| Instructor Bio and School History |
I began my fencing career at a quasi-SCA practice at
Marlboro College in 2001 under Jodi Clark. This practice
focused primarily on sparring and a fun, recreational practice
environment and kindled my interest in more historical
fencing, weapons and technique. Through this practice I
was introduced to the SCA and the Renaissance Faire
communities.
In early 2002, I also began training in traditional
Okinawan Martial Arts at the Brattleboro School of Budo
under Shihan Patrick Donahue. I have trained in Shorin-ryu
Karate, Aiki Jujitsu, Kobudo, and a limited amount of
kenjitsu/Iaido. My fencing and philosophy has been heavily
influenced by this training.
Over the next several years my interest in historically
accurate and appropriate technique grew and I began
independently researching and practicing early 17th century
Italian Rapier styles, working primarily from the fencing
treatise of Salvator Fabris. It was around this time I decided
that foils and epees were very poor rapier simulators and
encouraged anachronistic and inappropriate technique. As
a result I began to focus very heavily on fencing with a
proper replica rapier blade.
In early 2006 I graduated from Marlboro College with a
degree in Medieval History and Visual Arts. My focus was on
the production and usage of Medieval European Plate
Armour. In 2005 I started Winter Tree Crafts to make and
sell the armour I had become so fascinated with during my
studies. Thankfully, through fencing I was able to slip right in
to being a merchant in the SCA and Renaissance Faire
cultures.
During one such Renaissance Faire in 2004 I met the staff
and fencers of the Ryvnine School of Fence, who ran
renaissance and classical fencing classes around the area.
Thankfully my gear was in my truck and after a few hours of
after-hours sparring with what later turned out to be the bulk
of the RSF teaching staff, I was hired on the spot to teach a
historical rapier fencing class in Putney.
From there, things grew rapidly as I gained experience in
teaching and school administration. With the student
population tripling, we were able to purchase a dedicated set
of class equipment including reproduction rapiers and
daggers and as a result we were able to drop our
dependence on using modern fencing weapons and
inexpensive sca-style schlagers like rapiers.
In 2005 it was decided that due to explosive growth of my
historical "south region" classes and the trend of the Ryvnine
School to focus on more modern and classical styles, that I
would split off from RSF and form an independent school.
WTC and RSF still share close ties and frequently
cross-train as well as share and fund a common equipment
inventory.
At the time of this writing, I teach classes in 3 locations, with
demonstrations and workshops being taught around the
area. The student population floats between 50-70
students, with an expected population in the fall of 2006 of
75.
Marlboro College in 2001 under Jodi Clark. This practice
focused primarily on sparring and a fun, recreational practice
environment and kindled my interest in more historical
fencing, weapons and technique. Through this practice I
was introduced to the SCA and the Renaissance Faire
communities.
In early 2002, I also began training in traditional
Okinawan Martial Arts at the Brattleboro School of Budo
under Shihan Patrick Donahue. I have trained in Shorin-ryu
Karate, Aiki Jujitsu, Kobudo, and a limited amount of
kenjitsu/Iaido. My fencing and philosophy has been heavily
influenced by this training.
Over the next several years my interest in historically
accurate and appropriate technique grew and I began
independently researching and practicing early 17th century
Italian Rapier styles, working primarily from the fencing
treatise of Salvator Fabris. It was around this time I decided
that foils and epees were very poor rapier simulators and
encouraged anachronistic and inappropriate technique. As
a result I began to focus very heavily on fencing with a
proper replica rapier blade.
In early 2006 I graduated from Marlboro College with a
degree in Medieval History and Visual Arts. My focus was on
the production and usage of Medieval European Plate
Armour. In 2005 I started Winter Tree Crafts to make and
sell the armour I had become so fascinated with during my
studies. Thankfully, through fencing I was able to slip right in
to being a merchant in the SCA and Renaissance Faire
cultures.
During one such Renaissance Faire in 2004 I met the staff
and fencers of the Ryvnine School of Fence, who ran
renaissance and classical fencing classes around the area.
Thankfully my gear was in my truck and after a few hours of
after-hours sparring with what later turned out to be the bulk
of the RSF teaching staff, I was hired on the spot to teach a
historical rapier fencing class in Putney.
From there, things grew rapidly as I gained experience in
teaching and school administration. With the student
population tripling, we were able to purchase a dedicated set
of class equipment including reproduction rapiers and
daggers and as a result we were able to drop our
dependence on using modern fencing weapons and
inexpensive sca-style schlagers like rapiers.
In 2005 it was decided that due to explosive growth of my
historical "south region" classes and the trend of the Ryvnine
School to focus on more modern and classical styles, that I
would split off from RSF and form an independent school.
WTC and RSF still share close ties and frequently
cross-train as well as share and fund a common equipment
inventory.
At the time of this writing, I teach classes in 3 locations, with
demonstrations and workshops being taught around the
area. The student population floats between 50-70
students, with an expected population in the fall of 2006 of
75.
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