Combat
Training Time: 10am-noon Saturday
Originally I was trained in a bastardized form of modern fencing. This form lacks sideways movement, relying more on thrusts than strikes with the broad sword.
On forming the Phoenix Company one of the first things we did was redefine how medieval combat should be fought. Referencing manuscripts by Talhoffer and Fiore (early medieval sword masters) and also a
manuscript call I33 we developed our own method of medieval fighting.Now more information on medieval swordsmanship is around, more groups are heading toward our style of combat. One of the supplemental books used in our society is "Medieval Swordsmanship" by John Clements of the Historical Armed Combat Association (HACA). We don’t agreed entirely with it but it is a solid base to start from.
We train in a large range of weapon including Sword, Quarter Staff, Shield, Spear, Sword and Dagger, Broad axe, Hand axe, Bastard Sword, Two Handed Sword, Halberd, Pole Axe, Mace and Ball and Chain etc. Also combinations of the above i.e. sword and hand axe etc.
We have three main types of fighting within the society
Display fighting
Base of wide powerful blows leaving the combatants open but gives both sides heaps of time to cover themselves from blows and counter blows, lots of noise and showmanship
Group Combat
Focus on support combat, keeping your comrades alive and ‘killing’ the enemy as fast as possible.
Single Combat.
Focus on your individual skill.
Instructors
The Company at present has four main instructors each with there own style of teaching. All instructors can teach the basics but they also excel in different areas…
Andrew F. Medium/light infantry, Tactics, Technical
Andrew H. Heavy infantry, dirty tricks
Bubbles. Anything with a wood content (1/4 Staff’s, spear’s, ax’s etc.)
If you make a technical mistake, the dirty tick didn’t come off, your spear break’s Pete can teach you how to die with impressive style.
[Combat Rules] [Weapons] [Armour]