VISS 2026: The Pursuit of Mastery

This year, our theme is Mastery. Join us for a transformative 3-day event featuring six immersive intensives, where you’ll dive deep into the path of mastery, exploring technique, strategy, and the mindset that turns skill into art. Each intensive (you choose two) offers 9 hours of focused instruction, giving you the chance to make significant progress in your martial practice.

The symposium offers three focused training tracks, designed to challenge and elevate your skills. You can choose one track or mix and match 2 intensives in different tracks:

Single-Handed Cutting Swords

• Devon Boorman — Bolognese Sidesword & Buckler: From Form to Fight

• Eric Myers — Classical Italian Saber, a Living Tradition

Two-Handed Swords

• Christian Tobler — Mastering the German Longsword

• Matheus Alfred-Olmedo — The Ten Parts of Marozzo’s Spadone – The First Assalto of the Two-Handed Sword

Duelling Swords

• Marli Vlok — The Last Rapier: 18th Century Duelling Sword

• Matthew Howden — From Diagram to Duel: Thibault in Practice

Beyond the intensives, each day includes a series of 90-minute workshops led by local and visiting instructors, covering technical, tactical, and historical material which will be announced soon.

Friday	Track 1	Track 2	Track 3	Lectures
8:00 AM	Registration Opens
8:30 AM	Welcome
9:00 AM	Sabre Eric Myers	Spadone Matheus Alfred-Olmedo	Thibault Matthew Howden
12:00 PM	Lunch Break
1:00 PM	Elective Workshop Blocks – Slots to be announced soon
2:30 PM	Passing Period
3:00 PM	Sidesword Devon Boorman	German Longsword Christian Tobler	Italian Duelling Swords Marli Vlok
6:00 PM	Dinner Break
7:30 PM	Open Sparring + Working Groups
10:00 PM	Site Closes

Saturday	Track 1	Track 2	Track 3	Lectures
9:00 AM	Sabre Eric Myers	Spadone Matheus Alfred-Olmedo	Thibault Matthew Howden
11:45 AM	Lunch Break + Panel
1:15 PM	Elective Workshop Blocks – Slots to be announced soon
2:45 PM	Passing Period
3:15 PM	Sidesword Devon Boorman	German Longsword Christian Tobler	Italian Duelling Swords Marli Vlok
6:00 PM	Dinner Break
7:30 PM	Gala
12:00 AM	Site Closes

Sunday	Track 1	Track 2	Track 3	Lectures
9:00 AM	Sabre Eric Myers	Spadone Matheus Alfred-Olmedo	Thibault Matthew Howden
11:45 AM	Lunch Break + Panel
1:15 PM	Elective Workshop Blocks – Slots to be announced soon
2:45 PM	Passing Period
3:15 PM	Sidesword Devon Boorman	German Longsword Christian Tobler	Italian Duelling Swords Marli Vlok
6:00 PM	Official Event Ends - Closing Remarks
7:30 PM	Open Sparring + Volunteer Party
10:00 PM	Site Closes