Welcome to Capital Kunst des Fechtens!

Welcome! Capital Kunst des Fechtens offers periodic introductory courses for prospective club members. Our club is dedicated to providing and maintaining a safe training space for Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). All are welcome, and we do not tolerate discrimination based upon gender, gender identity and expression, race, sexual orientation, disability, nationality or national origin, ethnicity, age, or religion. If you are interested in reconstructing medieval martial arts, historical swordplay, or modern HEMA competition, then our club is for you. Course Info This class meets on Mondays at 8:00 pm and runs for five weeks. We will focus on the use of the rapier as seen in Italian sources from the early 17th century. You'll start off with the basics and then move on to more advanced theory and exercises. By the end, you should be ready to join our regular practice and fence on your own. Location & Directions Class is held indoors at Brazen Fitness located at 607 S Ball St, Arlington, VA 22202. The venue is a ten-minute walk from the Pentagon City and Crystal City Metro stations, or feel free to park in the parking lot next to the building or on the street (unmetered after 8 pm). Enter from Ball Street and proceed through to the gym space - when you see people with blue CKDF shirts and swords, you have found the right place. Attire, What to Expect, Etc. This course is for novices - you do not need to be in great shape, know any martial arts, or have any knowledge of historical fencing whatsoever. To get the most out of this course, all you need is a positive attitude and an open mind! Please wear comfortable athletic attire that is appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions. There is no air conditioning in the gym, but it is well ventilated. Please also wear an athletic cup - we won't be targeting the groin, but accidents can happen. And don't forget a water bottle! Waivers Before showing up, there are two waivers you'll need to sign. First, please review CKDF's waiver: https://ckdf.tidyhq.com/public/pages/ckdf-liability-waiver. When checking out, you'll be asked to affirm you have read and agree to this waiver. Second, complete the Brazen Fitness waiver: waiver.smartwaiver.com/v/brazenfit/. You'll be asked to show the confirmation email at class. COVID-19 Rules Before purchasing a ticket, please review our COVID-19 policy.