Baltimore Academy of Defence

Xingyiquan & Baguazhang Kung fu, HEMA, American and Pirate Swordsmanship

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Sword

Open Fight Night!!!

B.A.D. is proud to host an open fight night:

Saturday June 27th

@ In the Dark Circus Arts
The old location of the Mobtown Ballroom:

861 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230

This will be an open floor sparring party
People of all ability levels encouraged!
Steel, wood, & synthetics
All styles welcome!

Some fun ideas to share include:

Antique Weapons
Antique Books
Sparring Weapons
Protective Equipment
Food
Drinks

Feel free to bring something to share if you can
Please bring your own gear if you have it
Nothing is required, please bring yourself!

Also bring your old gear for a

Gear Swap!!!

Limited vending will be permitted

Recommended donation $10
Cash at the door or donate online:
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/KT36KDBH0WM5A/checkout/WPIEDUCWKE4RPHPZHHOGMIDZ

Broadsword

Sabre

Smallsword

Rapier

Axe

Staff

Longsword

Spear

Shield

Jian

Bowie Knife

Mixed Weapons

More!!!

Pirate Sword Fighting Seminar!

Fight like a Pirate!

Saturday, April 18th 2026
12:30-5:30pm

Sign Up Now

Learn to fight dirty for fun and profit!

Pirates, swashbucklers, and buccaneers are remembered as some of the most dynamic and exciting swordsmen of all time. Only at the Baltimore Academy of Defence will you learn real historical sword fighting techniques as practiced throughout “The Golden Age of Piracy” c.1650-1730. Our methods are drawn directly from rare surviving original British, French, and Spanish manuals and other real historical sources and accounts, so you can be sure you are learning the real thing.

You will learn!

  • Pirate Dueling with sword and pistol!
  • Boarding tactics
  • Cutlass vs. Smallsword
  • Dual wielding with pistols, knives, and axes
  • Dirty fighting
  • More, More, More!!!

The seminar will include optional time for freeplay (sparring) at the end of the day.

Equipment:
If you have it, please bring your own training sword (wood, synthetic, or steel), or Singlestick as well as safety rated eye protection and HEMA/Lacrosse/Hockey gloves if you have them.
Full HEMA style protective equipment is required for sparring.

Limited equipment will be available to borrow, but there may. not be enough for everyone, so please try to bring your own if you can.

FREE Sparring Pistol!

Receive a free pistol usable for light sparring.
A $40 value, your gift free!
This historical collector replica pistol is 19.5″ long and made from real wood and steel. Each is constructed with a solid one-piece wood stock with a trigger made from die-cast metal.
Your gift FREE, but only a limited remain, sign up today to ensure you receive one!

Sign Up Now

Price:
$149 – Academy Members
$169 – Regular Price

Xíngyì Jiànfǎ Seminar

February 3-4, 2024
10am-4pm Sat. & Sun.

心意劍法
Form and Intention Sword Method

Qīxīng Liánhuán Jiànfǎ Tào​lù
七星連環劍法套路
Seven Stars Continuous Linking Sword Form

Sign Up Now

This seminar will teach the entirety of the Xíngyì Seven Stars Continuous Linking Sword Form as passed down through the prestigious Chen Pan Ling lineage of Hubei Xíngyìquán. This tào​lù (form) contains the essential cuts and sword techniques of Xíngyì Jiànfǎ as well as teaching the important Shēn Fǎ (Body method), emphasizing the continuous linking movement of the “Seven Stars” (head, shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, knees, feet) in a unified and powerful way.

The tào​lù will be taught over two days with breaks for lunch and optional time for freeplay (sparring) at the end of each day.

Equipment:
Please bring your own jiàn (sword) preferably made of wood, as well as safety rated eye protection and HEMA/Lacrosse/Hockey gloves if you have them. Limited equipment will be available to borrow, but there will not be enough for everyone, so please try to bring your own if you can.

Price:
$159 – Academy Members
$189 – Regular Price

Sign Up Now

Big BAD Bowie Knife Seminar II

Bowie and Big Knife Fighting II

November 9th, 2019

This seminar will build on students knowledge of Bowie & big knife fighting from a dueling / HEMA perspective. 

The primary content of the system has been drawn from a variety of historical sources, especially the work of Colonel A.J.D. Biddle, John Styers, as well as contemporary research by Paul Kirchner, Dwight C. McElmore, William Cassidy, and others.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Beginning with a brief refresh of the basics of the system, this seminar will seek to reinforce the most important concepts before exploring new material including the use of a coat or poncho with the left hand and other ideas drawn from Mexican and Spanish sources and influences.

Ample time will be devoted to live drilling and free sparring.
Please bring eye protection, gloves, fencing mask, etc… (Gear will be provided for those who do not have their own, but loner gear is limited)

No previous experience necessary 


Please Pre-register by November. 5th
$125 for Academy members, $135 others
$150 at the door
Price includes FREE lunch.
Pre-register to receive a FREE high quality training Bowie knife yours to keep.
–
10:00 am Seminar Begins
12:30 pm Lunch (Included FREE)
4:00 pm Seminar ends
4:00 pm FREE open floor for sparring.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Big B.A.D. Bowie Knife Seminar

January 12th, 2019

Bowie and Big Knife fighting

This seminar will introduce Bowie & big knife fighting from a dueling / HEMA perspective. 
The content has been drawn from a variety of historical sources, especially the work of Colonel A.J.D. Biddle, John Styers, and the contemporary research of Paul Kirchner, Dwight C. McElmore, and William Cassidy.
–
No previous experience necessary 
–
Please Pre-register by Jan. 1st
$125 for Academy members, $135 others
$150 at the door
Price includes FREE lunch.
Pre-register to receive a FREE high quality training Bowie knife yours to keep.
–
9:30 am FREE warm up session
10:00 am Seminar Begins
12:30 pm Lunch (Included FREE)
4:00 pm Seminar ends
4:00 pm FREE open floor for sparring begins, come join us even if you can’t make the seminar!

February Seminar: Introduction to Chinese Swordsmanship with Scott M. Rodell