Schola Gladiatoria
 A training session at the Schola
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A small-sword instructor at the FightCamp
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Longsword training
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Longsword training
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Schola Gladiatoria (SG) is a historical European martial arts group based in Ealing, west London, Great Britain, founded in 2001 and led by Matt Easton. It provides organized instruction in the serious study and practice of historical European swordplay. Schola seeks to be consistent with the methodology of the ancient European fencing schools by combining scholarship and research into the teachings of the historical masters (martial arts manuals), with the practical knowledge gained through solo and partnered drilling, and free play (sparring).
Schola Gladiatoria was officially founded in 2001, though the founding members had been training with other HEMA organizations. The director of SG had first trained with the Company of Maisters, a group established in 1997 and led by Terry Brown, one of the HEMA pioneers in Great Britain. Later Matt Easton joined The Exiles and had been its co-director.
This HEMA group has two chapters:
There have been other chapters over the years, some of which have now been closed, amalgamated or formed independent collaborative groups (hence the 'missing' numbers between SG1 and SG6).
Schola uses ranks for its students and teachers. These are intended to help people focus on self-improvement, have something to aim towards, reward hard work, give more official responsibility to the experienced members and help classes run more smoothly. The following rankings are used: Novice, Scholar, Free Scholar, Provost and Senior Provost, roughly equating to the ranks of the London Company of Masters of Defence of the 16th century.
These ranks represent a combination of understanding of the art and ability to use it - the balance being more on knowledge and experience, rather than pure fighting ability. New students begin as Novices. Ranks are awarded by the director, with advice from the higher ranks. A degree of testing may be applied, involving theoretical and fighting parts: for instance in order to attain Free Scholar rank students are required to participate in a modern version of Prize Playing.
Programs and services provided by Schola Gladiatoria:
Members of Schola Gladiatoria have a good track record in martial arts tournaments: Glorianna Cup (singlestick), BFHS longsword competition, HEMAC-Dijon longsword competition, FightCamp cutting competition, FightCamp Assault at Arms (singlestick), HEMAC-Dijon rapier competition, Dreynevent (Vienna) and Swordfish (Gothenburg).
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