18:00 to Late - Meet and Greet Social (Beehive Inn)

Come along to say hello and socialise with your fellow fencers from around the world! Black Boar members will be there to facilitate meet and greets. This informal evening is the perfect way to relax after your travels and will take place in the dedicated upstairs bar of the Beehive Inn, located on the Grassmarket. It starts from 18:00, and you can drop by anytime. You’ll be able to order food and drinks.

09:00 to 09:30 - Registration

Check-in with our event organisers and complete health and safety documents.

09:30 to 10:00 - Warmup

Get yourself limbered up and kitted up for the day!

10:00 to 11:00 - Workshops

Option 1 - Strategic Use of the Froissement (Daniel Aldridge & Sierra Hotz)

The workshop will focus on the froissement as an action on the blade. We’ll present their application in a few short, structured lessons that build to a longer final exercise. We want students to leave the workshop with the ability to analyse when a froissement, either as an action on its own or to encourage a desired response, can safely be applied in relation to their or their opponent’s skill set.

Option 2 - Where There’s Hope (Emanuel Meyer)

This workshop explores The Scots Fencing Master by Sir William Hope, published in 1687 and one of the earliest smallsword treatises. While often overshadowed by his later New Method, this earlier work offers unique insight into both the art and Hope’s personal views on fencing techniques. Held in Edinburgh - where Hope once served as Lieutenant Governor of the Castle and wrote much of his work - the Smallsword Symposium provides the perfect setting to revisit this historical text and examine what constituted cutting-edge smallsword practice in the city over 300 years ago.

11:00 to 11:30 - Break

Catch your breath and rehydrate before the next session.

11:30 to 12:30 - Workshops

Option 1 - Gliding Feints (Tobias Zimmermann)

The Kreussler school of smallsword makes a general distinction between fleeting thrusts and firm thrusts. This also influences its concept of feints, resulting in a distinction between simple feints and gliding feints (literally brushing feints). In this workshop, we will introduce basic fleeting and firm thrusts and then focus on turning them into feints.

Option 2 - Classical Fencing Wrestling (Romain Meister)

Details coming soon.

12:30 to 15:00 - Lunch

A well earned break to grab a bite to eat and recharge.

15:00 to 16:00 - Workshops

Option 1 - Don’t Get Dead (Martin Docherty)

The fundamental goal in any sword fight is to stay alive - what happens to the opponent is secondary to that! Yet this is often not reflected in free play. In this workshop, we will be exploring a range of free play activities geared towards rewarding those who fence as if they prefer to remain alive, rather than those who want a point at any cost.

Option 2 - Opportunities to Attack (Greig Watson)

When is the right moment to attack in smallsword fencing? This workshop explores how to judge the timing of a safe and effective thrust amid engagements, disengagements, beats, feints, and ripostes. Using Italian sources - though applicable to any style - the session examines decision-making in offence.

16:00 to 16:45 - Free Play (Social Fencing)

Enjoy some good natured fencing and duels with your fellow participants.

18:00 to Late - Meal and Social (Beehive Inn)

Lay down your arms and get spruced up for a lovely buffet style meal and evening of good company and witty banter. We’ll be in the dedicated upstairs bar of the Beehive Inn, located on the Grassmarket. Food is provided and you’ll be able to order your own drinks.

09:00 to 09:30 - Registration

Check-in with our event organisers.

09:30 to 10:00 - Warmup

Get yourself limbered up and kitted up for the day!

10:00 to 11:00 - Workshops

Option 1 - Presenting the Time (Isaac Humber)

Timing is critical in fencing - doing the right move at the wrong time still leads to failure. New fencers quickly learn that techniques practiced in drills often fall apart against real, unpredictable opponents. The smallsword, with its agility and deceptive nature, amplifies the consequences of poor timing. Because timing can feel abstract and confusing, this class aims to provide clear structural tools and strategies to improve understanding and consistency. Drawing on late period sources, we’ll explore the unique timing challenges posed by the smallsword, especially in contrast to heavier weapons, helping fencers develop a more effective sense of acting ‘In tempo.’

Option 2 - Aphantasia on a Theme by Hutton (Bethan Jenkins)

This workshop explores fencing without the use of sight, focusing on developing proprioception - our body’s awareness in space - to improve technique and responsiveness. Drawing inspiration from Hutton’s ‘blindfold’ lessons and echoing Sir William Hope’s insight on ‘supplying sight with feeling’, participants will learn to rely on internal cues rather than visual ones. The class features the unique Contra-Caveating parade as an ideal method for sightless fencing. This is not a class on Hutton’s fencing system, and the hanging guard in Seconde will not be covered due to time constraints.

11:00 to 11:30 - Break

Catch your breath and rehydrate before the next session.

11:30 to 12:30 - Workshops

Option 1 - Understanding Blow and Thrust (Milo Thurston)

This workshop explores effective parrying and delivering proper cutting blows with the broadsword or spadroon, as inspired by Sir William Hope’s Sword Man’s Vade Mecum. Hope emphasizes the importance of edge alignment, warning against striking with the flat of the blade. We'll examine how to make effective cuts, focusing on correct blade contact, as many swords - especially straight or light ones - won’t cut properly if used like a cudgel. McBane notes that multiple poorly delivered cuts may cause little damage. Participants are encouraged to bring a broadsword or spadroon, along with a smallsword; a limited number may be available to borrow.

Option 2 - Smallsword Vs Broadsword (Mike Smith)

This workshop examines the classic clash of cut versus thrust - broadsword against smallsword - through the lens of historical masters. Participants will explore how the smallsword can be adapted to counter the cutting power of the broadsword in this dynamic match-up. Forearm protectors are recommended for this class.

12:30 to 15:00 - Lunch

A well earned break to grab a bite to eat and recharge.

15:00 to 16:45 - Free Play (Social Fencing)

Enjoy some good natured fencing and duels with your fellow participants. There may even be some fun fencing games to end the event…

18:00 to Late - Farewell Social (Grassmarket)

Alas, all good things come to an end (until next year of course)! Enjoy a final evening of festivities to wrap up the event in style. This is an informal, ad-hoc activity (no specific venue is planned). Participants can decide on the day what they’d like to do and where everyone will meet.