Keystone Academy of Dueling and Swordsmanship
Scholars and practitioners of Historical European Swordsmanship and Martial Arts
Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
KADS 2021-2022 Calendar
KADS Calendar (Constantly evolving and subject to change)
(Please note that 2021 schedule is subject to factors of civil unrest and pandemic quarantine )
Last Updated 18th January 2021
------------------ 2021 --------------------
Feb 1st (8:00-10:00) Welcome Back Presentation (Provost Earhart) plus - Open Class & Free Exchange
Sonnet Submission Deadline
Feb 8th (8:00-10:00) Class - Bolognese Review
Feb 15th (8:00-10:00) Class - Bolognese Review
Feb 22nd (7:15-8:00) Review
(8:00-10:00) Class - Dussack (Provost Earhart with Mr. Ebert) - New Students Admitted
Mar 1st (7:15-8:00) Review
(8:00-10:00) Class - Dussack (Provost Earhart with Mr. Ebert) - New Students Admitted
Mar 8th (7:15-8:00) Review
(8:00-10:00) Class - Dussack (Provost Earhart with Mr. Ebert)
Mar 15th (7:15-8:00) Review
(8:00-10:00) Class - Dussack (Provost Earhart with Mr. Ebert)
Mar 19th -21st - Proposed Dates for KADS KERNOOZER GATHERING
Mar 19 - Fireside / Housewarming(?) -- Mar 20th - Scholar and Adept assessments (Bolognese) - Dinner -- Mar 21st - Kernoozer Day
Mar 22nd (8:00-10:00) Class - Dussack (Provost Earhart with Mr. Ebert)
Mar 29th (8:00-10:00) Class - Dussack (Provost Earhart with Mr. Ebert)
Apr 3rd-4th Workshop Weekend
Apr 5th OFF For Easter Monday
Apr 12th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie - New Students Admitted
(8:00-10:00) Class 001 - Celtic Combat - Scottish Backsword - - New Students Admitted
Apr 19th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie - New Students Admitted
(8:00-10:00) Class 002 - Celtic Combat - Scottish Backsword - - New Students Admitted
Apr 23-25 KADS in Milan, Italy (FISAS - FIM) To Be Confirmed
Apr 26th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 003 - Celtic Combat - Scottish Backsword
May 3rd (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 004 - Celtic Combat - Scottish Backsword
May 10th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 005 - Celtic Combat - Scottish Backsword
May 17th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 006 - Celtic Combat - Scottish Backsword
May 24th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 007 - Celtic Combat - Scottish Backsword
May 31st Off for Memorial Day - Proposed Spring Gathering
June 7th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 008 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Dirk Broadsword
June 14th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 009 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Broadsword
June 21st (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 010 - Celtic Combat- Highland Scottish Dirk
June 28th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 011 - Celtic Combat- Highland Scottish Dirk
July 5th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 012 - Celtic Combat- Highland Scottish Dirk
July 12th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 013 - Celtic Combat- Highland Scottish Dirk
July 15th-17th - KADS Camp Boarding School
July 19th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 014 - Celtic Combat- Highland Scottish Dirk
July 26th (6:45-7:45) Hawk and Bowie
(8:00-10:00) Class 015 - Celtic Combat- Highland Scottish Dirk
Aug 2nd (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 016 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Aug 9th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 017 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Aug 16th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 018 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Aug 23rd (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 019 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Aug 30th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 020 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Sept 6th - Off for Labor Day - Proposed Autumn Gathering
Sept 13th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 021 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Sept 20th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 022 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Sept 27th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 023 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Oct 4th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 024 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Oct 11th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 025 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Oct 18th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 026 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Oct 25th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 027 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Nov 1st (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 028 - Celtic Combat- Scottish Smallsword
Nov 8th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 029 - Celtic Combat- Lochaber Axe & staff
Nov 15th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 030 - Celtic Combat- Lochaber Axe & staff
Nov 22nd (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 031 - Celtic Combat- Lochaber Axe & staff
