It’s simple! Show up at one of our regular Saturday meetings at Memorial Park and ask to try out the program. Fighting gear will be provided for you to try out a practice.
Please arrive on time at 12pm. Basic membership requirements are: a commitment to arriving to our practices on-time, being ready to go, being willing to learn and take on new challenges. We will work with you if you work with us. If you're interested in joining our program, we're happy to have you.
There is no Membership fee.
You ‘pay’ for Membership by showing up for practice, providing your own transportation, and eventually acquiring your own fighting gear.
You will be provided gear for your first few practices. If you join you will eventually need to purchase your own fighting gear. This includes a HEMA-approved sword, a fencing mask, a HEMA-approved Heavy fencing jacket, and fencing gloves.
Additional materials like knee braces and forearm bracers are not required, but please feel free to bring what you feel helps you fight best! Water and sunscreen are good to have, too.
You arrive by noon (many of us routinely arrive 20 min early, don't be shy) and will be given standard liability waivers. You are encouraged to participate in the lesson with us, but it is fine to watch your first day also.
Participating includes a 3 hour standard practice day with the Knights. This involves warm-up calisthenics and up to a 1/2 mile run to start the day. Following that, you will be handed over to an instructor with equipment ready to take your first lesson in English longsword style fencing.
Once you have practiced what you have learned with an instructor you will be allowed into the pool for free fencing. After free fencing we may have focused lessons on different techniques, training drills, practice marching in a battle line, or otherwise preparing for our next show or event.
A new recruit's only responsibility is to participate to the best of their ability and continue showing up to practice on time. Nobody is perfect. There is a lot to cover to be ready to become a full member. If you don't give up on yourself, we won't give up on you. How well you do is up to you!
After approximately 3-5 practices with the Knights as a guest, you will be given a truthful and honest report on what the coaches think about your ability to begin and continue the program.
If the coaches feel you can make it and that you have what it takes you will be advised to apply to become a Prospect. This counts as your "trial run" with the Knights. You have the responsibility of choosing a Sponsor from among the Knights; this person will be your coach as you go through the Prospect period. It is now both of your responsibilities to get you up to speed.
You may be invited to shows and events. Your attendance at practice is monitored by your Sponsor and the Guild, as well as your progress as a fencer and a guild member. If you stick with the program, the time will come for you to be voted in as a full member of the Twilight Knights Renaissance Guild. Even then, you'll only be beginning.
The Twilight Knights are a guild of dedicated people who travel around California to preserve, teach, demonstrate, and pass on the knowledge and skills of authentic 16th century arts and history. Our history is Renaissance combat, and our art is swordsmanship.
Members of our guild are expected to meet a certain caliber of character, excellence, and professionalism when at practice, events, and wherever they may represent us. This is accomplished by following our program which seeks to instill knowledge as well as certain life skills and lessons.
Honesty, leadership, and determination are qualities that we believe will serve you well as a fencer but also as a citizen in our modern times, so we hope to see you at practice!