Come and hone your skills in the great rapier game at the Midlands Academy of Defense, 2024! There will be classes, instructional drills, an open pickup list, and opportunities to learn all day long as well as the traditional vote for Thorbjorn's Favor.

Event Information

Site Information


The Company of St Jude will be hosting a By the Book tournament, beginning at 5:30pm (And immediately followed by the potluck dinner).

The tournament is open to both historic and non-historic fighters. Historic fighters will declare a pre-1650 style or treatise they will emulate that day and if they will be fighting using standard rapier or cut & thrust rules.

The tournament will have 3 categories for entrants to win a prize.

  1. Best execution of the chosen source material
  2. Having the most wins
  3. Having the most wins by executing the style of the chosen source material.

Each round will consist of 3 judged passes. Total score wins the round.

Fighting is executed in accordance with the declared style or treatise. Points will be awarded for:

  1. Executing a declared style/treatise technique that results in winning the pass; 1 pt
  2. Winning the pass 1 pt; and
  3. Fighting in accordance with declared style/treatise 1 pt for a max score of 3 pts per pass and 9 points per round.

Grappling is allowed if both combatants are authorized and agree for the pass. Both combatants must agree that grappling will be used for each pass and to what degree.













Directions

Heritage Lake Park

1 Heritage Dr, Rantoul, IL 61866













Schedule:

Questions about the schedule or class content? Contact our class coordinator: Ursus.

General Blue Red Green Yellow
8 am Site Opens
9 am
10 am Fundamental Basics
of Fencing
 Intro to Grappling
10:30 am
 Warm-Ups &
Calisthenics
11 am Lunch
Available		 Building Your
Tactical Model
 Looking Good:
Theatrics of
Fencing in the
SCA
Noon Parry With This
You Casual
 Intro to German
Longsword		 How to Lunge
Safely		 Destreza Workshop
12:30 pm How to not
Be a Buffalo
1 pm Reading the
Melee Formation
 Grappling Game
Plan
2 pm Basics of Military
Sabre
 Feet Don't
Fail Me
3 pm Ask Us Anything Medieval Street
Fighting
 Dagger Made
Easy
4 pm Reverse
Engineering		 Cool-Down &
Stretching
5 pm
5:30 pm Tournament of St. Jude
6:30 pm Potluck Dinner: All Welcome
7 pm
8 pm Site Closes

Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Class: Fundamental Basics of Fencing: Distance, Timing, and Angle
Instructor: Warder Roland de Sullane
Description: A discussion with swords on the most fundamental building blocks of fencing. Regardless of what style or techniques you use, these elements are what you need to understand and put into practice. A few drills will be used to underscore these concepts, so bring your gear and sword. Class is especially for new and Cav Knot/AoA fighters.

Time: 10:00 am - Noon
Class: Intro to Grappling
Instructor: Warder Giovanni aus Innsbruck
Description: This class helps people understand and practice the authorization test for grappling! The first half of class is for questions people may have. The second is when We will go through a mock authorization. If you take this class individuals may not authorize in grappling same day. Please bring a C&T authroized sword and full C&T kit.

Time: 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Class: Body Conditioning Part 1 - Warm-Ups and Calisthenics
Instructor: Warder Maedhbh ny Manainn
Description: This class is the perfect way to start the day and warm up your body for a full day of fencing. We will not only be going through a series of warm-ups that you can add your routine before any practice or event, but also strengthening and conditioning exercises that you can work on outside of fencing to keep your body in good shape. All exercises will include modifiers for greater or lower intensity based on individual ability or preference.

Time: 11:00 am - Noon
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: 11:00am - Noon
Class: Building Your Tactical Model
Instructor: Warder Roland de Sullane
Description: Using the fundamentals of fencing to find what you are good at, what you're not good at, and tailoring your techniques and equipment to maximize your advantages while minimizing your disadvantages. Class will be especially geared towards Cav Knot level fencers.

Time: Noon - 12:30 pm
Class: Parry With This You Casual!
Instructor:Lord Teodor Ben Dov
Description: Are you looking to add more tools to your arsenal? Join us for a discussion on choosing the best rigid parry for your fighting.

Time: Noon - 1:00 pm
Class: How to Hau: Intro to German Longsword’
Instructor: Lady Apollonia von Berlichingen
Description: We’ll take a look at the Zornhau Ort, one core technique from the texts, and explore what it can teach us about the fundamentals of the system. Students will need mask, gorget, a two handed sword, and appropriate gloves. A small number of loaner swords and gloves will be available. Suitable for beginners.

