Beginner Friendly Classes for all Weapons
We know that starting a brand new hobby can be hard, so we’re hosting a selection of beginners’ classes for all our weapons.
Our beginners classes are suitable for everyone, whether you’re completely new to HEMA or a veteran looking to try a different system. All our classes have club kit, meaning all you have to bring is yourself (dressed in comfortable clothes) and a bottle of water.
Please note that you must be 18+ to book a class at LHFC.
Rapier
Ever wanted to fence like Shakespeare or a Renaissance rogue?
You can do just that in our Beginners Rapier classes. We’ll go through the basics of how to hold a rapier, the specific guards, as well as some footwork to get you started, along with simple defences and attacks.
We have three ways you can join our Rapier class. Firstly, a dedicated Beginners Session, held at the same time as our regular classes once every (approximately) 6 weeks. You can also join us via a Rapier Crash Course, which takes half a day and goes further and covers around 2-3 classes’ worth of content. Finally, you can also join as part of a Taster Session.
After attending any one of these sessions, you will then join our regular Wednesday classes.
Sabre
Beginners’ Sabre takes place on the first Thursday session of every other month. Here, we’ll run through the basics of sabre fencing, from the ways you can hold your sword to your first attacks. By the end of the session you will leave with a basic understanding of how sabres work and hopefully love for this sword.
Longsword
We have two ways of joining Longsword – a half-day Beginners Crash Course or a 7-week Beginners Longsword Course.
The 7-week curriculum covers all the core skills and techniques, meaning that by the end of the course you’ll be set up for any fencing challenge. The Crash Course combines the first three classes into one half-day session.
We’re only able to take new joiners for our longsword classes through the dedicated Beginners Longsword. However if you have experience in HEMA, do get in touch as we may be able to accommodate you.
Taster Classes
Can’t decide on what sword to try? Our taster classes let you try two weapons in the same session. We’ll split you into two groups, with both doing a different weapon for an hour. We’ll then take a short break before swapping over, meaning that you’ll get your chance to get to grips with two different sword systems in one session. No experience is needed!
Smallsword
Our Beginners Smallsword class will introduce you to the basics of how to fence in the noblest of sword traditions. Covering everything from the swords and guards to footwork, it’ll set you up to join our regular smallsword class.
Fiore
Our Fiore Mixed Weapons class accepts beginners on an ongoing basis, meaning you’re welcome to join at any point. We work through Fiore’s Fior di Battaglia manuscript, covering all the weapons (and unarmed wrestling) in his book.
Sidesword
Our lastest class is a short course on the Sidesword. We’ll be running this for three Tuesdays in August, and there are spots open for beginners. If you’re a beginner, please make sure you book the Beginner slot.
The various Bolognese sidesword sources build upon an elegantly small set of principles and actions… but are explained terribly with excess detail and complex exercises obscuring the underlying system.
Building mostly on Dall’Agocchie, this course focuses on the principles and ignores the confusing parts. Over 3 weeks student will learn the foundations of Dall’Agocchie’s system of fencing with a sidesword. Each class will end with a sparring game to re-enforce the concepts learnt.
Week 1: The Guards & Defences
Week 2: Tempo & Provocation
Week 3: Strikes and “Half-Strikes”