Nov 29th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 032 - Celtic Combat- Lochaber Axe & staff
Dec 6th (6:45-7:45) Bartitsu
(8:00-10:00) Class 033 - Celtic Combat- Lochaber Axe & staff
Dec 13th - Fight Before Christmas
Dec 20th-Jan 3rd Off for winter break
Jan 8th - KADS Reindeer Games and Twelfth Night Banquet
Jan 10th - Classes Resume for 2022
2022 calendar to follow- but will include a continuation of the Scottish combat curriculum
Curricula
K.A.D.S. studies a wide range of combat systems and weapons derived from a diverse selection of historical sources. Naturally, we cannot cover everything simultaneously so we rotate through a series of topics on a roughly trimester basis. To give you some idea of the subjects we address here is a list of some of the curricula we have offered: (for upcoming curricula, please see calendar above)
Curricula Covered in KADS
- 13thC. broadsword & buckler (I.33)
- 15th-16thC. Medieval Dagger
- 15thC. Italian Longsword
- 15thC. German Longsword
- 15th-16thC. Rossfechten
- 15-16thC Harnischfecten
- 15thC. German Dussack
- 16thC. German Messer
- 15thC. Italian Spear
- 16thC. Bolognese Sidesword
- 17thC. Italian Rapier
- 17thC. Spanish Rapier
- 16thC. Renaissance Backsword
- 17thC. Renaissance Dagger
- 18thC. Civilian French Smallsword
- 18thC. Scottish (Highland) Backsword
- 18thC. Highland Scottish Dirk
- 18thC. Naval Boarding Cutlass
- 18th-19thC. Infantry Saber
- 16th-19thC. Singlestick
- 19thC. Constable’s Truncheon
- 16th-19thC. Quarterstaff & Half-staff
- 18th-19thC. Fixed Bayonet
- 18th-19thC. Bowie Knife & Tomahawk
- 19thC. Grand Baton & Bastone
- 19thC. Classical Fencing
- 19thC Bartitsu / Antagonistics
- 19thC. Canne,/Defense Dans la Rue
- 19thC Irish Bataireacht (Shillelagh)
- 18th-20thC Bare-knuckle pugilism
- 19th-20th C Dueling/gymnasium Saber
- WWI Trench Knife
For 2021-2023 our focus is on: a Primary Curriculum of 18th Century Scottish and Irish
Combatives which includes :
- Highland Backsword
- Military Broadsword,
- Civilian Smallsword
- Officer Spadroon
- Lachaber Axe
- Quarterstaff and Halfstaff
- Alehouse Dagger
- Scottish Dirk and Targe
Based on the treatises of: William Machrie, Sir William Hope, Donald McBane, Thomas Page, Archibald MacGregor, Sergeant Donald McAlpine, Henry Angelo, John Taylor, and Thomas Mathewson, among others
The secondary curriculum is currently split between:
Tomahawk and Bowie Knife
as well as
19th Century Bartitsu, Defense dans la Rue, and Antiquarian Antagonisti
Instructor Bios
Mark P. Donnelly- Professor of Arms
Inst. Alexander Stuart - Instructor Level 1
Inst. Alexander Stuart - Instructor Level 1
- The Historian -
Professor Donnelly has been studying European armed combat in various incarnations since 1982. After years of research and training in the disparate disciplines of western martial arts, sport fencing, stage combat (SAFD and BADC), tournament fighting and eastern martial disciplines, he moved from the US to England in
- The Historian -
Professor Donnelly has been studying European armed combat in various incarnations since 1982. After years of research and training in the disparate disciplines of western martial arts, sport fencing, stage combat (SAFD and BADC), tournament fighting and eastern martial disciplines, he moved from the US to England in 1996 to undertake a PhD in Medieval Archaeology. While in England, he was one of the founding fathers of the British Federation of Historical Swordplay (BFHS) while running 7 Academies with the Society for the Study of Swordsmanship (S.S.S.) and the Edenhill Academy of Arms for nearly 14 years. It was due to his work with the S.S.S., E.A.A. and the B.F.H.S. that he was awarded the title of Professor of Arms in 2002.
With Edenhill Academy (enjoying both a Bishop and a Royal Prince as patrons), he has worked with HM Royal Monuments, The Wallace Collection, English Heritage, the National Trust, National Maritime Museum, Sandhurst Military Academy, as well as the HMS Trincomalee, HMS Victory, the Grand Turk, the Royal Shakespeare Company (with the legendary William Hobbs), the Yorkshire Constabulary, and more reenactment societies than he can list.
Prof. Donnelly has instructed at major national and international events such as: F.I.S.A.S. in Verbania, Italy; H.E.M.A.C. at Dijon in France; A.E.E.M.A. in Madrid; A.R.G.O. in Prague; B.F.H.S. AGMs and Instructor Certifications; S.W.A.S.H. at HM Royal Armouries, The Original Smallsword Symposium, The American Smallsword Symposium, The International Saber Symposium, The MIM (Malta International meeting) as well as many others.
He is a life-time research associate with HM Royal Armouries, as well as with The Tower of London, and with the National Maritime Museum, at Greenwich. Professor Donnelly was honored to be repeatedly listed among the top instructors in Europe.
Since returning to the States in late 2008 he has taught at numerous universities, festivals, fairs and conventions. He currently lives in Harrisburg, PA where he runs the Keystone Academy of Dueling and Swordsmanship (K.A.D.S.) and is additionally a member of the HEMA Alliance, The Victorian Martial Art Association, the Historical Maritime Combat Association, the Bartitsu Society and more.
