Workshops
Flailing with the Thresher Flail by Julian Schuetze
The image of a spiked ball on a chain is mostly a bit of medieval fantasy. What actually existed and saw real use was the thresher flail. This simple farm tool was used by peasants to process grain, but it also found a place in defense and training. Guards and militia could use it as a practical weapon, and fencers discovered that it made a useful training tool for working with polearms.
In this class we will cover the history and cultural background of the thresher flail, and how it was used. We will look at how it works, what makes it a safe polearm trainer, and why more HEMA groups are starting to experiment with it.
Gear Requirements
Full longsword kit and clamshell gloves are preferred. At minimum, a mask with back of head protection, a jacket, and clamshell gloves will be enough for lighter play and participation.
About Julian
Julian Schuetze has been fencing competitively since 2012 and has found success across a wide range of weapons in historical fencing. Over the years he has competed in cutting, singlestick, smallsword, longsword, and sabre, reaching peak worldwide rankings of 1st in cutting, 11th in singlestick, 18th in smallsword, 38th in longsword, and 145th in sabre. He founded both THCC and Bighorn Historical Combat and brings his background and degrees in kinesiology into his coaching, focusing on efficient mechanics, implementing tactics, and helping students perform well in competition. Through that approach he has coached a number of successful competitive fencers while also helping build a strong positive culture in the club. Bighorn Historical Combat is now one of the highest rated HEMA clubs in Canada and in 2025 had the highest number of recorded match wins, placing #34 in the world.
How to Score Points by Miles Kinnee
Let’s cut to the chase: You want to win! And that means one thing: You need to score more points! So let’s stop pretending that we don’t care about winning and get down to business. This year Miles is returning and he’s got a great new workshop planned: ‘How to Score Points’ - this workshop gets to the heart of what we’re all after and will teach clear high return combinations and concepts that will get you on the board and can be applied across weapons. This workshop contains material for all skill levels, from newbie to coach!
About Miles
Miles Kinnee is the co-founder and lead instructor at Tyrants HEMA Collective (THCC), where he directs the competitive team, including fighters like Julian Schuetze. He brings over a decade of experience to his teaching and competitive career and has achieved HEMA Ratings rankings of 3rd in Singlestick, 47th in Longsword, and 62nd in Sabre. Miles is renowned in the HEMA community for his coaching ability, strategic approach to competition, and dynamic teaching style.
Armored Combat Fundamentals by Benjamin Davis
A focused introduction to armoured combat fundamentals. Participants will work through the core skills of half-swording, essential guards, striking mechanics, and understanding valid targets and strikes within an armoured ruleset. We’ll then apply these concepts through structured playbuilding and controlled light sparring to develop practical timing, distance, and tactical decision-making. Suitable for all experience levels. Only a fencing mask, gorget, light jacket, and padded gloves are required.
About Benjamin
Benjamin Davis is based in Vancouver, British Columbia and has been an active practitioner, competitor, and instructor in Historical European Martial Arts for over 10 years who specializes in Longsword, Rapier, and Armoured Combat. He has organized and run the Duelling Arts Tournaments hosted at Academie Duello since 2022, and has traveled to compete in events across North America and has taken several gold and silver medals in his disciplines including: Longsword, Rapier & Dagger, Sidesword, and Spear.
He was the first student at Academie Duello to earn the rank of Free Scholar in Longsword, and the first to hold two Free Scholar ranks in two disciplines simultaneously. He is working towards the next rank of Provost and, eventually, Maestro where he hopes to open his own school of Knightly Combat.
He is an aspiring technical writer with two 90 thousand word, (and counting), textbooks on the Duello Armizare system of fencing and loves instructing, coaching, and helping other practitioners find their own way to understanding in the art.