Time: Noon - 1:00 pm
Class: How to Lunge Safely
Instructor: Master Gwynneth verch Ieuan
Description: Learn proper lunge mechanics so that you don’t injure yourself and learn proper lunge timing so you don’t “die” in the process.

Time: Noon - 2:00 pm
Class: Destreza Workshop
Instructor: Master Kai Tseng
Description: Learn the fundamentals of La Verdadera Destreza, aka fencing with math. We will cover the foundational principles of the Spanish rapier and explore drills that students and instructors alike can use.

Time: 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Class: How to Not Be a Buffalo
Instructor: Aendru of Rivenstar
Description: Learn about engagement range and how to enter it safely.

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Class: Reading the Melee Formation
Instructor: Defender Cole O’Doran
Description: Learn how to quickly identify and effectively attack common melee formations on the field. This will be an active class - Come geared to fight with your favourite melee tools.

Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Class: Grappling Game Plan
Instructor: Warder Giovanni aus Innsbruck
Description: This class is part discussion and part practice. For the first hour it will be discussing what are your plans and goals when entering a grapple. Then the second part will be introducing concepts to assist in attaining plans those plans and goal. Bring full C&T kit.

Time:2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Class: Feet, Don't Fail Me Now
Instructor: Warder Anna Jokinen
Description: Footwork provides a foundation for all we do as fighters. Come and learn fundamental principles of footwork that apply across all styles of fencing, no matter which flavor you favor.

Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Class: Basics of British Military Sabre
Instructor: James Dunbar
Description: This introductory class to early British military sabre will be structured around the early British sabre systems of Charles Roworth's manual "The Art of Defense on Foot" and Henry Angelo's manual "Sword Exercise 1817." We will cover the anatomy of the sabre, how to grip it, "the slip," the 6 cuts and parries, defense against the lunge, and some basic partner/solo drills.

Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Class: Dagger Made Easy
Instructor: Warder Liu Kuaici
Description: Learn the fundamentals of a rapier and dagger system based on the principles of the Northern Italian schools of fence. We'll explore a simple set of guards and strategies to help keep you unstabbed, and do the stabbing yourself.

Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Class:Ask Us Anything - Knowledge from Across the Fencing Journey
Instructors: Lady Anika Reyes, CCK, Warder Katerina die Herrlich, and Master Gwynneth verch Ieuan
Description: Join a Cavendish Knot, a Bronze Ring, and a Master of Defense for an hour of “ask us anything” about fencing, the rapier community, our journeys, or just what it takes to reach each level of fencing recognition.

Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Class: Medieval Street Fighting
Instructor: Warder Giovanni aus Innsbruck
Description: This class introduces tecniques for self defence as seen in historical manuals from grappling with a dagger to kicking your opponent. Did you bring your bag of rocks today? (Please bring full C&T kit but not a bag of rocks)

Time: 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Class: Body Conditioning Part 2 - Cool-Down and Stretching
Instructor: Warder Maedhbh ny Manainn
Description: This is the second in the Body Conditioning set, but you can come to this class even if you missed the first half. This class is all about cooling down and stretching our muscles to reduce soreness or possibility of injury after a day of fencing. We will be going through a series of stretches covering the whole body, that you can then use to craft your own post work-out cool down. There will be partnered stretches taught, but all stretches can be done alone if desired. As with part 1, all stretches will include modifier for greater or lower intensity based on individual ability or preference.

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Class: Reverse Engineering a Fencing Match
Instructor: Master Kai Tseng
Description: Explore how to fight strategically by working backwards from the kill shot.













Lunch

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

Cost: Free (Donation optional)

Menu

Dinner

There will be a potluck picnic dinner starting at 6:30 pm

Pickup lists remain open as mouths get filled - and friends laugh together as the evening draws on. It truly is a magical part of the event, and we invite you all to join us for it.

Disposable plates, forks, and cups will be provided. If you'd like to bring a dish, feel free to sign up HERE













Thorbjorn's Favor

At the next Midlands Academy of Defense (September 7th, 2024) hosted by the Shire of Caer Gwyn, fencers will be asked to elect a new bearer of Thorbjorn's Favor. The current bearer is The Honorable Lord Lucius Antonius Ursus.

Thorbjorn's Favor is a traveling honor, created in remembrance of Master Thorbjorn the Greysides, awarded once a year to an attendee of the Midlands 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 MAD, 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. Master Raphael di Merisi, MOD;
  25. The Honorable Lord Lucius Antonius Ursus