RINGECK's Roughnecks
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Medieval Fencing Association
For us medieval fencing is a martial art. The practice is centred on an original manuscript, the Dresden C486 aka "the Ringeck manuscript". As we understand it this is an integrated combat manual designed for 15th century Knight. This covers empty hands, sword and buckler and long sword.
If you want to practice a historical martial art in a relax and friendly atmosphere, Medieval Fencing Association is the place.
Like most martial arts and bearing in mind that the sources is from the early 15th century, The combative skillet is transferable to modern self defence.
The practice in itself this will increase your fitness level and your self confidence and develop you co-ordination.
The club has several qualified instructors and we cater for all level of fitness. You can pratice at your own speed.
Typical Class
The class start with stretching, followed by conditioning. The next step is usually wrestling followed by long sword or sword and Buckler.
We believe that the manual presents an integrated system and as such the tactical concept are transient regardless of the weapon.
The class finishes with a cool down and some stretching
The manual and its Tradition
We are not sure when that was written but we know that it is has been dedicated by Sigmund ain Ringeck to an Albrecht palatine count of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria.
The problem we are having is that there are 4 Albrecht that could matches between 1350 and 1460.
From another manuscript from Paulus Kal cmg 1507 written in the 1462 ,we know that Sigmund Ringeck was a member of the fraternity/companionship of Liechtenauer.
The said Liechtenauer is seen as the founder of the tradition and is first mentioned in manuscript HS-3227 and that manuscript is sought to be from around 1380.
The inherent difficulty with medieval fencing is that until 25 year ago, it was not very much practiced. As well the it is based on a tactical paradigm based on several armed opponents.
The practice is designed recreates the techniques with that paradigm in mind however we cover the application of those technique in a 21st century environment.
We know that Liechtenauer was likely dead when C486 was written and when Paulus Kal wrote is CMG 1507 we know that ringek was already and recognised master.
There are about 15 other manuscript from 1400 to early 1500 so we have quite a few other manuscript that we can use to cross check and control our finding.
The more directly related are Juden Lew (Cod. I 6 4o 3 mid 1400) , Von Spyer (M.I 29 1490) and Von Dantzig (cod 1449 from 1449) and the early 1500 re-print the Goliath (ms.germ.quart 2020 IN 58 79)
The knightly art of the longsword
By Sigmund Ain Ringeck (1430-450)
Or at least as closely as we can recreate it.