tie votes are decided by the previous bearer. The new bearer is asked to wear the favor until the next MKAoD, and to have their name added to the favor before passing it on to the new bearer.

BEARERS OF THORBJORN'S FAVOR:

1. Master John Inchingham the Fool, OL, OP;
2. Master Fritz von Bare, OL;
3. Sir Guillaume LaFort, KSCA;
4. Master Adam Comyn, MOD;
5. Master Alexander de Seton, OP;
6. Master Christian de Fournier, OL, MOD;
7. Master Mateo Montero de Madrid, MOD;
8. Warder Gallien le Cavalier de L'lle;
9. Master Philippe de Leon, OL, OP;
10. Mistress Moira MacGillavrey, OP;
11. Master Anton du Marais, MOD, OP;
12. Master Terrance of Tynedale, MOD, OL;
13. Master Kai Tseng, MOD;
14. Master Adhamh MacAoidh, MOD;
15. The Honorable Lord Liam Martini;
16. Defender Cecil DuPont, MOD;
17. Master Peter Grau von Bremen, MOD;
18. Defender Adam CarMychel, MOD;
19. Maestra Anna Reimer von Wolfenbuttel, MOD;
20. Mistress Azriel le Fey, MOD;
21. Sir Lucas Otto Gustav Oswald Stephan von Schnecke (called "Logos"), KSCA, OP, MOD, OL;
22. Master Gerard Montague, MOD;
23. Master Gwynneth verch Ieuan, MOD;
24. Warder Raphael di Merisi

Company of St Jude Challenge

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All who practice the Art of Defense and wish to test themselves are called on to present a written Bill of Challenge to the Officers of the Company of St. Jude on the Second day of September at the Midlands Academy of Defense.

The Bill should declare in writing the challenger’s intent to prove themselves against the Company, their chosen weapon(s) and style(s) that will be on display, and announce their qualities which shall be evaluated by the Company.

The Company will judge the following qualities of each challenger:

• Prowess - a combination of your score during the challenger bouts (best of 3, with Y* company members) as well as any impressive feats we observed while you were on the field. (Limit one style/weapon configuration per company member. Number of company members will be determined on site depending on participation.)
• Scholarship - any research that went into your kit, your style, your day camp, and your presentation! Feel free to include a written document if you think this will go over the 1 to 2 minute time limit for your presentation.
• Presentation - a combination of your comportment on and off the field, your official presentation (including any retinue, day camp, etc), as well as any efforts to go above and beyond to bring your best attempt at historical accuracy!

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A sign up sheet for the challenge will be available at the MOL table, anyone interested in participating must have their information on the list by 12pm.

Challengers will need to submit their written bill of challenge to the Company no later than 1pm. The bill of challenge should include the challenger’s intent to display their knowledge, prowess, and comportment for the Company of St Jude.

We want to see your everything A-game!

Challengers are encouraged to set up their day camp near the challenge list if they would like, especially if their day camp should be included as part of their presentation.

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12:00 pm - Challenge sign up closes

1:00 pm - Written Bill of Challenge submissions deadline

3:00 - 3:30 pm Presentation

Challengers will line up to process and present their challenges to the Company and the populace (time limit of 1 or 2 minutes depending on number of participants.) Participants are encouraged to bring an entourage and any other flair they desire, so long as they remain within time constraints.

4:00 - 5:00 pm Challenger Bouts

Challengers will be limited to 3 passes with Y company members, and will be tracked by best of 3. Please choose one style per company member, and have any gear or weapon changes ready to go. We will likely split into pools, depending on the number of challengers.

6:00 pm Picnic/potluck

Join the Company for a post-challenge picnic. Everyone is welcome! Bring something to share if you’re able (please include an ingredient list if it doesn’t come with one from a store)

7:00 pm Pickups with St Jude

If you didn’t get enough fighting during the day, come get some pick ups in before you pack up and head home!

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Lunch

A lunch option is available on-site from 11am-2pm.

Cost: Free (Donation optional) - any profit will be donated to the Pennsic Rapier Scholarship Fund.

Menu

• Ham, Turkey, or peanut butter sandwiches
• Selection of chips
• Fruit
• Cookies
• Water and lemonade

Should you prefer a different fare - There are over 100 food options within walking distance, with just as many available for delivery to the site.