Please get a ticket to any and all classes that you want to participate in. This system ensures that class size doesn't get too big. Thanks for understanding! Possession of ticket confirms that you have read and agree to adhere to CKDF's rules to limit the spread of COVID-19: Read them here By participating in Capital Kunst Des Fechtens (CKDF) activities, events, or programs (collectively, Activities), you are acknowledging the contagious nature of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where other people are or have recently been present; and that you may be exposed to COVID-19 by participating in CKDF Activities, despite efforts to mitigate such exposure. By participating in CKDF Activities, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold CKDF; the HEMA Alliance; or any other affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers thereof liable for any loss, damage, illness, or injury directly or indirectly arising therefrom. You further agree to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and guidelines and all CKDF rules relating to COVID-19 for the duration of your participation in CKDF Activities.

Image: Trojanerkrieg - Willehalm von Orlens - Herzog Ernst 1441 http://dlib.gnm.de/item/Hs998/11/html Welcome! Before purchasing a ticket, review our waiver which includes important COVID-19/coronavirus-related information. https://ckdf.tidyhq.com/public/pages/ckdf-liability-waiver Capital Kunst des Fechtens offers periodic introduction 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. This course consists of three classes meeting first on the date above, and then each Thursday for two weeks thereafter. This course focuses on the unarmored use of the medieval sword (longsword) in the German tradition to give attendees an idea of what to expect as members of CKDF. If you are interested in attending this three-week intro course, review the information below prior to purchasing a ticket.   COVID-19 Rules Before purchasing a ticket, review our waiver which includes important COVID-19/coronavirus-related information. https://ckdf.tidyhq.com/public/pages/ckdf-liability-waiver. Classes are held outdoors and are limited to 16 students total.  1. You shall not attend class if: Within the two weeks prior to class, you have experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including: A fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) or a sense of having a fever. A new cough that cannot be attributed to another health condition. New shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to another health condition. New chills that cannot be attributed to another health condition. A new sore throat that cannot be attributed to another health condition. New muscle aches that cannot be attributed to another health condition or specific activity (such as physical exercise). Within the two weeks prior to class, you have been or suspect you likely have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Within the two weeks prior to class, a member of your household has shown symptoms of COVID-19 or has been diagnosed with COVID-19. On the day of class, you have taken a COVID-19 test and are awaiting results or have tested positive. Within the two weeks prior to class, you have traveled to a restricted area or hotspot for coronavirus infection. 2. Cloth masks shall be worn for the full duration of each practice. They must be donned prior to exiting your vehicle and shall not be removed until you re-enter your vehicle to depart the venue, except to drink water. 3. You shall not share any piece of gear. Loaner gear will be temporarily issued to you for use. CKDF instructors will ensure that all loaner gear is disinfected after each class. Location & Directions Class is held on the outdoor tennis courts at the Nannie Lee Recreation Center at 1108 Jefferson St, Alexandria, VA. The tennis courts are behind the rec center; walk through the parking lot around behind the building to locate the venue. When you see people with blue CKDF shirts and swords, you have found the right place and should approach them beacuse they're friendly. At this time, no restroom facilities or running water is available because the Nannie Lee Center is closed to the public due to the pandemic. Please bring water and plan accordingly - we apologize for any inconvenience. In case of rain, class will be postponed until the following week. We will endeavor to email the group in case of cancellation ahead of time. Attire, What to Expect, Etc. This course is for novices - you do not need to be in shape, know any martial arts, or have any knowledge of historical fencing experience whatsoever. To get the most out of this course, all you need is a positive attitude and an open mind! The intro class runs concurrently with our general longsword class. Instructors will draw your group to the side for instruction and will provide loaner training swords, fencing masks, and gloves as necessary. Please wear comfortable athletic attire that is appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions, dressing in layers to deal with windchill. We recommend tennis shoes, athletic shorts/leggings/pants, T-shirt, and hoodie/jacket. Please do not forget a water bottle as there is no running water currently available on site.

