Registration:
When?
29. & 30. August 2026
Where?
Primary location: Am Neues Palais, Potsdam 14469
Alternative location (in case of weather): tba
What?
This event is dedicated to the diverse fighting styles and weapons of the Renaissance period. Our goal is to offer both an overview and a space for focused exchange, experimentation, and learning. Following the very positive reception in 2025, we are continuing with the new format, further refining the connection between experts and participants around specific topics.
Morning Sessions
We’re keeping the proven format: Four invited instructors will each offer two 90-minute workshops.
Each workshop will be held twice, so all participants can attend both without having to choose.
Afternoon Sessions – Break-Out Tracks
Instead of classic headliner workshops, the afternoons will feature themed tracks with specialized mini-workshops, talks, and demos in smaller groups.
Tracks may include Vadi, Destreza, Sidesword, Fabris, or other traditions.
Each track runs for around three hours and features multiple experts offering 20–30-minute sessions on their unique perspectives.
There’s time between sessions for hands-on practice, discussion, and free fencing.
Workshops remain individual, and participants are free to switch between tracks.
One example: the Fabris Track, where several instructors present short, focused takes on different aspects of Fabris’ fencing.
We aim to create an open and inclusive atmosphere that reflects both the diversity of historical martial arts between the 15th and 17th centuries and the diversity of today’s practitioners.
Prices and Options
Participation in the event costs 90 € for both days or 55 € for a single day. For 15 € per day, you can book the popular lunch buffet, and for 20 €, you can add an optional event shirt to your registration.
(Due to the general economic situation, we unfortunately had to slightly adjust the prices. However, we are offering a limited number of discounted spots for helpers. If you are interested, please contact us in advance at events@schildwache-potsdam.de. Please note that, depending on your role, you may not be able to participate in all workshops.)
The evening programme will be paid individually in cash at the location.
Food & Community
A lunch buffet (as popular as ever!) will be organized again this year. In the evening, we’ll head out to dinner together near the venue.
If the weather is good, the event will be held outdoors and open to spectators.
If it rains, we’ll move inside and keep it cozy and relaxed.
Important Note
There will be no tournament or competitive format. This event is all about shared learning in a cooperative and friendly environment.
Required Equipment
Minimum: mask, neck protection, and light gloves.
A fencing jacket is also recommended, especially for thrust-focused workshops. Additional protection based on your personal preference is welcome.
We’re looking forward to an inspiring and enjoyable weekend with you – filled with great fencing, great food, and great people.
See you in Potsdam at Swords of the Renaissance 2026!
Timetable:
| Saturday | Sunday | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground I | Ground II | Ground III | Ground I | Ground II | Ground III | |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Registration | Waking-Up | Open-Ground | |||
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Welcome & Warm-Up* | Warm-Up* | ||||
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Guy Windsor „TBA“ | Fran Lacuata „TBA“ | Open-Ground | Diana Matthess „TBA“ | Guy Windsor „TBA“ | |
| 11:30 – 11:45 | breather | breather | ||||
| 11:45 – 13:15 | Diana Matthess „TBA“ | Dave Rawlings „TBA“ | Dave Rawlings „TBA“ | Fran Lacuata „TBA“ | ||
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Lunch | Lunch | ||||
| Breakout-Tracks | ||||||
| 14:15 – 14:45 | TBA „TBA“ | breather | TBA „TBA“ | TBA „TBA“ | breather | TBA „TBA“ |
| 14:45- 15:15 | breather | TBA „TBA“ | breather | breather | TBA „TBA“ | breather |
| 15:15- 15:45 | TBA „TBA“ | breather | TBA „TBA“ | TBA „TBA“ | breather | TBA „TBA“ |
| 15:45- 16:15 | breather | TBA „TBA“ | breather | breather | TBA „TBA“ | breather |
| 16:15- 16:45 | TBA „TBA“ | breather | TBA „TBA“ | TBA „TBA“ | breather | TBA „TBA“ |
| 16:45- 17:15 | breather | TBA „TBA“ | breather | breather | TBA „TBA“ | breather |
| 17:45- 19:00 | Open-Ground & Discussion | Farewell | ||||
| 19:30 | Social Event: Bar & Pizza | |||||
Our workshops (90 min):
About the instructor: David Rawlings has been studying various martial arts from the age of 5, and has over 25 years’ experience teaching Western Swordsmanship. He is one of only very few professional swordsmen in the world and bases his tuition on his extensive research of medieval to Renaissance swordsmanship texts. David is a leading figure in the HEMA community where he is held in extremely high regard for his ever-evolving martial understanding and research into the early sword and weapon arts.
