Keystone Academy of Dueling and Swordsmanship
Scholars and practitioners of Historical European Swordsmanship and Martial Arts
Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
KADS 2019 Calendar
KADS Calendar (Constantly evolving and subject to change)
Last Updated 11 June 2019
KADS Calendar
With KADS RSA (Remote Student Affiliates) important dates listed in ALL CAPS
----- 2019 -----
. . .
May 27 –OFF for Memorial Day
JUNE 1ST – KADS RSA MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE
June 3 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - Phil Crawley guest Instructing French Knife
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -13- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship
June 10 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -14- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship
JUNE 11TH – RSA- CLASS NOTES, READING, AND VIDEO UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (13-14)
JUNE 15TH -- BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY FIGHT AND FEAST - SUMMER GATHERING - 1PM-1AM
June 17 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - grappling with John Weaver
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum - Anonimo Bolognese Drilling
June 24 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - grappling with John Weaver
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum - Anonimo Bolognese Drilling
JULY 1ST – KADS RSA MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE
July 1 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - Stick fighting
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -15- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
- New students admitted
July 8 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - Stick fighting
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -16- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
- New students admitted
JULY 9TH – RSA- CLASS NOTES, READING, AND VIDEO UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (15-16)
July 15 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - Stick fighting
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -17- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
July 22 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - Stick fighting
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -18- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
JULY 23RD – RSA- CLASS NOTES, READING, AND VIDEO UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (17-18)
July 29 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - Stick fighting
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -19 - 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
AUG 1ST – KADS RSA MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE
Aug 5 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - savate/ boxe francaise
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -20- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
AUG 6TH – RSA- CLASS NOTES, READING, AND VIDEO UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (19-20)
Aug 12 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - savate/ boxe francaise
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -21- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
Aug 19 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - savate/ boxe francaise
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -22- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
AUG 20TH – RSA- CLASS NOTES, READING, AND VIDEO UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (21-22)
Aug 26 –(6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - savate/ boxe francaise
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -23- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
SEPT 1ST – KADS RSA MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE
Sept 2 – OFF For Labor Day
KADS AUTUMN FIGHT AND FEAST (TBD)
Sept 9 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -24- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
SEPT 10 - KADS RSA UPLOAD - CLASSES 23-24
Sept 16 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -25- 16th C. Bolognese Dagger
Sept 23 – (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Open Class - Review
SEPT 24 - KADS RSA UPLOAD - CLASS 25
Sept 30 - (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Open Class - Review
OCT 1ST– KADS RSA MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE
Oct 7 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -26- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship- (Montante/Spadone/spada due mani)
- New students admitted -
Oct 14 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -27- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship- (Montante/Spadone/spada due mani)
- New students admitted -
OCT 15TH – RSA- UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (26-27)
Oct 21 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -28- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship- (Montante/Spadone/spada due mani)
Oct 28 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -29- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship- (Montante/Spadone/spada due mani)
OCT 29TH – RSA- UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (28-29)
NOV 1ST – KADS RSA MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE
Nov 4 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -30- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship- (Montante/Spadone/spada due mani)
Nov 11 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -31- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship- (Montante/Spadone/spada due mani)
NOV 12TH – RSA- UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (30-31)
Nov 18 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -32- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship- (Montante/Spadone/spada due mani)
Nov 22-24 -- KADS at MALTA INTERNATIONAL
Nov 25 Open classes for those not still in Malta
DEC 1ST – KADS RSA MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE
Dec 2 (6:30- 7:30) Secondary Curriculum Class Bartitsu/DDLR - TBD
(8:00-10:00) Primary Curriculum Class -33- 16th C. Bolognese Swordsmanship- (Montante/Spadone/spada due mani)
DEC 3RD – RSA- UPLOAD FOR CLASSES (32-33)
Dec 9 (6:30- 8:00) Antagonisticathalon
(8:00-10:00) Fight Before Christmas – review, open training, reindeer games
Dec 16 - OFF for Christmas Break
Dec 23 - OFF for Christmas Break
Dec 30 - OFF for Christmas Break
--- 2020 ---
Jan 4th - KADS TWELFTH NIGHT FIGHT AND FEAST
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)
We are currently in the process of a several year exploration of 16th Century Bolognese Swordsmanship (Dardi Tradition) as the primary curriculum which includes the treatises of Marozzo, Manciolino, d'all Aggochie, and the Anonimo Bolognese.
Curricula Covered in KADS
- 13thC. broadsword & buckler (I.33)
- 15th-16thC. Medieval Dagger
- 15thC. Italian Longsword
- 15thC. German Longsword
- 16thC. German Broadsword
- 15th C. Italian Spear
- 16thC. Italian Sidesword
- 17thC. Italian Rapier
- 17thC. Spanish Rapier
- 16thC. Renaissance Backsword
- 17thC. Renaissance Dagger
- 18thC. Civilian French Smallsword
- 18thC. Scottish (Highland) Backsword
- 18thC. Scottish Dirk
- 18thC. Naval Cutlass (Boarding Actions)
- 18th-19thC. Infantry Saber
- 16th-19thC. Singlestick
- 19thC. Constable’s Cutlass & Truncheon
- 16th-19thC. Quarterstaff & Half-staff
- 18th-19thC. Fixed Bayonet
- 18th-19thC. Bowie Knife & Tomahawk
- 19thC. Grand Baton & Bastone
- 19thC. Classical Fencing
- 19th C Bartitsu
- 19thC. La Canne,& Defense Dans la Rue
- 19th C Irish Bata (Shillelagh)
- 18th-20th C Bare-knuckle pugilism
- 19th-20th C Dueling Saber
- WWI Trench Knife
- 15th-16th C. Rossfechten
Instructor Bios
Mark P. Donnelly- Professor of Arms
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, 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 teaching full time for 13 years with the Society for the Study of Swordsmanship (S.S.S.) and the Edenhill Academy of Arms. 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 at Greenwich, Sandhurst Military Academy, as well as the HMS Trincomalee HMS Victory, the Grand Turk, the Royal Shakespeare Company, 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 as well as many others. He is a life-time research associate with HM Royal Armouries in Leeds, England 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 Bartitsu Society and more.
Mr. Alexander Stuart - Second Level Adept
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 Mr. 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 Mr. 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, Mr. Stuart was honored to be the first ever to hold the position without being prior elevated to the rank of Chivalry. Mr. 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 Mr. 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 Mr. 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 Adept in Capo Ferro’s Italian rapier and Alfred Hutton’s infantry saber. Mr. 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 Mr. Stuart has joined with Mr. Earhart’s joust company and has, though Mr. Earhart’s guidance and instruction begun an exploration of both mounted and unmounted armored combat. It is Mr. Stuart’s goal to eventually life 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 - Second Level Adept
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 Mr. 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 Mr. Earhart has been a Professional Jouster for over a decade, jousting and fighting in armor at festivals from Maine to Oregon. Mr. 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 two years, Robert’s present 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. Roar!