Paul Wagner is available to give private lessons and group seminars, and desperately needs the money.

About Paul Wagner

Paul Wagner is one of the most prolific authors on the topic of Western Martial Arts currently publishing. He has presented on a range of topics including Silver’s single-sword and sword-and-buckler, sword-and-buckler according to I.33, the rapier of Joseph Swetnam, the English quarterstaff, longsword and two-handed cudgel, medieval sword and shield, reconstructed from Talhoffer and earlier iconic sources, post-Silver English backsword/Highland broadsword, and a complete overview of the principles of medieval comabt.

Paul is the Vice President of the Stoccata School of Defence, and has taught classes and courses on Silver’s single sword, English quarterstaff, English longsword, Sword and Buckler according to I.33, Sword and large shield, and Post-Silver English backsword/Highland Broadsword.

His publications in print or in preparation include:

Books published or in press at this time
Pictish Warrior AD 279-841 (Osprey, 2002)
Highland Swordsmanship (with Mark Rector) (Chivalry Bookshelf, 2002)
Highland Broadsword (with Mark Rector) (Chivalry Bookshelf, due out May 2003)
Medieval Sword and Buckler (Chivalry Bookshelf, due out June 2003)
Master of Defence: The Works of George Silver (Paladin Press, due out Sept. 2003)

Papers
In SPADA Vol.1 (Chivalry Bookshelf, 2003):

Highland Swordsmanship (with Mark Rector)
Inside, Outside, Left foot, Right foot: Assumptions of handedness in Weapons of the Staff
Talhoffer’s sword and duelling shield as a model for reconstructing Early Medieval sword and shield techniques. (with Steve Hand)

Other works in preparation
The Techniques of George Silver (with Steve Hand)
A Guide to Western Martial Arts (with lots of other people)
Warriors of Wales
Warriors of the Borders
Secrets of Illustrusimo Vol.1 : The Knife (with Raymond Floro)
English Backsword

Private Lessons

Paul is available for private lessons on single-sword, rapier, quarterstaff, longsword, sword and buckler, sword and shield, late-period back- and broad-sword, and (at a basic level) Australian WWII Combato. Fees for lessons are negotiable, depending upon the number of students, topic, venue, and what you can afford.
Enquires should be made directly to Paul at galloglaigh@hotmail.com or on (02) 9887 1857


Previous Seminars
July 2000
Australian Historical Fencing Convention 2000, Sydney
Lecture on English Quarterstaff and I.33 Sword and Buckler

December 2000
Summer Stoush, Society of Australian Fight Directors, Sydney
Class on English Quarterstaff

July 2001
Australian Historical Fencing Convention 2001, Canberra
Lectures on English Quarterstaff and Jeu De La Hache, Report on Historical Fencing in the U.K.

April 2002
Medium Auvum Comitatus, Auckland, New Zealand
Two day seminar on Medieval Combat, covering single-sword, sword-and-buckler, sword-and-shield, longsword and quarterstaff

October 2002
Australian Historical Swordplay Convention 2002, Gold Coast, Queensland
Class on the German Meisterhau and English Longsword and Cudgel

2000-2003
Numerous classes and seminars for the Finesse Academie of Fence, Canberra, ACT.
Topics included English Quarterstaff, Silver’s Single Sword, Sword and Buckler according to I.33, Post-Silver English backsword/Highland Broadsword and Swetnam’s Single Rapier.

2002-2003
Weekly private lessons with Raymond Floro, instuctor of Floro Fighting Systems - Kalis Ilustrisimo
on the Silver System

The Seminars
Seminars on any number of topics can be tailored to meet your particular needs and the experience of your students.
The topics of previous seminars include:

An Introduction to Medieval Combat (according to everyone!)
Sword and Buckler according to I.33 (c.1300)
English Shortsword According to George Silver (1599/c.1605)
English Quarterstaff According to Silver, Swetnam and Wylde
English Longsword According to Silver (1599/c.1605) and Ledall (c.1515)
Two–Handed Cudgel (“halfway between a Quarterstaff and a Longsword”)
English Backsword/Highland Broadsword 1617-1805

I’m also currently researching:
Combato: Australian Military Hand-to-hand Combatives of World War II
…and will be happy to show you what I know, though I don’t claim to be an expert!

Praise for Paul’s Seminars, Lessons and Books

“New Zealand had her first western martial arts seminar over the weekend...Weapons covered were short sword, sword and buckler, sword and large shield, English staff, and longsword. Material drawn from included Hans Talhoffer, George Silver, the anonymous author(s) of I.33, Fiore dei Liberi, Giacomo diGrassi, Joseph Swetnam, Zachary Wylde, and a touch on the anonymous authors of the 15th century English fencing treatises. It was a tall order expected from Paul, but he performed brilliantly.”

* Colin McKinstry – Medius Auvum Comitatus

“............I've been a Filipino Martial Arts instructor since 1987 and have trained with the best Masters in that field. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Paul Wagner and was so impressed that I regularly ask him to give me one on one tuition with ‘Western Weaponry’.

Paul’s grasp of the theory and his ability to translate it to practical terms has made his system a valuable addition to my teachings.

I'm very choosy about learning what is practical and only applicable to self defence on ‘today's street’. Paul's teaching and his ability to pass on his skills, makes this system unsurpassed with any other I have experienced.

I would be bold to say that Paul would easily be one of the handful of instructors that would be a total authority on this method of combat..............HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!"

* Raymond Floro
Founder
Floro Fighting Systems - Kalis Ilustrisimo

“A superb book, written by a man who is 100% enthusiastic about his subject. Paul Wagner could be the new David Nicolle for Osprey. The Picts of the North have it is true, attained an almost mythical quality in English history, but Paul Wagner puts this to rights in this new book. Paul is another author who has managed to combine thoroughly enjoyable history with narrative about the lives of the warriors - after all this is a warrior title. His book covers the social and military aspects of the Picts as a people, rather than total concentration upon the 'warrior'. Of course the warrior aspects re - weapons, battles and there aftermath are covered, but as a book - I had to read it from cover to cover in one go. Highly recommended.”

* Tony Little
Review of “Pictish Warrior AD 297 - 841” (Osprey Publishing, Warrior Series No. 50 ISBN: 1 84176 346 2)http://www.modelfigure.com/book_detail.asp?artid=1310

Bookings
Seminars or Lessons may be booked by contacting Paul Wagner directly at galloglaigh@hotmail.com, or by phoning him on 02 9887 1857 (inside Australia) or 61 2 9887 1857 from outside Australia.

Seminar Costs
Seminars cost whatever you think is reasonable - as long as it covers my expenses I’m happy (!).