Swords of Boulder
About Us
We are a historical fencing club dedicated to the study and practice of medieval and renaissance sword fighting. By studying and interpreting historical manuals, we seek to recreate these fighting arts as they were practiced. Our club primarily focuses on medieval longsword,17th century Italian rapier, smallsword, military and early saber, but we also enjoy spear, sword and buckler, and broadsword.
We test our interpretations through regular practice, study of the manuals, sparring, and competition. Whether your goal is to be highly skilled with a sword, or increase your academic knowledge of the art, we can help you on your journey. We have weekly practices in the Broomfield area.
Our Friday sessions are held in Broomfield, CO. We usually teach short, skill-focused classes while offering plenty of open floor-time for sparring, drilling and individual instruction to hone your skills. Our club is beginner friendly and we have plenty of loaner equipment available. Check out our “Getting Started” page for more information and what to expect.
While the individual manuals and systems we train from each come from their own regions and time-periods, the sword fighting arts are quite multicultural, and cross-pollination outside of Europe occurred. Many manuals show men, women, black and white training together. This diversity is a valuable part of the history of the sword-fighting arts and we are dedicated to making Swords of Boulder a welcoming place for all, regardless of gender, orientation, religion, or ethnicity.
Getting Started
Joining is easy! We don’t have a membership fee, and class fees are optional. We want everyone who wants to attend to be able to. A donation of $10 dollars per class is recommended, but optional, and helps us maintain our loaner gear.
If you’re planning on attending your first class, please contact us via email or text at [email protected] or 720 934-6890 to let us know. All you need is some comfortable “exercise” clothes and a good attitude. Complete beginners are welcome and we have loaner gear available…(for sparring and some drills, you’ll need to bring an athletic cup depending on body type).
We use a variety of simulators, including blunt steel swords. Sparring is always optional. We are practicing a martial art and the occasional bumps and bruises will occur. Serious injuries are rare in our sport, but are possible.
Especially when you’re getting to know your club-mates, communication is very important. When you’re ready for sparring, you should talk to your sparring partner about what level of intensity you would like. It’s important to check in with each other during sparring as well to make sure both parties are comfortable with the intensity.
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