Professionally, Prof. Donnelly has about 30 non fiction history titles in publication on a wide variety of subjects, as well as hundreds of hours as a writer and sometimes producer of historical documentaries for networks such as History Channel, Discovery Channel, PBS, BBC, National Geographic, and more. He is also an antique dealer specializing in walking sticks, canes, umbrellas, parasols, shillelaghs, and swordsticks. Whether in print, on air, in stock, in person, or en guard, Donnelly is teaching history.- The Scholar
Inst. Alexander Stuart - Instructor Level 1
Inst. Alexander Stuart - Instructor Level 1
Inst. Alexander Stuart - Instructor Level 1
- The Fighter -
Alexander Stuart has always been fascinated with swords in all their forms and types. The first blade he could call his own was made from a kit when he was six and this has set a pattern for his entire life. As a blacksmith he has specialized in blade creation. He soon found that an understanding of their use was a fun
- The Fighter -
Alexander Stuart has always been fascinated with swords in all their forms and types. The first blade he could call his own was made from a kit when he was six and this has set a pattern for his entire life. As a blacksmith he has specialized in blade creation. He soon found that an understanding of their use was a fundamental necessity to his education and development as a blade smith.
In 2000 Inst. Stuart joined the SCA Heavy list combat and became a squire in 2004. His SCA mentor stressed fair play in martial pursuits and taught a system based on singlestick. Over the next decade Inst. Stuart rose to local unit command, and marshal. From 2007 till 2010 he served as Southern Region Commander and was distinguished as the only combatant to serve two consecutive terms.
Furthermore, Inst. Stuart was honored to be the first ever to hold the position without being prior elevated to the rank of Chivalry. Inst. Stuart served as an unbelted kingdom champion from 2007 till 2011. In 2009 he was awarded the Order of the Gladiator for completing one thousand individual combats within a record time of five days. In 2010 he was inducted into the Order of the Tiger Combatant, an order of combat excellence.
In 2009 Inst. Stuart met Professor Mark P. Donnelly. In his own words, “I felt I had finally met the Teacher I was seeking. Professor Donnelly consented to begin my instruction, and KADS was born.” Since then Inst. Stuart has been a stalwart participant in almost every curriculum that KADS has offered and has successfully achieved the rank of Scholar in 17th C. Italian Rapier, 15th C. German Longsword, and 19th C. Light (infantry) Saber. He went on to successfully achieve the rank of Inst. in Achille Marozzo's Bolognese Partisan. Inst. Stuart has been invaluable as an assistant at workshops in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and here in Pennsylvania. He has, himself, organized or run workshops in Rapier, Sabre, Great stick, and Bartitsu.
Over the last few years Inst. Stuart has joined with Inst. Earhart’s joust company and has, though Inst. Earhart’s guidance and instruction begun an exploration of both mounted and unmounted armored combat. It is Inst. Stuart’s goal to eventually live up to George Silver’s definition of a true ‘master of defense’; and toward that goal he seeks to learn as much as he can, as often as he can, from as many different sources as he can.
Mr. Robert Earhart - Instructor Level 1
Inst. Alexander Stuart - Instructor Level 1
Mr. Robert Earhart - Instructor Level 1
- The Performer -
Robert ‘Achilles’ Earhart has been a student of arms his whole life, with training in many eastern and western traditions. He has decades of training and various belts in Shotokan Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Kendo, Judo, Toyama Ryu Batto Do and Aikido. His love of the sword started with Olympic Fencing which he compe
- The Performer -
Robert ‘Achilles’ Earhart has been a student of arms his whole life, with training in many eastern and western traditions. He has decades of training and various belts in Shotokan Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Kendo, Judo, Toyama Ryu Batto Do and Aikido. His love of the sword started with Olympic Fencing which he competed and trained in all three weapons for twelve years.
This love of swordsmanship and his passion for history led him to devour every European fighting treatise he could find; which in the late eighties and early nineties were few and hard to find. Translating treatises, then studying them and eventually working with rapier, longsword, arming sword, and polearms.
Professionally Inst . Earhart has worked in the entertainment industry as a professional stunt performer working with live-action stunt shows across the country. He worked with the Society of American Fight Directors attaining the certification as an Advanced Actor Combatant and Certified Teacher, working at theaters, in movies, and on television and at renaissance fairs.
As the owner of Round Table Productions Inst . Earhart has been a Professional Jouster for over a decade, jousting and fighting in armor at festivals from Maine to Oregon. Inst . Earhart is also a weapon-smith and blacksmith and for many years has been fashioning swords and armor for theater, movies and re-enactors.
Meeting Professor Donnelly in 2011, after a good talk and number of pints Robert joined KADS where he happily trains and causes mayhem to this day. For the last few years, Robert’s research has been focused on Rossfechten (15th century German Mounted Combat) and Kampfechten (Duel Fighting), as well as weekly training in Kendo, Judo, and Aikido and Meyer's Dussack. Roar!