INSTRUCTORS

They're very nice!

OUr Friendly Neighborhood Instructors

As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility...

Jess Rozek
President, Beginner's Class Instructor

Jess has been doing HEMA since 2011. She first started up in Vermont with the Grunberg Freifechter and then moved to Maryland in 2013. Very quickly, she became Chief Cat Herder when she organized the first beginner's class at MKdF. 

As an instructor, Jess likes to ground her classes in solid teaching theory and biomechanics. Prior to doing HEMA, Jess was a ski instructor for almost 10 years and has professionally taught all sorts of things since then from archery to sailing to Renaissance history.

Additionally, Jess runs AutumnFecht, a yearly class-only event in November. The event has two goals in mind: learn something new and make friends!

Christian Buettner
Treasurer, Longsword/Montante Instructor

Chris has been doing HEMA since 2017. Chris is a fencer, scientist, dancer, and trying desperately to mix all of that together into a cohesive and interesting way to teach HEMA. 

In addition to teaching longsword and montante, Chris is the Treasurer of MKdF and runs DanceFight, an event designed to meld advanced body awareness from dance traditions into the movement patterns of martial arts.


Mike Gilding
Saber/Rapier Instructor

Mike has been doing HEMA since 2013.

Jonathan McKenzie Gordon
Scottish Broadsword/Saber Instructor

Jonathan has been doing HEMA since 2010 and he's very pleased with this photo, so make sure to tell him it's awesome when you see him.

Additionally, Jonathanis a member-at-large on the club's Board of Directors.

Jeff Schmaley
 Beginner's Class Asst. Instructor

Jeff has been doing HEMA since 2022 and was (gently) pressured into helping teach the beginner's class to advance his own knowledge of HEMA. 

Since beginning HEMA, he has entered a great number of tournaments in several weapons and often brings home a medal. When he's not traveling to events, he's running the Atlantic Renaissance Fencing League (ARFL) which holds small, bimonthly intermural events across as many weapons as they can get fencers for.

Additionally, Jeff is a member-at-large on the club's Board of Directors.

Caroline Fry
Secretary/Beginner's Class Asst. Instructor

Caroline has been doing HEMA since 2016. She first started up in Pennsylvania with the PA Klopffechters and then moved to Maryland in 2023.

Additionally, Caroline is the secretary on the club's Board of Directors. 

 

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