Our courses

We offer several courses, each focusing on one of the many disciplines of historical fencing. In addition to our regular courses, we also organize seminars and events. You can find out more at: News

Below you will find an overview of the courses we currently offer: lAnge's sword, Sword & Buckler, long knife, Dagger fencing, saber and Murder Axe.

Training Location

Training takes place in the Röntgen School gymnasium. The entrance to the gymnasium is located around the block at Bouchéstrasse 76, through the gate leading to the courtyard (which unfortunately doesn't have a house number). Link to Google Maps

Just visiting?

Guests from other clubs and schools are always welcome. Please let us know of your visit via Training@twerchhau.de. Thank you!

The Long Sword
The “Long Sword” is currently probably the most popular discipline in historical fencing.

It is wielded with both hands, allowing for fencing with great speed and power. The surviving sources offer sophisticated techniques in the so-called binding of two weapons, which require a high degree of sensitivity and decisiveness, but also free cuts and thrusts that benefit from physical strength and speed.

There are numerous sources dealing with the long sword, dating from the 14th to the 17th century. In our course, we will focus on the so-called German art of fencing, which consists of the writings of Master Johannes Liechtenauer and his later students.

In contrast to armored fencing, we practice the techniques of bare fencing, where our modern protective equipment serves only to protect us without unduly influencing the style of fencing.

Contact person for the basic course is:

christian.muench@twerchhau.de

(Unfortunately, the basic course is currently full. If you would like to be put on our waiting list, please contact me.)

and for our women’s course:
marie.mandrela@twerchhau.de

and for the advanced course:
melissa.kleiss@twerchhau.de

Sword & Buckler
So-called "buckler fencing" takes its name from the buckler, the fist shield used in it. Bucklers have come in a wide variety of shapes and materials. A one-handed sword is also used, which, in conjunction with the buckler, enables complex techniques.

Fencing with sword and buckler is a sensitive form of fencing in which both opponents constantly strive to maneuver into an advantageous position and control the opponent's blade.

Manuscript I.33 from the early 14th century serves as a source for buckler fencing. It contains the teachings of the monk Liutger, who teaches his student how to handle the sword and buckler in the manuscript.

The contact person for the course is:

dmitri.klein@twerchhau.de

The Long Messer
The long knife was the weapon of the citizen and farmer in the 15th century.

Looking at such a knife, one might be tempted to call it a sword. However, the knife differs in its knife-like handle made of two riveted scales, its single-edged blade, and its characteristic defensive spike.

The knife is a one-handed cutting and stabbing weapon that builds up a lot of pressure when attacking, but is also fast and agile due to its short length.

Originating from the shorter peasant knife, which was more of a tool than a weapon, the long knife was an important weapon for civil self-defense of the common classes, which is also reflected in the diverse techniques for wrestling actions, disarming and non-lethal defense.

As a source for knife training, we mainly refer to the fencing manuscript of Johannes Lecküchner from the 15th century.

The contact person for the course is:

bjarne.kortmann@twerchhau.de

Dagger Fencing
The dagger was the Everyday weapon of the late Middle Ages.

Here, too, there are daggers in a wide variety of shapes.
The dagger simulators made of wood or fabric we use in training are designed to simulate disc and kidney daggers. These daggers are suitable for stabbing, but depending on their properties, they can also be used for cutting and pommel thrusts.

Since the fencers inevitably come close to each other during a dagger fight, there is a very high proportion of wrestling techniques.

The importance of the dagger is also reflected in the fact that it appears in almost all fencing books from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

In order to acquire the physical prerequisites to survive a fight with the dagger, the training includes not only learning the techniques but also a high proportion of exercises to increase explosive power, general strength and stamina as well as fall training.

The contact person for the course is:

tom.hennig@twerchhau.de

The Saber

The saber is a cutting and thrusting weapon that has been in both military and civilian use in Europe for approximately 1,000 years. Its shape and length have always been adapted to the needs of the field of application and military developments. A saber generally has a curved blade, making it particularly suitable for slashing.

Sabre fencing is characterized by a dynamic back and forth between both opponents, in which blows, parries and even thrusts are used.

We utilize a variety of sources in our training, allowing trainees to choose their own focus. We use both fencing manuscripts from 19th-century military schools and the more interpretive study of so-called cross-cut fencing.

The contact person for the course is:

djordje.mijailovic@twerchhau.de

The Poleaxe

The poleaxe — or murder axe in German — also known as the foot war hammer or Lucerne hammer, is a type of polearm most widely used in the 15th century. It appears in German, Italian, and French martial sources. With a shaft of up to 210 cm and a heavy head designed for both striking and thrusting, the murder axe was a fearsome weapon on the battlefield.

The murder axe was used in foot combat and, due to its properties, probably primarily against heavily armored opponents. However, there are also some illustrations showing the weapon's use in bare-knuckle combat. At least in France, the murder axe was also used as a weapon in dueling.

Fencing with the mortuary axe is characterized by powerful, close-to-the-body movements, often culminating in locks or grappling techniques. In our training, we use the French source "Le Jeu de la Hache" (c. 1400).

The contact person for the course is:

maximilian_hoppe@hotmail.de

Rapier Fencing

Rapier & Parrying Dagger – The Art of the Renaissance

The combination of rapier and parrying dagger represents the elegance and precision of the art of fencing, as it was developed to mastery during the European Renaissance. This genre was particularly widespread in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and was prized by noblemen and fencers alike—whether for dueling, defending their own honor, or for self-defense in urban environments.

The rapier, with its long, narrow, and often ornately decorated blade, was the preferred weapon for swift and precise attacks. It was complemented by the parrying dagger, carried in the left hand. This not only served as protection against enemy attacks but also allowed for the binding of opposing blades, parrying blows, and even delivering targeted counterattacks. This combination made the fencer flexible both defensively and offensively, allowing for an impressive variety of tactics.

This martial art was particularly influenced by the famous fencing schools of the Renaissance, which flourished in Italy, Spain, and France. Fencing masters such as Salvator Fabris, Ridolfo Capo Ferro, and Gérard Thibault laid the foundation for the systematic teaching of this weapon with their works.

The contact person for the course is:

dmitri.klein@twerchhau.de