Activities

We engage in several activities in our effort to provide quality instruction in historical and classical fencing, as well as some related activities.  We do these things individually and together as part of the partnership.

Most of our fencing is from the Italian and Destreza traditions, but we learn and experiment with other systems as well.

We both have interests in non-fencing historical arts too, such as flagwaving and woodworking.

Private lessons

Private or individual lessons provide the most personalized instruction and feedback, and help students progress far more rapidly than they would in group classes alone.  Individual lessons can be tailored to the student’s interests and needs for long term learning, or for short term challenges such as perfecting a certain technique, fencing a specific opponent, continuing training while dealing with an injury, etc. Marli and Eric both offer private lessons, typically taught outdoors in a park or yard.

Group classes in local schools

Group classes are the norm in most schools, and typically include a mix of teaching, drills, and fencing.  Marli teaches in a couple schools in Winnipeg.  Eric is not currently teaching regularly as part of a school.

Event based classes

We both teach seminars and classes at events such as VISS or WMAW, and also teach day or weekend workshops organized by a school or group.

Research

We are active researchers in much of the content we teach.  Our research activities include reading, translating, and studying historical works, and learning the systems described in order to reproduce them as closely to the original intent as possible.  Marli has focused on understanding different Italian rapier systems, as well as historical European flagwaving.  Eric has focused on Spanish and Portuguese Destreza.

Pedagogy training

We believe strongly in the power of good teaching, and work to train new teachers.  Eric is a regular instructor at the Sonoma State University Fencing Masters Certificate Program (FMCP) and at Rapier And Sabre Pedagogy (RASP) in the Atlanta area.  He also teaches classes, seminars, and private lessons about pedagogy.  Marli has achieved teaching ranks in several pedagogical systems, from Academie Duello, the SSU FMCP, and Storica Defensa.