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The Exiles welcome anyone who wants to learn our system of European Martial Arts and we operate an open-door policy, regardless of skill level, knowledge, race, gender, etc. However at this time, the group can only welcome members over the age of 16 for insurance reasons.

The group consists of BFHS Certified Instructors and a team of senior students which work together to provide training to all levels of member from complete beginner to advanced.

New members can expect to learn at their own pace in structured classes in a friendly non-competitive atmosphere. All members are issued with a personalised curriculum folder to understand exactly their progress through a very comprehensive regime of training and we also supply insurance cover via the BFHS.

Group members are broken down into 8 levels of development and work through each level via structured lessons and focused individual objectives.

Training

We currently have training available in several different locations:

  • Barking, East London on Wednesday Evenings
  • Barlborough, Derbyshire on Sunday Afternoons
  • Canvey Island, Essex on Sunday Mornings
  • Carlisle, Cumbria on Thursday Evenings
  • Illford, East London on Thursday Evenings
  • Reading, Berkshire on Sunday Mornings
  • Kew, West London on Wednesday Evenings
  • Sheffield, South Yorkshire on Tuesday Evenings
  • Aberaeron, West Wales on Saturday Mornings

When you come to your first session you willl be given an overview of the group's curriculum, meet members and experience training first hand.

After the initial free session there is a charge for training and, although we will supply loan equipment, there is a minimum group equipment list which members need to progressively purchase to enable safe practice. The equipment is not provided for directly by the group but is available from recommended sources and new students are given a checklist of equipment together with advice and guidance. As with any Martial Art, especially those involving weapons, safety is paramount.

The curriculum

The training is based on the teachings of Fiore dei Liberi (c 1410). The whole system covers:

  • Unarmed
  • Unarmed v Dagger
  • Dagger v Dagger
  • Dagger v Sword
  • Sword used one-handed
  • Sword used two-handed
  • Half Swording
  • Pole Arms
  • Spears
  • Axe
  • etc.

The entire system is integrated, (so, for example, unarmed techniques working within the sword techniques).

We follow a level grading system within the curriculum, see the published Primoris book for our first level.

The classes

Classes rotate each week so we can cover all the elements in our system with focus and intensity. Below are two typical lesson plans:

For a typical Unarmed based lesson:

10 min Warm-up and Footwork
15 min Focus Pads/Shadow Boxing
15 min Striking and Defending drills
15 min Closing drills - Into the grapple
5 min Break
15 min Striking and Throwing Drills
40 min Technique Based Drills
5 min Break
25 min Ground Work Drills
30 min Set Pieces/Sparring

For a typical Sword Based Lesson

10 min Warm-up and Footwork
5 min Cuts Practice - 1 and 2 handed
10 min Movement Drills
10 min Principles & Theory
5 min Break
15 min New technique introduced relevant to student level
45 min Techniques in relevant student level drilled
5 min Break
30 min Techniques in level drilled and set pieces
20 min Controlled sparring and responses set pieces
20 min Sparring

If you are interested in finding out more then please click here for the contact page.