It’s not a tournament…
It’s more than just a sparring day…
then what is it?
Rising tides is a love letter to HEMA.
a series of events dedicated to celebrating the arts and the community. With things like:
January 9th 9AM - 6PM
620 W Montrose St, Clermont, fl 34711
Special guest instructors
We have a packed and I mean PACKED roster of instructors coming in from all across the east coast.
I’m talking about combined decades of martial arts knowledge, One-on-ones, feedback, and sparring with subject matter experts of their systems.
All 5 classes are included inside the purchase of a single ticket and open to all guests!
JAke Pendergraft
⚔︎ Athens Chool of Arms
Class 1: (Rapier) Fundamentals of La Verdadera Destreza
Class 2: Employing False-Edge parries in bolognese sidesword
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Jake Pendergraft is a co-founder of Athens School of Arms in Athens, Georgia, and is the lead instructor for single-handed weapons. His group lessons primarily focus on Italian rapier, saber, and Bolognese sword and buckler. Jake’s instructional background is in classical Italian fencing, beginning with his attendance of the Rapier and Saber Pedagogy Retreat (RASP). Jake competes regularly in both HEMA and the SCA, and was recognized with the SCA’s highest fencing award in 2025.
Connor Gibson
⚔︎ School of hard knocks
Class: (Spada due mani) big little greatsword
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Connor Gibson has over ten years of experience fencing with the SCA, with a special focus on recreating historical fencing styles under the tutelage of Caleb Hallgren of the Tattershall School of Defense. He has been teaching and competing in HEMA since 2022. His primary instructional experience is in the northern Italian tradition of sidesword and rapier, but his interests extend to various polearms, armored and partially armored combat, and the fuzzy grey area between longsword and greatsword.
Brad Cramer Jr.
⚔︎ UWF
Class: (Sabre) Italian Sabre Workshop
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Info to come!!!
Ian Marra
⚔︎ Ritterkunst Fechtschule
Class: (Sword in armor) how to play with your harness against theirs
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an Marra has been a historical fencer since 2016, starting at Ritterkunst Fechtschule where he studied the Liechtenauer tradition. He became a principal instructor and co-owner of the school, with a focus on Harnischfechten, in 2018 and has attended and organized Deeds of Arms across the country, and especially across the Southeast, since that time. Ian founded La Compagnie des Gladiateurs in 2024 and is its Captain. Ian joined the SCA in 2024 and is the Deputy Society Marshal for Harnischfechten in the SCA, bringing Harnischfechten to that organization.
Jack Murray
⚔︎ Dallas school of historical fencing
Class: (rapier) things you can do with a rapier… but probably shoudn’t
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Jack began HEMA in 2022, with Crossroads Swords and Leviathan Historical Fencing in Orlando, Florida. In addition to being a student of the KdF, Jack specializes in early 17th Century Italian Rapier and 18th Century British Military Swordsmanship. On the competitive circuit, Jack has earned medals in Longsword, Rapier, and Sabre at tournaments including SoCal Swordfight and the Southeastern Renaissance Fencing Open. On the academic side, they have lectured on the relationship between historic fencing philosophies, play, and tournament rules.
A swapmeet
Do you have a pair of gloves you don’t use anymore? Maybe a jacket that’s always been a bit too big?
A messer that you just HAD to have a year ago but now it spends more time collecting dust than it does denting masks…
Bring it!
trade it!
sell it!
Rising Tides will be hosting a gear swap meet. A place to sell and trade gear!
Vendors
featuring Local vendors and craftspoeple selling patches, art, custom brand name gear, and more!
applications opening soon.
one on one sparring feedback from instructors
One on on sparring feedback from qualified instructors from around the southeast. get tailored instruction from nationally ranked coaches in practically every weapon.
Coach List:
quoc lieu (Longsword/dussack/messer)
alec martinez (rapier/sabre)
Chase Thompson (Rapier/longsword)
Will oaksmith (longsword)
Jake Pendergraft (Sabre/rapier/sidesword)
ian marra (harnischfechten/longsword/rapier)
Andy Huang (rapier/longsword)
BRad Cramer (rapier/smallsword/sabre)
Jorge pucheux (Smallsword)
matt richardson (Smallsword/foil)