Combat Workshop: The Pollaxe

Directed by Dean Davidson & Stuart Ivinson, 
Kunst des Fechtens (KDF) International 

When: Sunday 06  July, 13.30-16.00
Where: Refectory
Price: £20.50

Have you ever had a desire to learn how to fight like our historical forbears or study the highly effective fighting style that was taught throughout the medieval period? Back by popular demand, Kunst des Fechtens (KDF) International brings a workshop in the use of medieval combat to congress participants.

KDF workshops bring a dynamic approach to training, with a martial application of this historical art, through practical drills combined with interpretations from historical treatises. Our professional and experienced instructors will be on hand to provide tuition. This year’s workshop will focus on the medieval pollaxe, a weapon consisting of a long wooden haft with a steel head, featuring an axe or hammer head as well as other features, including spikes. These double ended weapons were designed to combine wrestling and were often used against plate armour.

KDF International is an association of like-minded clubs from across Europe, whose aim is to promote the study, development and practice of the martial arts tradition of medieval and renaissance Germany, in particular that of fencing master Johannes Liechtenauer. These martial arts have been preserved in numerous treatises and have been unearthed, transcribed, translated, and interpreted into a modern understanding of a subtle, dynamic and effective martial arts system that looks at the use of a number of weapons and unarmed combat of the time. Founded in 2006, KDF was born from a desire to focus attention on Liechtenauer's works as well as bringing a dynamic approach to training, adding the use of protection as well as free play exercises and bouts to drill and practice as a part of trying to triangulate a truth within their interpretations.

Dean has over 25 years of experience in martial arts and training in historical weapons. He is the KDF International Senior Instructor and European Historical Combat Guild Chapter Master at the Royal Armouries, Leeds. He is an active member of the Society for Combat Archaeology, an international organisation committed to the promulgation of systematic knowledge related to combat and warfare in the past. Dean is passionate about sharing knowledge on this subject and regularly presents at international conferences and seminars, providing a unique insight into the arms and armour used throughout medieval warfare. He is also a founding member of the Towton Battlefield Frei Compagnie and 3 Swords, a prestigious medieval historical and armed combat interpretation group. Dean holds a MSc in Health Informatics from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Leeds.

Stuart Ivinson has been involved with historical combat for 16 years, joining the European Historical Combat Guild in 2000 and KDF upon its inception in 2006. He is currently an Assistant Instructor at the Leeds Chapter of both organisations. Stuart is also a member of the Society for Combat Archaeology and a founder member of both the Towton Battlefield Society Frei Compagnie and 3 Swords. He has made presentations regarding the display of arms and armour for organisations such as the National Archives at Kew, English Heritage, and numerous British museums. Stuart has an MA in Librarianship, an MA in Medieval History and a PG.Dip in Heritage Management. When he is not being Dean’s sidekick he is the Librarian at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.

All weapons are provided by KDF. Participants should wear indoor training shoes and appropriate and comfortable gym training gear that will allow freedom of movement (i.e. t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms). Please make the instructors aware of any prior medical conditions.

This workshop can only accommodate a limited number of participants. Early booking is recommended.