Directions

Heritage Lake Park

1 Heritage Dr, Rantoul, IL 61866

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Schedule:

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Do you have a class, discussion, or drill that you'd like to teach? Please contact our class coordinator Ursus.

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	Purple	Red	Yellow	Green	Blue
8 am	Site Opens
9am
10am	Coaching with Master Terrance
11am		Creative Courtier	Italian vs German 101	Looking Good	Giving Advice with Consent
11:30am		Spear Craft
Noon		Provoking the Five Tempi	Intro to German Longsword	Gaining the Blade	Accomodation as a Fencer
1pm	Reading Period Manuals	Designing Practice Games		Not the Size That Counts	Accommodation as Marshal & Teacher
2pm				Controlling the Blade	Caring for Your Sword
3pm		Fabris Made Simple	Intro to Messer	Footwork for Offense	The Aggressive Mind
4pm				Beginner German Rapier	Polish Saber
5pm	Thorbjorn's Favor
5:15pm	St Jude's Tournament
6pm	Potluck Dinner

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Time: 10:00am - Noon
Class: Coaching with Master Terrance
Instructor: Master Terrance of Tynedale
Description: 30 minutes of one-on-one, personalized coaching sessions. Please sign up for a specific time slot at the registration tent.

Time: 11:00am - 11:30am
Class: Creative Courtier
Instructor: Caballero Diego Matias Vargas
Description: This class is an out of the box thinking on repurposing items and how to use them to build a persona on a budget. What to look for second hand and places to keep an eye out for items you can use. Along with exploring options to further your narrative with your persona.

Time: 11:00am - Noon
Class: The Novice Fencer's Great Debate: Italian vs. German Swordsmanship 101
Instructor: Ashkhan Akhtarizadeh Madinat al-Yasmin
Description: Some people choose a German option because they love pretzels and 3-day long techno raves. Others choose the Italian option because they want a double-shot espresso and insist on speaking with their hands. But from the 15th century perspective, how do we choose what fencing tradition to learn? In this beginner oriented class, we'll discuss and practice some of the key differences of each to understand what makes these traditions distinct and help decide which to pursue as a beginner.

Necessary materials: Standard SCA Rapier protection (reduced armor permitted for authorized fencers), rapier

Recommended Materials: Notebook & pen, longsword & C&T protection.

Time: 11:00am - 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: Ways to Give Advice With Consent
Instructor: Lord & Lady Yrrsa the Revenant, CCK
Description: This class is a presentation about consent for giving advice, and ways to say no with a brief discussion at the end.

Time: 11:30am - Noon
Class: Spear Craft
Instructor: Caballero Diego Matias Vargas
Description: An adaptive breakdown on how to be successful fighting with a spear. All inclusive, all welcome, beginner to advance. bring what you feel comfortable wearing

Time: Noon - 1:00pm
Class: Provoking the Five Tempi
Instructor: Maestro Michelangelo de Padua
Description: Have you ever been curious about exactly which opportunities your opponent might provide for you to hit them, or which opportunities you might prefer for your attacks? Then come learn about dall’Agocchie’s Five Tempo and his theory on provoking them through the lens of rapier and dagger

Time: Noon - 3:00pm
Class: Intro to German Longsword
Instructor: Armiger Magnus Gandr
Description: A starting point into the cuts and guards of german longsword.

Time: Noon - 1:00pm
Class: Gaining The Blade
Instructor: Warder Rashid al-Sanna
Description: A walkthrough on controlling your opponent’s weapon by taking a defensive position with your own weapon.

Time: Noon - 1:00pm
Class: Accommodations as a Fencer
Instructor: Celestria De Surmulot
Description: What is an accommodation? What options are available to you and how do you advocate for yourself.

Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Class: How to Read Period Manuals
Instructor: Lord Lysander of Caer Gwyn
Description: If you've ever tried to read a period manual and immediately felt like you were in over your head? Join this discussion on how to breakdown and interpret what these texts say. No fencing gear or prior experience with historical manuals required.

Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Class: Designing Practice Games
Instructor: Maestro Raphael di Merisi
Description: Tired of boring drills? Want something more focused in your training? This class will give you the tools to create practice games of your own in order to work on whatever aspect of fencing you're looking to improve.

Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Class: It’s Not the Size of Your Body that Counts. It’s How You Use It
Instructor: Baroness Master Gwynneth Verch Ieuan
Description: It’s not the length of the sword nor the strength of the arm that wins the fight. It’s your body structure. Learn the essentials of how Italian fighting systems use body structure to win fights from Baroness Master Gwynn. All 5 and a half feet of her. Appealing for beginner and intermediate fighters.

Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Class: Accommodation in Fencing as a Marshal and Teacher
Instructor: Celestria De Surmulot
Description: A marshal & teacher perspective on accommodations on fencing, a look at how we can help accommodate new or semi new fencers to have a better and more enjoyable experience.

Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Class: Controlling the Blade
Instructor: Baron Ælfred of Chester
Description: This class will offer different ways to control an opponent’s sword blade for both offense and defense. All participants will need full rapier gear for the class.

Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Class: Caring for Your Sword
Instructor: Warder Parzival Angist
Description: Join Warder Parzival as he shares his essential tips and tricks for cleaning, storage, and maintenance of your swords to keep them safe, shiny, and strong. First half of the class is instructional, for the second half supplies will be available for any equipment needing attention.

Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Class: Fabris Made Simple
Instructor: Warder Giovanni aus Innsbruck
Description: Proceeding with resolution to stab and not get stabbed in the great Italian tradition of Salvator Fabris.

Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Class: Lateral Footwork for Offense
Instructor: Lord Eochad Ó Madadhan
Description: Learn the fundamentals of using lateral movement to set up and maintain attacks. Fencers will practice using oblique footwork to enter measure safely and to continue an engagement using oblique and sidestepping footwork. Class will be partner work focused. Sword, mask, and gorget required.

Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Class: Intro to Messer
Instructor: Lord Alasdair Cearrbhach
Description: Using information from a section of The Glasgow Fechtbuch Lord Alasdair Cearrbhach shows 11 different plays using messers. Gear needed-C&T, messers or swords 37in or under

Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Class: The Aggressive Mind
Instructor: Sir Roberto Jose Alfonso Cayetano de San Fernando Toledo Ruiz y Escalante
Description: The goal of this class is to identify the psychological limitations that prohibit or restrict fighters' ability to exhibit aggression within the fighting space. Students will engage with various commonly occurring psychological limitations that inhibit aggression, understand their deeper causes, and develop strategies that allow them to feel safe in their aggression. By the end of this class, students will be able to do the following:
1. Identify psychological barriers to aggression
2. Confront barriers with both internal and external strategies
3. Discover pathways to improve comfort with aggression

Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Class: From Cutler to Killer: Beginner German Rapier with Joachim Meyer
Instructor: Ashkhan Akhtarizadeh Madinat al-Yasmin
Description: As a beginner fencer, there are many options to choose from, and just as many to get confused by. "Lichtenauer? Isn't that a sausage? Fiore? What's flowers got to do with swords?" In this beginner-oriented lesson, we'll be looking at the basics of Meyer (NOT the grocery store chain) to analyze basics of attack, defense, and fight philosophy.

Necessary materials: Standard SCA Rapier protection (reduced armor permitted for authorized fencers), rapier

Recommended materials: Notebook + Pen, off-hand rigid protection (dagger, buckler, etc.)

Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Class: Early Modern Polish Saber—And YOU
Instructor: Alexander Brock
Description: Sabers - we know they existed, but no one bothered to write down how to use 'em. Learn how modern practitioners take on the unique challenge of recreating period saber styles by assembling their own systems of study. Get a crash course in the core concepts of saber fighting, and come away with a foundation from which you can experiment and develop your own style further. Bring your hussar sabers, dussacks, messers, falchions—if it's choppy and swoopy, it'll fit right in.

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Tournament of St. Jude

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The Company of Saint Jude invites all who practice the Art of Defense to present themselves to the tournament list for a display of their scholarship, prowess and knowledge for the Company and attending populace.

Start Time: TBD

Format: TBD

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Thorbjorn's Favor

At the next Midlands Academy of Defense (August 29th, 2026) hosted by the Shire of Caer Gwyn, fencers will be asked to elect a new bearer of Thorbjorn's Favor. The current bearer is Mistress Maire ingen Dauith.

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. Maestro Raphael di Merisi, MOD;
25. The Honorable Lord Lucius Antonius Ursus;
26. Magister Roland de Sullane, MOD;
27. Mistress Maire ingen Dauith, OP.

Lunch

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

Cost: Free (Donation optional)

Menu

• Ham, Turkey, or peanut butter sandwiches
• Selection of chips
• Selection of fruit
• Cookies

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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