Please get a ticket to any and all classes that you want to participate in. This system ensures that class size doesn't get too big. Thanks for understanding! Possession of ticket confirms that you have read and agree to adhere to CKDF's rules to limit the spread of COVID-19: Read them here By participating in Capital Kunst Des Fechtens (CKDF) activities, events, or programs (collectively, Activities), you are acknowledging the contagious nature of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where other people are or have recently been present; and that you may be exposed to COVID-19 by participating in CKDF Activities, despite efforts to mitigate such exposure. By participating in CKDF Activities, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold CKDF; the HEMA Alliance; or any other affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers thereof liable for any loss, damage, illness, or injury directly or indirectly arising therefrom. You further agree to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and guidelines and all CKDF rules relating to COVID-19 for the duration of your participation in CKDF Activities.

Please get a ticket to any and all classes that you want to participate in. This system ensures that class size doesn't get too big. Thanks for understanding! Possession of ticket confirms that you have read and agree to adhere to CKDF's rules to limit the spread of COVID-19: Read them here By participating in Capital Kunst Des Fechtens (CKDF) activities, events, or programs (collectively, Activities), you are acknowledging the contagious nature of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where other people are or have recently been present; and that you may be exposed to COVID-19 by participating in CKDF Activities, despite efforts to mitigate such exposure. By participating in CKDF Activities, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold CKDF; the HEMA Alliance; or any other affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers thereof liable for any loss, damage, illness, or injury directly or indirectly arising therefrom. You further agree to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and guidelines and all CKDF rules relating to COVID-19 for the duration of your participation in CKDF Activities.

Please get a ticket to any and all classes that you want to participate in. This system ensures that class size doesn't get too big. Thanks for understanding! Possession of ticket confirms that you have read and agree to adhere to CKDF's rules to limit the spread of COVID-19: Read them here By participating in Capital Kunst Des Fechtens (CKDF) activities, events, or programs (collectively, Activities), you are acknowledging the contagious nature of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where other people are or have recently been present; and that you may be exposed to COVID-19 by participating in CKDF Activities, despite efforts to mitigate such exposure. By participating in CKDF Activities, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold CKDF; the HEMA Alliance; or any other affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers thereof liable for any loss, damage, illness, or injury directly or indirectly arising therefrom. You further agree to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and guidelines and all CKDF rules relating to COVID-19 for the duration of your participation in CKDF Activities.

Please get a ticket to any and all classes that you want to participate in. This system ensures that class size doesn't get too big. Thanks for understanding! Possession of ticket confirms that you have read and agree to adhere to CKDF's rules to limit the spread of COVID-19: Read them here By participating in Capital Kunst Des Fechtens (CKDF) activities, events, or programs (collectively, Activities), you are acknowledging the contagious nature of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where other people are or have recently been present; and that you may be exposed to COVID-19 by participating in CKDF Activities, despite efforts to mitigate such exposure. By participating in CKDF Activities, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold CKDF; the HEMA Alliance; or any other affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers thereof liable for any loss, damage, illness, or injury directly or indirectly arising therefrom. You further agree to comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and guidelines and all CKDF rules relating to COVID-19 for the duration of your participation in CKDF Activities.

A collaborated event hosted by MKDF, VCU HEMA, and Athena School of Fencing Cost: $10, pre-registration required How do HEMA instructors organize large groups during drills? How can you offer constructive critiques while sparring? And how do you beat the burnout to come back for more? RSVP now to join HEMA instructors Nicholas Allen, Kiana Shurkin, and Julie Olson on May 8th at 6 PM EST for three mini-lectures covering these topics and more! In order to attend you must register for the event beforehand and pay the $10 admission fee. Event Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/8616192904116/WN_bjEB4gWDRw-jEondxgj8hg?fbclid=IwAR3hjhoBRW-VXMiHC_AcW0eteNbqQUZtk71w7JCZ7-qLNLZ0fV2bstBO4ik Preview Video: https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AOnLfaWM%5FiFS79I&cid=9F2EA8619F788E93&id=9F2EA8619F788E93%2163787&parId=9F2EA8619F788E93%2128833&o=OneUp  

With James Reilly we will explore the relationship of historical dance and historical fencing. We'll talk about fuhlen, indes, timing, rhythm, swing, tempo, and meter. We will introduce ideas about how to use a music and dance framework to understand the timing of fencing actions. We will also wrap our broader discussion on historical fencing as a part of a broader physical training continuum. This is part 3 of James' "Training Like a Medieval Knight Series." Zoom:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88224431743?pwd=UjdObU5ydk1nQ2gvak5XTU5WeGNLUT09

