Our Styles
Rapier
The Rapier’s popularity spanned over a Century throughout Europe. A multitude of styles, mentalities and techniques were developed across the Continent by Masters from all walks of Life. At Ascalon we teach a general style of Italian fencing from the late 1500’s and early 1600’s. We touch on different Italian Masters of the Renaissance Era, such as Ridolfo Capo Ferro, Salvator Fabris, Nicoletto Giganti. Their works laid the foundation for what we teach today.
We also teach the German Rappier of Joachim Meyer from 1570. A Freifechter from Strasbourg Germany. Meyer's works come from his Longsword background and can be extremely dynamic in it's execution as compared to the Italian systems of the Renaissance.
Longsword
Joachim Meyer background in the Longsword fills the majority of his 1570 work. His German longsword follows in the long line of the Johannes Liechtenauer tradition. Meyer updated the style based, we suppose, on his travels across Europe and the studies of the foreign sword styles he encountered. With broad cutting and tight winding techniques, this style relies on active footwork as well as full body movement behind the blade as the fencer seeks control and leverage to win the day.
Military Saber
Capt. Alfred Hutton published Cold Steel in 1889 based on previous works on the Saber from other British Masters such as Roworth and Taylor much earlier in the Century. This is one of the easiest works with which to work from to learn the more modern sword art of Military Fencing according to the 19th century English Masters. These same techniques were also used in both Single Stick fencing practice, as well as by those units wielding the Scottish basket hilted broadswords for the British Empire. Saber requires tight control of both the blade and the body, with an upright stance and an emphasis on defense.
About Us
Founder & Head Instructor
Tyler "Murdoch" Therrien grew up in the Okanagan, from one side of the valley to the other. From an early age, a love of swords was never very far from his thoughts. For the better part of the past two decades, his experience and training within an International Medieval Re-creation group has been the driving force in his eagerness to improve and learn. His passion for the Rapier and its various styles evolved beyond the Rapier to other European swords and their unique and individual systems. Murdoch was fortunate enough to learn from some of the best mentors and friends he could have hoped for, including participating in classes offered by several very well known Instructors within the Western Historical Martial Arts community. These opportunities and experiences have helped to foster a desire to help repopularize those lessons and techniques written for posterity by the Sword Masters of the Past. As well as to help people today realize that anyone can learn to wield a sword!
Ascalon Academy presents Murdoch the opportunity to make the joy of the historical sword arts accessible to anyone willing to put in the time and effort to learn with him..
Lead Instructor
James “Tobias” Rempel grew up with a love of sword fighting in video games, movies and books. His Journey to learn and understand swordsmanship started in 2006 with Kenjitsu lessons. Over the next 10 years his interest in swordsmanship remained, but it wasn’t until 2017 when he was first introduced to the German Longsword that his hobby became his passion.
Since then, Tobias has committed countless hours reading the sword treaties of historical masters, as well as the modern interpretations on the art. He has taken every opportunity to test his understanding of it in both tournaments and free sparring. The focus of his studies have been the Longsword and Rappier presented in Joachim Meyer’s Kunst des Fechtens (the Art of Combat), a pursuit only possible because of the experience and guidance of his mentor and friend, Murdoch.