This is the class sign up for Monday, July 28th. Like always, this class is restricted to those who finished the MKdF Beginner's Class.  In order to participate, you must be vaccinated, boostered, and read and agree to our COVID-19 waiver (one time). Please read and sign our COVID-19 waiver here - COVID-19 Rules and Regulations. This only needs to be signed once.   

  Atlantic Renaissance Fencing League Rapier and Dagger Open The Atlantic Renaissance Fencing League is putting on a Rapier and Dagger tournament, hosted by Maryland Training in Historical Swordsmanship (MyTHS) and organized by ARFL. This is a friendly tournament aimed primarily at HEMA fencers in the DC-Baltimore area.  Registration is limited to 24 entrants for the event. If registration is full and you are interested in participating, please contact ARFL at the following address to be placed on the waitlist: arfl.hema@gmail.com The event will be hosted July 26, 2025, at Cross Fit Bel Air in Forest Hill, MD. Check-in for Rapier begins at 12:30pm. Check-in closes and pools will be announced at 1:00pm. If you are not checked in and ready by the time pools are announced, you are late and subject to being disqualified.   Previous volunteers get priority registration for future events and payment for their time!  If you'd like to be considered to volunteer, please email us at arfl.hema@gmail.com.   Spectators get in free and DO NOT need to purchase their own ticket.   Event Rules: docs.google.com/document/d/1VSmAeiUe31gx_ec8htw4cnYSJKfhMLOF/edit?usp=drive_web&ouid=108728341999437505953&rtpof=true These rules are subject to change up to the date of the event while we get and process feedback from our previous events.  While we do not anticipate drastic changes, please check back before you compete to ensure your understanding of the rules is as up to date as possible.  

This is the class sign up for Thursday, July 24th.  Like always, this class is restricted to those who finished the MKdF Beginner's Class.  In order to participate, you must be vaccinated, boostered, and read and agree to our COVID-19 waiver (one time). Please read and sign our COVID-19 waiver here - COVID-19 Rules and Regulations. This only needs to be signed once. 

This is the signup for all single handed weapons classes, regardless of weapon or instructor. If you intend on taking class with an instructor, sign up here.  As with all Maryland KdF classes, you are required to: 1. have taken the beginner's class and 2. have a recent COVID vaccination (recent = within the past year)

This is the class sign up for Monday, July 21st. Like always, this class is restricted to those who finished the MKdF Beginner's Class.  In order to participate, you must be vaccinated, boostered, and read and agree to our COVID-19 waiver (one time). Please read and sign our COVID-19 waiver here - COVID-19 Rules and Regulations. This only needs to be signed once.   

This is the class sign up for Thursday, July 17th.  Like always, this class is restricted to those who finished the MKdF Beginner's Class.  In order to participate, you must be vaccinated, boostered, and read and agree to our COVID-19 waiver (one time). Please read and sign our COVID-19 waiver here - COVID-19 Rules and Regulations. This only needs to be signed once. 

This is the signup for all single handed weapons classes, regardless of weapon or instructor. If you intend on taking class with an instructor, sign up here.  As with all Maryland KdF classes, you are required to: 1. have taken the beginner's class and 2. have a recent COVID vaccination (recent = within the past year)

This is the class sign up for Monday, July 7th. Like always, this class is restricted to those who finished the MKdF Beginner's Class.  In order to participate, you must be vaccinated, boostered, and read and agree to our COVID-19 waiver (one time). Please read and sign our COVID-19 waiver here - COVID-19 Rules and Regulations. This only needs to be signed once.   

The same COVID restrictions apply to the Saturday classes as they do to the regular weekday classes.  Open floor sparring, individual coaching time, review and practical application of last weeks class topics, and special topic classes.  Saturdays are a really good time to work on individual improvement and practice of topics that YOU want to go over.  If there are several people that want to work on the same thing, Gilding is more than happy to lead smaller classes.  We can/will also be using part of the day to talk about Sword and Buckler instruction that includes techniques against mixed weapons.  (Rapier, sidesword, longsword, etc.)

This is the class sign up for Thursday, July 3rd.  Like always, this class is restricted to those who finished the MKdF Beginner's Class.  In order to participate, you must be vaccinated, boostered, and read and agree to our COVID-19 waiver (one time). Please read and sign our COVID-19 waiver here - COVID-19 Rules and Regulations. This only needs to be signed once. 

This is the signup for all single handed weapons classes, regardless of weapon or instructor. If you intend on taking class with an instructor, sign up here.  As with all Maryland KdF classes, you are required to: 1. have taken the beginner's class and 2. have a recent COVID vaccination (recent = within the past year)

COVID-19: You are required to have an up to date vaccination to join this class.   An up to date vaccination is defined as having received a COVID vaccination dated within one (1) year of the class start date. You will be required to present a vaccination card (or any other type of verification) on the first day of class as proof. ----------------------------------------- We currently offer beginner's classes in German longsword, the primary weapon of the Kunst des Fechtens system.  The beginner's class heavily features proper bio-mechanics, footwork, getting to know the sword, and, at the end of the course, each beginner can try their new skills in our Rookie Tournament.  All the gear you need is provided for you - masks, swords, gloves, etc. All you need to do is show up in comfortable gym clothes.  The classes start at 8:00 pm on the first Monday of January, April, July, and October and runs, on Monday, for eight (8) weeks.  Please try to arrive 15 minutes early so we can start class on time.   Schedule Below is a rough schedule of what you will encounter in the Beginner's Class. Be aware that order and topics may change depending on the needs and abilities of the beginners. In general, however, we will try to stick to this schedule.  Day 1: History, footwork, getting to know the sword, and basic guards Day 2: Long edge cuts - introducing Oberhau, Unterhau, and Zornhau Day 3: Short edge cuts - introducing Shielhau Day 4: Ribbons, flourishes, and moulinets - starting to put it together Day 5: Cutting at odd angles - introducing Zwerchhau Day 6: More odd angles - introducing Krumphau Day 7: Binding, winding, and Schietalhau Day 8: Sparring games and Rookie Tournament   Rookie Tournament The Rookie's Tournament is the traditional ending to a beginner's class at Maryland KdF. It stems from historical examples within German fechtschulen. Here, we use it as a measure of the skills you have gained over the course of the class, as an introduction to tournament fighting, an introduction to sparring, and as a passage through to becoming fully fledged club members.  The rules are based off of a mixture of historical rulesets regarding tournament fencing. Some of the rules include: head-only targeting and point scoring, no wrestling/grappling/ringen, and no running in (attempting to wrestle). The only weapons used are longswords - this tournament is supposed to be a pure test of fencing. Your opponents will not only be your classmates, but other people in the club as well.  This tournament is not mandatory, but it is a whole lot of fun.