Ashanti will run through a set of ideas and concepts that engage the core to power your cuts, participation is encouraged. If you have a weighted trainer, it will be helpful to keep you honest! We will start from bigger motions, and make them smaller. We will be playing with cutting from high guards mostly and some of the exaggerated guards from Meyer will definitely be included! Towards the end of class, anyone who has some of their own exercises will be encouraged to share them! Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/91530056370?pwd=cHFkME0yMkZqQmlkbHlWNG43cWM3UT09

It's been a bit since we have all had a night to catch up and work on our respective crafty projects.  Let's remedy that. Hope you all can make it! https://zoom.us/j/92525625911?pwd=dUpzMFhmVG82cHBTNitXMUFYNmtudz09

  Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/94125281066?pwd=T3BPcU1wMmphNmhnTHpaNGFjSGphUT09 The knife is arguably the oldest weapon and tool ever made and used by man, dating back to almost 2.4 million years ago. Knife designs and materials evolved over the millennia, but even today a good knife is still an indispensable tool for outdoorsmen, soldiers, chefs, etc., basically people from all walks of life. Late 19th and early 20th century manufacturing improvements ushered a higher quality of mass production military style knives that saw service in all conflicts worldwide across the 20th century, and into today’s world. Yet there was and still is a place for innovation for customized, hand-made knives, both in the 20th century and today. The presentation will first focus on describing some of the “classic” knife designs that possibly influenced and were incorporated into 20th century military knives: The dagger, poignard, sword/dagger canes, bowie knife, dirk, sicae, etc. We will then discuss both factory made and customized (ex., Randall made) 20th century military designs that possibly were influenced by those earlier designs, and those that are likely newer styles of blades. Many of the Randall knife designs have great “creation” stories behind them. We will also look at modern materials that modern designs are made from, from high quality steel(s) to titanium blades, and even copper beryllium knives used by Marine EOD specialists. John H. Dowdle   (COL USA RET) spent over 29 years in the Army: with the regular Army, then with the Army National Guard, and finally as a full time Title 10 Army National Guard officer.   His military background was in Infantry and Special Forces, first with the 9th Infantry Division, and then over 16 years in Army Special Forces (SF), with tours in the 5th, 10th, and 20th 'SF' Groups, and was the 5th SF Group Operations Officer in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  The last 10 years of his military career was at the Pentagon and National Guard Bureau as an Operations Research Systems Analyst and a Strategic Plans and Analysis Officer, retiring in 2010.  He has graduate degrees in Public Administration, Educational Technology, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.  He currently works as an Instructor/Facilitator/Course Director at the Army Force Management School at FT Belvoir, VA, where he instructs students in national defense strategy, the Department of Defense Plans, Programming, and Budget process, and aspects of Army Force Management.  Besides having a keen, lifelong interest and study in history and both land and underwater archeology, John is also a certified docent at the National Museum of the Army at FT Belvoir, VA, as well as occasionally leading regional battlefield/historical tours.  John studies and practices Historical European Martial Arts, calligraphy, collects bladed weapons, hikes both nature trails and battlefields, scuba dives, and bicycles/swims as part of his many interests and avocations.

Dr. Mary Valante is back! This time she leads us in a discussion on women in the Viking Age. Vikings are usually stereotyped as fearsome warriors who raided western Europe in the ninth and tenth centuries – the last of the great (apparently shirtless?) barbarian invasions according to traditional histories. But the reality was that the Scandinavians of the time were more often traders and craftsmen and town builders, who expanded and inhabited trade routes from Byzantium to North America. The inhabitants of those new trade centers needed food. They needed ale, they needed to prepare against the possibility of famine or sieges. They needed large-scale textile production to create fabrics to use, wear, and trade. Shifting from domestic scale production to an urban economy built on these necessities fell largely to the Viking Age women, without whom there could have been no towns, no sailing for ships, and no Viking Age. Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/96991502599?pwd=dWlPaEU5dmdPYmtmLzIrV3JpSUV3UT0