Chicago Swordplay Guild | A Modern School of Traditional European Martial Arts

Since 1999, the Chicago Swordplay Guild has offered students a chance to study historical European swordplay, grappling and armoured combat in an organized curriculum. Introductory classes run in an on-going rotation of 12 week sessions, at a variety of venues within and around the city, and on-going, in-depth training at the Guild’s official home, Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts, 4437 N. Ravenswood, Chicago IL. We also have a study group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a branch school in Denver, Colorado.

Come find the class closest to you and see what you've been missing!

Who We Are

The Chicago Swordplay Guild (CSG) is a modern martial arts school dedicated to the study and practice of historical European swordsmanship and close quarter combat of the 14th - 17th centuries. We combine scholarship and research into the teachings of the historical Masters at Arms with the practical knowledge gained through solo drills, partnered exercises, test-cutting with sharp weapons, fencing with specially-designed, blunted weapons and wrestling.

The Tradition

The “Martial Arts” are literally, the “Arts of Mars”, the Roman god of war, so it should be no surprise that Europe boasts a complex martial culture that extends back into antiquity and continues to this day. The Chicago Swordplay Guild connects with this tradition of Western martial arts by training in the historical fighting arts of Medieval and Renaissance Italy (1350 – 1650)

Borealis Swordplay Symposium and Pas d’Armes

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This past weekend I had the privilege to teach at the first Borealis Swordplay Symposium, accompanied by fellow Guilders Nicole Allen, Adam Schneider and Davis Vader. Borealis grew out of an annual cookout and celebratory pas d’armes held by our Ottawan sister-school, Les Maitres des Armes. The photos from last year’s event made it all [...]

Sex, Lies, Swords and Video Tape – A Reconstruction of the Judicial Duel

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Earlier this month, the Guild had a chance to be part of a reconstruction of a judicial duel at the the International Congress on Medieval Studies held at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, which went from Thursday, May 9th through Sunday May 12th. This is the largest medieval academic gathering in the world, and amidst a [...]

CSG at C2E2

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This past weekend the Guild was an invited performer at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo or C2E2. During a one-hour demo we demonstrated longsword, dagger, armoured combat and sword and buckler, followed by Q&A and then a 45 minute lesson for interested attendees. I don’t think we expecting the size of the crowd – [...]

Review: Traditional Italian Knife and Stick Seminar

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This past weekend (actually, for the last five days), Forteza had the privilege of hosting Roberto Laura for an immersion in the world of Italian folk arts. For those who do not know Maestro Laura, after many years in traditional Asian arts, he has spent the last twelve years traveling back and forth from Germany [...]

Our New Adventure – Creating the Forteza Clubhouse

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It is hard to believe that the Guild’s new home at Forteza Fitness, Physical Culture and Martial Arts has already been open for seven months! From what began as a cement floor that looked a bit like the Grand Canyon, chipping paint with half a century of grime and dirt, and plain brick walls, our [...]

Armizare Academy and Forteza review

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Ed – Reblogged from Devon Boorman’s Academie Duello blog. Devon was one of AA’s instructors and is also the founder and chief instructor of Academie Duello – the largest WMA school in the world. Stay tuned for photo and video updates from Armizare Academy over the next week. Event and School Review: Armizare Academy and [...]

Armizare Academy Updates!

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Space is still available for this exciting retreat, dedicated to the fighting art of Fiore dei Liberi. We have revised the schedule, which now includes a coached fencing class, a keynote address by Tom Leoni, translator of the Getty and Morgan Ms and a great deal more! Check it out: http://www.chicagoswordplayguild.com/armizare-academy-a-celebration-of-the-knightly-arts

New Workshop: The Swords of Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet

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This is something new that two of the Guild’s instructors are developing in conjunction with our friends at R&D Choreography. A new look at Elizabethan swordplay and stagecraft, for the fighter, actor, and actor-combatant alike! http://fortezafitness.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/swordplay-of-romeo-juliet-broadsword-and-rapier-in-elizabethan-england/

A Video Look into a Scholar’s Prize

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This past weekend (April 22) the Chicago Swordplay Guild held its first Prize at Forteza Fitness, Physical Culture and Martial Arts. Although this was the first Prize to be fought at Forteza, Playing the Prize has been part of rank advancement in the Chicago Swordplay Guild since 2001, and we proudly embrace the traditions of [...]

Congratulations to our new Swordplay Scholars!!!

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The Guild extends a hearty cheer and congratulations to the following new Scholars: Christina Bailey – Armizare Erin Fitzgerald – Armizare Heather Hilchey – Armizare Jake Paral (CSG North) – Armizare Robert Rutherfoord – Renaissance Swordsmanship Nathan Wisniewski – Armizare These six all took the list at our new sala d’arme, Forteza, against three of [...]

CLASS SCHEDULE

CHICAGO CAMPUS
Learn swordfighting! Introductory Classes are available in the Medieval Longsword and the Renaissance Rapier - no experience needed - at Forteza Fitness, Physical Culture and Martial Arts (4437 N. Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640). Sign up for either 6-week sessions held Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00p - 7:30p; or join us for the next 12-week Saturday mornings session from 9:30am-11:00am.

To register for classes, and to see when the next 6-week session begins, click Read more.

The College of DuPage session for Intro to the Medieval Longsword is currently on hiatus.

MILWAUKEE CAMPUS
The Milwaukee Training Group (Chicago Swordplay Guild) is offering Introduction to the Longsword training on Tuesday nights! Intro classes run for twelve weeks, every Tuesday night from 6:30-8:00. The address is 2857 S. 160th St., New Berlin, WI 53151 Email CSG_Milwaukee@wi.rr.com. to inquire. Also find more information in the Classes section of this website.

Sign Up For Classes