Medieval sword fighting lessons

Born in the 1350s, Fiore dei Liberi was an Italian master who wrote one of the earliest remaining martial arts manuals and who is now regarded as one of the most significant figures in historical European martial arts. Over 700 years later, expert Matt Easton teaches students the medieval fighting system of Fiore dei Liberi.

Run every Tuesday night, Matt’s classes keep close to the original source material, using lots of structured drills as well as sparring, studying all the weapons and concentrating on unarmed defence against dagger, as well as the use of the dagger, one-handed sword, longsword/bastard sword, spear and pollaxe.

Classes last two hours and start with a warm-up, after which the weapons used for the evening are chosen. Starting with solo drills, you then work in pairs and the class picks up pace and finishes with one-on-one sparring.

Classes cost £5 and everyone (over 18 years of age) is welcome.

Matt Easton is a martial arts teacher and arms and armour researcher who has been involved with Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) since 1997. He has been teaching since 2000, establishing Schola Gladiatoria in 2001. Before studying HEMA, Matt studied foil and sabre sport fencing and kung fu. His degree in Medieval Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, and a dissertation on the development of 13th and 14th century armour, demonstrate that his experience goes far beyond just practical fighting.

Matt has taught his interpretation of Fiore's fighting system at many events in the UK, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Poland and Sweden. He has presented to other historical European martial artists, members of the public and press, arms and armour collectors and restorers, and also to academics and museum staff. Matt has lectured on the arms and armour of the late middle ages at prestigious venues such as The Wallace Collection in London, the Tower of London, the Royal Armouries in Leeds, the Armour Research Society, the British Arms and Armour Society and at two International Arms and Armour Conferences in Florence and Vienna. Matt was also a founding member of HEMAC, the Historical European Martial Arts Coalition.