NSHS Norwich Society of Historical Swordsmanship

04/09/2025

09/03/2024

Good evening parents you are able to come and visit your rook/freshman when they are competing if you want to see them compete. All of our events are open to family and friends of our members we only ask that out of respect for the other fencers and for the matches that are going on that you support your rook and don’t haggle the other competitors who put it a lot of hard work and a financial commitment to compete here. Pictures will be taken at our events and posted onto our page and Instagram. Our Facebook is NSHS Norwich Society of Historical Swordsmanship and our insta is nshs_historical_swordsmanship. We do have club shirts and hoodies available if you are interested in those.

On our Facebook we have already posted the tournament for October and December.

Very Respectfully,

C/2LT Dennis Koonce

08/23/2024

HELLO EVERYONE! I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!

In October from the 12th to the 13th we will have an event called Fall Fights. This is meant to be purely a fun and outrageous competition with a focus on team events and classes and we will be sending out invitations to various instructors in the area to gauge their interest in joining this event. Rules will be posted soon along with a registration link. The location has also changed on campus to avoid issues with construction and most importantly to give fencers an area where they do not have to worry about being distracted by random runners using a track. On-lookers are still welcome but we want to give our competitors the most focused experience they can have. The new venue is also a lot larger and will have better areas for storage. This area is something we have been wanting for a while because of the athletic flooring which is friendlier to stray sword strikes.

In December King of the Green Mountain will take place from the evening of the 13th through the 14th and 15th. The biggest change to the event will be a simplification of target areas but the rules will remain generally the same.

08/19/2024

Standby for very important announcements later today regarding King of the Green Mountain, our October tournament and more! 

06/23/2024

Hello everybody this is Dennis Koonce from the Norwich Society of Historical Swordsmanship. I hope everyone has been having a great and wonderful summer filled with excitement and awesome training.

Now to the mean and potatoes of this post. King of the Green Mountain 2024 will be EITHER November 15-17th or December 6-8th. Yes this is three days. Our venue for King of the Green Mountain has also changed where I am working increasingly hard to get us the field house on campus that has all athletic flooring. While the action of uncontrolled swinging will still be penalized there won’t be as much of a worry of the floor being ruined.

I NEED JUDGES if last year was any hint I need more judges and people willing to step up to help do this front line work as myself and four others (we are going to discuss what admin tasks are good for our Freshman so they can still do the beginners events) for the next event will be solely focused on administrative duties.

Changes to the rules will be posted soon but what is done here is the largest change. I have been doing a lot of work on ensuring the system we have is fun but also functions smoothly. I have gone to two other tournaments so far and have read rule sets from others to gleam some light on what to do. We will still be a TICKET DOWN system but there will be three targets. External (-1), Shallow (-2) and Deep(-3). This will hopefully simplify judging a lot along with how we will define afterblows and doubles.

Along with that 2 Saturdays out of the month will be “mini tournaments” with tones of different challenges, snacks and sparring. I hope to also use these as a way to set up workshops that anyone can come to and chill with us.

Very Respectfully,
Dennis Koonce
Norwich Society of Historical Swordsmanship

Vivo Gladio Mortiar Gladio

04/02/2024

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-Tnb0kfoGUfqtR4coj2WUEMRYa6d8zAUbK2O_-JkZko/edit?usp=sharing Here is a little get-together we have planned not only for this Wednesday but also later in the month. This is meant to be fun and is completely free. From 1730 to 2200 we will be doing a HEMA night bash and Bear Pit. We were able to secure a better building for future events (thank you Eli) and we want to do something fun at the end of this Semester. Anyone can participate in the Bear pit just put your name down it is steel and single-strike elimination well for those who aren't staying in. This will be a lottery-style pit and when you put your name down there is a chance you could be put in for 15 minutes till its time for a break or to rotate (water breaks are expected and will be frequently done every three bouts for the fighters). SNACKS ARE ENCOURAGED AND WELCOME PLEASE PUT ON THE GOOGLE DOC IF YOU CAN BRING SNACKS AND OR A GRILL.

03/25/2024

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/182ZG4zMO_5-VnwM6I5e3-r5i8cTh2ige6jRVqiIPDcI/edit?usp=sharing

Because of a delay and inability for us to get the sign up link for payment built here is a spreadsheet if you wish to participate this weekend at Battle in the Valley. All events are Free and no payment is required. If you wish to donate to us at or before the event that would be graciously appreciated.

Sheet1 Name,Event 1 longsword open and beginners,Event 2 Rapier and Offhand O and B,Event 3 Single Sword O and B,Event 4 three man team event