The curriculum of the Black Falcon School of Arms is modeled on the traditional weapons forms in which medieval or early Renaissance English martial arts were expected to be proficient. Some compromises have been made in order to include medieval sources that are not English, or English sources that are not medieval (where no English sources appropriate to the time period can be found).
Based on notes kept by the Company of Maisters of the Science of Defence near the end of the 16th century, and modified according to the scope of BFSA's study, the weapons forms we study and practice are: two hand sword, bastard sword, sword and buckler, and staff. In addition, wrestling and dagger-fighting are studied under the assumption that even though they were not publicly displayed as part of most fencing schools' accomplishments, any well-rounded martial artists of the time would be at least familiar with the material.
Below is a breakdown of the curriculum by weapon, as well as the sources we reference for our study. Further information about the sources can be found on the period sources page.
This forms the basis of the Black Falcon School of Arms' beginning curriculum. The lessons are drawn from information in the Harleian Manuscript 3542, and the Cotton Titus Manuscript A XXV.
A refinement of the material learned in the Two Hand Sword curriculum, the Bastard Sword material is drawn primarily from the Additional Manuscript 39,564 (also known as the "Ledall" Manuscript), supplemented by George Silver's Brief Instructions Upon my Paradoxes of Defence.
The staff is commonly identified with English martial arts and well-respected by martial artists the world over. Staff material is drawn primarily from George Silver's Brief Instructions Upon my Paradoxes of Defence, supplemented by Joseph Swetnam's Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence, Zachary Wylde's English Master of Defence.
The most pervasive sword art known to have flourished in Europe during the Middle Ages, the sword and buckler is an important tool in the Black Falcon School of Arms' attempts to rediscover and uphold medieval English martial arts traditions. Sword and buckler material is drawn primarily from the anonymous Tower Fechtbuch, (also known as the I.33 Fechtbuch), supplemented by George Silver's Brief Instructions Upon my Paradoxes of Defence.
All information contained within this website is copyright, 2006, the Black Falcon School of Arms and the Mercenaries Medieval Combat Guild. Background image used with permission from Bronwen Hodgkinson.