TRAINING

Anyone is welcome to attend Schola Gladiatoria, just contact us first.

How regularly you train is up to you, with members coming to train as often as they like or are able. As with most physical skills though, the more you put in, the more you will get out.

All over-18's are welcome, male and female, of any fitness level.

If you want to start training with us you do not need any equipment to start off with, we'll provide it, though a pair of gloves is useful if you have them. Just come in comfortable clothes. We can later advise you on the best and cheapest places to buy your equipment, in addition to the equipment page on this website.

What happens in class?

Our classes start with stretching and warm-up games. After this we move onto whatever weapon is to be studied first that evening (sometimes we concentrate on one thing, sometimes several things), normally starting with solo drills, then moving onto paired drills with a partner. Drills progress from completely compliant to less and less compliant. Classes are sometimes finished off with some sparring. None of the class is compulsory and you can bow-out of an exercise for any reason. Please do let the instructor know if you have any relevant medical conditions before starting.

Apart from teaching just techniques, we think it is important to teach fundamental basics of the martial art, like how to move, balance, generate power in a strike etc. And of course to try to get to an understanding of fighting theory, rather than just collecting techniques.

Training is conducted in a relaxed but disciplined manner, as is necessary where weapons and people's health is an issue, with training being catered to each person's abilities and preferences as much as possible.

What other things do we do?

Occasionally we do special sessions concentrating on one specific training form, like test-cutting specially picked targets with sharp swords, or sparring with assorted forms of practice weapon. The frequency of sparring/freeplay is dependent on the level of proficiency of the students present, as safety and control have to be learnt and proven, but we do encourage people to get into sparring when they are ready.  We feel that free-fighting is an important part of recreating the historical martial arts. As a group we have a good track record of performance in competitions, though entering such contests is completely down to the individual.

At times we liaise with other groups and have guest teachers or lecturers, and we visit other groups elsewhere in the country and abroad when we are able to; any member of Schola Gladiatoria being welcome by us to visit any other practitioner or group and train with them if possible. Some of us travel to most of the big HEMA events throughout the year, in the UK and abroad.

What training weapons do we use?

Beginners practice techniques with hard-wood or nylon weapons (just as bokken are used in Japanese martial arts).  These are available to borrow for beginners.

More advanced students train with real (but blunt) steel weapons.

We freeplay (fence) or 'spar' with adapted weighted kendo shinai (laminated bamboo swords) and appropriate body protection, including fencing masks. Sometimes the more advanced members freeplay with nylon or blunt steel weapons.

For test-cutting we use sharp accurate replicas of original antique swords.

Will it make you fitter?

In short, yes. Our training is not heavy exercise, but as you get more into it, and particularly if you take up sparring, then you'll find it is a good workout - for the muscles and the lungs.  If you train extra in your own time then of course that will help, and you'll find that as your body gets more used to the weapons and the new movements then you'll become better at it as well.

Want more?

If you are interested in coming along, feel free to pay us a visit, to watch or participate, any time.  Just drop us an email.

You can also ask us more questions on our Forum

Contact: schola-gladiatoria@hotmail.co.uk