The School of the Sword

Greatsword, or Spadone, or Montante, is a great teacher: it introduces body mechanics and stability like no other sword can. It gives instant feedback, and once correct form is achieved it’s easier to replicate with smaller weapons. Plus who doesn’t love the big swords? ✈️✈️ ✏📝

It was a very warm evening in Godalming tonight so we trained outside, and also tested our latest members. Congratulations Matt and James on passing!

March/April 2026 newsletter from our Oxford chapter! :) made by

Congratulations to Tom for passing his safety test in Soxford! ⚔️🤺

Godalming Chapter April roundup

It's been a busy month at Godalming: freeplay with other clubs; delivery of swords; graduations; and the usual classes!

It's always helpful to test yourself against members from other groups, and SotS was very happy to have an Open Freeplay that saw visitors from Ausardia, Basingstoke, AHF and more. We look forward to have more freeplay afternoons in the future - look out for afternoons from our other Chapters as well!

We took delivery of a club order of over 30 swords (mainly sideswords and rapiers) from HF Armoury. Thankfully the weather played ball to allow to allow for everything to be put together and passed on to all their new owners!

Our Candidati are progressing, and safety tests are in sight! We do safety tests once a candidati has shown that they are ready for testing; and we were happy to graduate Cameron from Candidati to Studente!

Finally - normal classes continued as well. There have been 2 streams every night. Sword and Buckler is investigating the mezza spada plays of Manciolino; while the 2nd stream have been preparing for tournaments; with step-by-step guides of what to expect; experience of cornering; and finding out that judging in a tournament is very hard work!

Congratulations to Cameron who passed his safety test in Godalming tonight: the first of our latest batch of beginners to be graded.

Thank you to everyone who came to the Godalming Chapter Freeplay afternoon.

It was amazing to see people from so many separate HEMA schools, having the opportunity to fight new opponents or catch up with old friends (or enemies?).

The traditional HEMA weapons of longsword, saber, messer, sidesword and smallsword were represented - but a few more of the under-represented items were also seen: sidesword and cloak, and the peasant's flail!

Hopefully see you all again soon!

Congrats to Steve, Simon, and Bunni for passing the safety test and getting into the rank of studente at our Oxford chapter ☺️

March Roundup at the Godalming Chapter!

The streams at Godalming throughout March were Rapier & Dagger and Sword & Buckler. The R&D classes were based on Giganti - looking at second intentions with the rapier, and keeping control with the dagger. The S&B classes expanded on fundamentals, with careful use of footwork and timing, to introduce feints and measure cheats into a sparring repertoire.

We were also able to continue with our Sunday Freeplay sessions - and given the improvement in the weather, we can start doing it outside again! Outside sparring always helps with controlled footwork and tactics.

If you want to join in Freeplay, with SotS members and other HEMA groups, then the Godalming Chapter has an Open Freeplay afternoon on the 18th April. Tickets are still available to all members of recognised HEMA clubs (with the appropriate personal insurance):
https://manager.dojoexpert.com/student/register.aspx?g=80F35F65-5D2C-4D4A-9EA3-A00C421FE6FC&j=en-GB