In 2000 he founded the London Longsword Academy, which is today one of the globally leading fencing clubs for professional swordsmanship, offering the greatest variety of historical European martial art disciplines in Europe. In addition to being the master at arms of his academy in London, David teaches extensively across Europe and holds professional HEMA seminars all over the world.
Public figure, renowned swordsman and HEMA expert, David Rawlings has been featured in the Entertainment Insider, evaluating sword fighting scenes from popular films and TV series, in documentaries such as Richard III: The New Evidence (Channel 4), Warriors (History Channel), Bloody Tales of the Tower (National Geographic) and many more.
He has also produced several highly acclaimed training DVDs. Furthermore, he advised the Wallace Collection on exhibitions like “The Noble Art of the Sword” and has choreographed Monteverdi’s Tancredi e Clorinda.
Dussack according to Joachim Meyer
In this workshop, we will try out selected Dussack techniques according to Joachim Meyer, including actions such as the Rosenhau and the Brummerhau. Meyer’s Dussack fencing offers a wide range of tactical ideas, striking patterns, and useful solutions for many different fencing situations.
This workshop is suitable for participants who want to explore Meyer’s dynamic approach to Dussack fencing through practical exercises and technical interpretation.
Dagger according to Codex Wallerstein
In this workshop, we will explore selected dagger techniques from the Baumann Fechtbuch, also known as Codex Wallerstein. We will work closely with the historical source while also testing, interpreting, and adapting the plays together through practical training.
Expect close-distance work, structured experimentation, and a hands-on approach to understanding the mechanics behind the techniques.
Important: Please do not forget your groin protection.
About the Instructor. Diana Matthess began practicing HEMA in 2013 at a club in Mannheim. After moving to Cologne in 2017, she decided not to join a new club and has since been travelling through the HEMA world as a sword nomad.
Her fencing journey has taken her to many different clubs, events, and training environments, giving her a broad and practice-oriented perspective on historical fencing.
Bolognese breakthrough
Arguably the most notable characteristic of Bolognese fencing is the movement, the lateral footwork. In this class we will explore the principles of a closely guarded secret of the Bolognese masters to teach movement, measure and tempo – the segno.
This class is suitable for all experience levels and applicable to a number of weapons: “especially with sharp weapons (targa, rotella, large buckler, single sword, and cape, sword and dagger, and two swords.)” Marozzo – Opera Nova 1536
You will need a straight single handed sword, ideally a sidesword but an arming sword or similar will do. Come and unlock the secrets, and your potential!
Change the game: proceed with resolution
Do you hate lunging? Do bigger opponents hit you before you even decide what to do? Well worry no more because we are going to learn Fabris’s andare di risoluzione, or proceeding with resolution: what it is, what it isn’t, how to do it and when to do it. By the end of this workshop you will have a better understanding of being in and out of measure, gaining the blade, passing with small steps and presenting a smaller target. You will need a mask, gorget, gloves, chest protection and a rapier. Jacket optional.
About the instructor: Francesca Lacuata is an instructor at The School of the Sword’s Godalming chapter, which she founded in 2015 having studied Bolognese swordplay and rapier since 2010. She has a further interest and experience in renaissance dagger-fighting, Bartitsu and longsword. Fran has instructed at high-profile events in Britain, Europe and the US; and has placed in and won over thirty international competitions.
As a writer, Fran has demonstrated, panelled and presented on historical fencing and real-world violence at lectures and writers’ conventions, including Fantasycon and at the Wallace Collection.
Fran has organised over 30 international events starting with the International Rapier Seminar 2016. She co-founded Waterloo Sparring Group in 2012, which facilitates inter-group sparring from clubs all over the south of England and beyond. Fran was a founder of the Wessex League series of events as well as The English Sidesword Open and the Albion Cup.
By The Sword is an event for under-represented genders founded by Fran, and is also the title of her podcast series where she interviews numerous members of the global sword community. Fran was also a founding member of Esfinges, a worldwide organisation for women in HEMA.
Move like Capoferro and Lunge like it’s 1610!
Capoferro’s rapier style is famous for its demanding mechanics, with extreme positions and precise body alignment. In this class we’ll break those mechanics down into their essential principles so you can understand not just what to do, but why.
We’ll establish the guard position, explore the fundamental footwork (pass, lean, lunge, advance and retreat), learn how to hold the sword correctly, and see how closing the line with quarta and seconda shapes everything that follows. We’ll then put those mechanics to work in a selection of Capoferro’s fundamental techniques.
Whether you’re picking up a rapier for the first time or have years of experience, you’ll come away with a clearer understanding of how efficient mechanics make every action faster, stronger and more reliable.
