European Historical Combat Guild - Training

So you want to train with FKOR or the EHCG -

well this page gives you a taster of what to expect.

THE SYLLABUS

The Guild makes use of a structured syllabus, which it requires teachers to follow whilst instructing students. This structure is designed to introduce both newcomers and those with experience, to the ‘Principles and Concepts’ taught by John Waller’s system as advocated by the Guild. The Syllabus is designed to give both the student and teacher an understanding of the student’s progress and development during training.

The Guild uses a system of grades and levels within the syllabus to introduce the student to the training, at progressively higher standards. There are three student levels, basic, intermediate and advanced; each of these consists of four grades. These levels and grades will introduce the student to the principles and concepts of the system by the use of various weapons, and is designed to allow the student to gain an all-round understanding, both intellectually and physically. As students work through the syllabus their ability to apply the principles to different weapons and techniques must also improve in order to progress to the next level.

LEVELS WITHIN THE GUILD

Scholar Levels	Basic Grades 1- 4	No Ribbon
	Intermediate Grades 5 - 8	Brown Ribbon
	Advanced Grades 9 - 12	Black Ribbon
	Journeyman	Blue Ribbon
Teaching Levels	Teacher	Red Ribbon
	Senior Teacher	Silver/White Ribbon
	Guild Master	Gold/Yellow Ribbon

ASSESMENT WITHIN THE SYLLABUS

Students will be assessed on their progress, throughout their training. This assessment will be made by an approved ‘Senior Teacher’, who will award them, if they have achieved the required standard, their new grade or level. This will allow them to move on within the syllabus and to progress to more advanced work. If they have progressed to a new level they will also be given the right to wear the appropriate new ribbon colour. The Guild makes use of a system of coloured ribbons, similar to the belts awarded in other martial arts, which are worn to shown the practitioners position within the Guilds structure.

DRILLS, EXERCISES AND TECHNIQUES

Drills, exercises and techniques are taught within the syllabus to help the student acquire a physical understanding of the training. These exercises are flexible and can be adapted to fit the requirements of either the student or the teacher.

MARKING THE GRADES

Students should be regularly assessed on their progress, at certain points they should be graded by an approved ‘Senior Teacher’, who will award them their new grade, if they have achieved the required standard. This will allow them to move to the new training exercises and to progress to more advanced work.

To achieve a grade the student must show that they have understood, and have the ability to put into practice the ‘Principles’ they have been taught, (see philosophy above). The student will be continually taught all the principles and these will be applied to each grade. As the student progresses through the training they should be able to demonstrate a greater ability and skill.

A grading sheet will be used and the success of the student recorded by a points system. The marking sheet will list all the principles that the student should understand and the student will be marked on their ability to demonstrate this, further comments may be made on the sheet. A value in points is awarded, based on these marks. Marking is out of twenty (20) and will be based on points out of five (5) on each of the following:

Eye Contact

Balance

Intention

General Physicality

Point’s guidelines:

• 1 Point Bad
• 2 Points Poor
• 3 Points Passable
• 4 Points Good
• 5 Points Excellent

The student will be advised, based on the observations made during the grading, how they may improve their work. These observations should be passed on to the teacher who will help the student in those areas.

The marking sheet should be kept on file, by both the Chapter Master and the Guild Secretary for future reference, so the student’s progress can be gauged over a period of time.

BASIC LEVEL

Grade 1 – Single Handed Weapon

Sword used one handed without a companion weapon.

Techniques

Offensive and defensive techniques, with all parts of the weapon.

Use of linear and circular footwork

Drills

Grade 1 exercises 1-6.

Grade 2 - Single Handed Weapon Accompanied

Most weapons are more effectively used offensively rather than defensively and because of the potential risk of damaging the weapon by using it for defence, it has meant that for much of history single handed weapons have been used in conjunction with another weapon or some type of shield.

Techniques

Offensive and defensive techniques, with all parts of the weapon while using the offensive and defensive options offered by shields or bucklers, as well as daggers. Defences using either the sword, it’s companion or both.

Drills

Grade 2 exercises 1-6.

Grade 3 – Two-handed weapons, staff and two-handed sword

Staff is one of the most versatile of weapons, techniques that can be used with the staff serve as a good starting point from which to learn the principles and is good preparation for the use of other weapons.

Techniques

Staff- Use at long, medium and short range. Use as quarter and half-staff and with paddle grip

Basic attacks and defences from various lines, using linear and circular footwork

Two-handed sword- offensive and defensive techniques using the blade of the weapon.

Drills

Grade 3 exercises 1-7.

Grade 4 - Theory

This will cover the principles, and the standard at which the student should be able to apply them; this will be done throughout the grades. This should be run alongside the other grades, though students may be tested on their knowledge outside of the other grades.

ASSESSMENT LEVELS

BASIC LEVEL

GRADE ONE Single handed weapon(SHW)

GRADE TWO SHW + Companion

GRADE THREE Two-Handed Weapons

GRADE FOUR Theory / Principles

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

GRADE FIVE Single handed weapon

GRADE SIX SHW + Companion

GRADE SEVEN Two-Handed Weapons

GRADE EIGHT Theory / Principles

ADVANCED LEVEL

GRADE NINE Single handed weapon

GRADE TEN SHW + Companion

GRADE ELEVEN Two-Handed Weapons

GRADE TWELVE Theory / Principles

Basic Level Syllabus

Grade 1-Single-handed weapon.

Sword.

Using cuts, linear footwork.

Using cuts and thrusts, linear footwork.

• Using cuts, 1 person using off line footwork

Using cut & thrust, 1 person off line footwork

• Using cuts, both off line footwork
• Using cut & thrust, both off line footwork

Grade 2- Single-handed weapon and companion.

Sword and dagger/buckler.

• Using cut & thrust, dagger linear footwork
• Using cut & thrust, buckler, linear footwork
• Using cut & thrust, dagger, 1 person using off line footwork.
• Using cut & thrust, buckler, 1 person using off line footwork
• Using cut & thrust, dagger, both using off line footwork
• Using cut & thrust, buckler, both using off line footwork

Grade 3-Two handed weapons.

Staff and two-handed sword/ Hand ½.

• Staff using cuts, linear footwork
• Staff using cut & thrust, linear footwork
• 2 handed sword, using cut & thrust, linear footwork
• Staff using cut & thrust, 1 person off line footwork
• 2 handed sword using cut & thrust, 1 person using off line footwork
• Staff using cut & thrust, both using off line footwork
• 2 handed sword, cut & thrust, both using off line footwork.

Grade 4- Theory

The scholar will be given a basic understanding of European arms and armour. They will also be given specific work relating to the understanding of the Principles. Much of this instruction will run parallel to the first 3 grades, however a separate test will be given to complete the grade.