Destreza – The True Art and Science of the Rapier
A weekend of study on the Theory and
Practice of fencing according to the work of
Gerard Thibault d’Anvers 1628

Instruction by Matthew Howden,
Jeff Richardson and John Michael Greer
December 20th and 21st 2008
Phoenix, Oregon Grange Hall

The seminar will include two days of hands on instruction with the sword under the instruction of Matthew Howden assisted by Jeff Richardson and a lecture by translator and researcher John Michael Greer.

Saturday we will explore the fundamental principles and practical theory of Thibault’s system of fencing. In the evening Mr. Greer will provide a lecture on the history and philosophy of the style.

Sunday will explore combative theory and application of the system.

The Seminar will be held in Phoenix Oregon. Phoenix is located in Southern Oregon between Medford and Ashland.

Class size is limited. Cost $50.00 per person.
Contact Jeff Richardson for details or registration forms at
jeffery at mind.net

The Teachers:
Matthew Howden has been studying the rapier since the mid 1990’s and has been studying the works of Gerard Thibault for the past 9 years. Originally beginning his teaching career at the club in Ashland Oregon Matthew is a member of the Tattershall School of Defence and a senior instructor at Academia Duellatoria teaching at the studio in Portland, Oregon.

Jeff Richardson started his fencing career under Olympic Coach Michael D’Asaro in the late 80’s and receive his black belt in American Open Style Karate from Jerry Piddington in the mid 90’s. He has been studying the rapier since the early 90’s and is a senior instructor at Academia Duellatoria in Portland. Jeff currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Association of Historical Fencing.
Jeff and Matthew have been researching Destreza and Thibault for many years and have consulted with Mr. Greer on the translation project. They have furthered the research of Destreza in several
capacities including hosting the first seminars on the subject on the West Coast starting in 2001 and by providing the still images for the instructional video “La Verdadera Destreza, The True Art and Skill of Spanish Swordsmanship” featuring Anthony Delongis and the Maestro’s Martinez.

Matthew and Jeff are known to the SCA as Maestro Gregorio and Geoffrey Lessingham

John Michael Greer is a widely published author on esoteric traditions - published by Llewellyn books, Weiser or under his own company Fir Mountain Press. He is also the translator of several esoteric texts.  He’s been a student and practitioner of geomancy and sacred geometry for more than
twenty years, and is fluent in Latin and medieval French. Greer has studied geomantic texts and the art of memory from the Middle ages and Renaissance. He's a former member of the Golden Dawn, a Mason and is the head of the Ancient
Order of Druids in America. Mr. Greer is responsible for the translation of Gerard
Thibault's book on the Mysterious Circle. After a ten year long process this translation was published by Chivalry Bookshelf in 2006 and recieved a book launching party at Barrnes and Noble in conjunction with a demonstration and lecture in combination with Academia Duellatoria.