You will need a rapier and a fencing mask.
Move like Vadi and Parry like it’s 1482!
Filippo Vadi’s longsword system has a character all its own. His guards, blows and transitions create a style of movement unlike Fiore, Liechtenauer or the Bolognese traditions. Learning to move the way Vadi intended opens up his tactical ideas in a way that importing a movement style from somewhere else can’t.
We’ll explore Vadi’s distinctive guards and generate both full and half blows, and discover how these movements flow naturally into the opening plays of the sword. Along the way we’ll see how Vadi’s mechanics solve familiar fencing problems in surprisingly elegant ways.
The class is designed to give beginners a solid introduction to Vadi’s system while offering experienced longsword fencers fresh insights into movement, timing and structure that transfer well beyond Vadi himself.
You will need a longsword and a fencing mask.
Break-Out: Move like Angelo and Salute like it’s 1763!
Every fencing tradition has its signature movement. For eighteenth-century smallsword, it’s perhaps Angelo’s famous salute.
In this fast-paced fifteen-minute session we’ll learn to draw the sword, assume the guard position, and perform the salute described in The School of Fencing: “The Salute in Fencing Generally Made Use of in all Academies Among Gentlemen Before They Assault or Fence Loose.”
The salute is far more than good manners. It’s a beautifully designed sequence that develops posture, balance, coordination and elegant weapon handling. It’s the perfect introduction to Angelo’s system, and great fun to perform.
You will need a smallsword (or similar training sword) and a hat. Any hat will do, but if you have a tricorn, this is your chance to wear it!
Morning Warm-Up
Join Guy as he gets his 52-year-old carcase ready for a day of historical fencing.
We’ll begin with a survey of all the joints, get moving gently, and gradually build up to the ranges of motion, balance and coordination we’ll need for the arts we practise. The aim isn’t to get tired, it’s to get ready, so you’ll fence better and reduce the risk of injury.
Suitable for everyone, from the barely awake to the painfully enthusiastic. If you already have a warm-up routine that works for you, you’re very welcome to incorporate it into the session.
About the instructor: Consulting Swordsman Dr. Guy Windsor is acclaimed and respected both as a teacher and a pioneering researcher of medieval and renaissance martial arts. He began his professional historical martial arts career when he founded The School of European Swordsmanship in Helsinki, Finland in 2001. Awarded a PhD by Edinburgh University for his seminal work recreating historical combat systems, Guy has written numerous books for historical martial artists, such as The Medieval Longsword, The Medieval Dagger, From Medieval Manuscript to Modern Practice: the longsword techniques of Fiore dei Liberi, The Art of Sword Fighting in Earnest, The Duellist’s Companion, The Swordsman’s Companion, The Theory and Practice of Historical Martial Arts, The Rapier Workbook series, and The Armizare Workbook. His latest book is From Medieval Manuscript to Modern Practice: the wrestling techniques of Fiore dei Liberi.
He has traveled the world as an in-demand teacher and lecturer, and even developed the card game Audatia – bringing the thrills of historic swordfighting to the modern gaming audience. He has also created a huge range of online courses, covering medieval knightly combat, sword and buckler, rapier, remedial training, and even how to train alone. Now, Guy splits his time between researching historical martial arts; writing books and creating online courses, teaching students all over the world; and working as a consulting expert. He runs the popular historical martial arts podcast The Sword Guy, interviewing historical martial artists and experts from a wide range of related disciplines.
You can find him and his work online at swordschool.com
Our break-out sessions (~30 min):
About the instructor: Rui Ferreira is one of the founders and instructors of Portuguese club Espada Negra.
Since 2015 he’s dedicated his study to British Military Sabre of the Napoleonic Period focusing on „the Art of Defence on Foot“ by Charles Roworth, complemented by the study of the Angelo tradition that preceded.
In 2016 he became an assistant instructor by the Academy of Historical Fencing where he studied with Nick Thomas both Sabre as well as Capo Ferro Rapier.
He’s also translated several treatises to both Portuguese and English several other treatises and manuals of other weapons used in the Napoleonic period.
Rui is also the artist behind the Fencing Masters project where he painted several of the fencing masters we study based on their depictions, and has collaborated with several schools and hema shops to help design their logos and equipment alike.
But his focus isn’t the sabre alone, Rui teaches smallsword focusing on Domenico Angelo but broadening to other french masters, and additionally rapier as well with a strong focus on Capo Ferro and turning to later sources to make the bridge to smallsword, always with the goal of enriching his own knowledge of fencing as well as that of his students.
The Location:
