Destreza: The True Art and Science of the Rapier

A weekend of study on the Theory and Practice of fencing according to
the work of Gerard Thibault d'Anvers 1628



Instruction By:

Matthew Howden

Jeff Richardson

John Michael Greer



Date: April 4-5, 2009

Location: Milwaukie Elks Lodge

13121 SE Mcloughlin Blvd.

Portland, OR 97222

Tuition: $50 pre-registered (through March 6); $60 after March 6


The seminar will include two days of hands on work with the sword
under the instruction of Matthew Howden assisted by Jeff Richardson
and a lecture by translator and researcher John Michael Greer.

There will be an emphasis on the internal philosophical practices
involved in Thibault's system and how those practices affect the
practical application of the techniques. In addition on day two we
will take a look at some of Thibault's applications of the rapier
against sword and dagger and against the longsword.

**Class size is limited. To ensure your place in class, please sign
up as early as possible. Pre-registration will open Friday, February
6, 2009 with tuition due by Friday, March 6, 2009. Continuing
registration will go from March 7 until April 3 or until all spaces
are filled. The tuition will be higher after the pre-registration period.



To sign up, contact jeff at jeffery at mind dot net


The Teachers

Matthew Howden has been studying the rapier since the mid 90's and has
been studying the works of Gerard Thibault for more than a decade.
Originally beginning his teaching career at the club in Ashland
Oregon, Matthew is a member of the Portland, Oregon chapter of the
Tattershall School of Defence and a senior instructor at Academia
Duellatoria teaching at the studio in Portland, Oregon.

Jeff Richardson started his fencing career under Olympic Coach Michael
D'Asaro in the late 80's and received his black belt in American Open
Style Karate from Jerry Piddington in the mid 90's. He has been
studying the rapier since the early 90's and is a senior instructor at
Academia Duellatoria in Portland. Jeff sits on the Board of Directors
for the Association of Historical Fencing.

Jeff and Matthew have been researching Destreza and Thibault for many
years and have consulted with Mr. Greer on the translation project.
They have furthered the research of Destreza in several capacities
including hosting the first seminars on the subject on the West Coast
starting in 2001. They also assisted with the instructional video "La
Verdadera Destreza, The True Art and Skill of Spanish Swordsmanship"
featuring Anthony Delongis and the Maestro's Martinez by helping to
supply the still images used in the video and hosted the book release
party, demon and seminar for Mr. Greer's translation of Girard
Thibault in 2006.

John Michael Greer is a widely published author on esoteric
traditions, published by Llewellyn, Weiser and under his own company
Fir Mountain Press. He has been a student and practitioner of geomancy
and sacred geometry for more than twenty years and is fluent in Latin
and medieval French. Greer has studied geomantic texts and the art of
memory from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. He's a former member of
the Golden Dawn, a Mason, and is the head of the Ancient Order of
Druids in America. He is responsible for the translation of Gerard
Thibault's book on the Mysterious Circle. After a ten year long
process this translation was published by Chivalry Bookshelf in 2006.

Academia Duellatoria can be found on the web at
http://duellatoria.com/