Learn Medieval Swordfighting from Cass Hannah and Bastien Moineau
AEMMA’s Blades Beyond the Binary 2026
At AEMMA, we believe medieval combat is for everyone! Inspired by the London Longsword Academy, AEMMA Toronto is pleased to offer its first Blades Beyond the Binary seminar and to fundraise for a long-standing organization that serves this community, The 519. Come learn medieval fighting while raising money to support Toronto Queer Community.
All seminar fees will go towards a pooled donation to The 519. We will also invite current and past AEMMA members to donate so we can maximize the impact and the love from our swords people to our rainbow people (and yes, a few of us are both).
What you’ll do
First Bastien will host George & Fiore, an impossible conversation through place and time? A workshop to reflect and experiment on how Silver’s grounds and governors are informed by sword length when applied to Liberi’s sword in one hand plays. Next, you’ll learn the Florentine Sidesword of Francesco di Sandro Altoni from a special guest instructor, Cass Hannah from AEMMA Ottawa!
What you need
Fencing mask and light fencing gloves required. Steel sidesword encouraged, limited loaners available.
Schedule
July 11, 2026
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
George & Fiore with Bastien
Break
Florentine Sidesword with Cass
Socializing at Rainhard Brewery (optional, own expense)
Location
200B 100 Symes Rd
Toronto, Ontario
Ample parking available
Cass Hannah began fencing at a summer camp when they were 9 years old, cementing a life-long passion for playing with swords. They joined AEMMA in the fall of 2022, quickly dedicating themself to study and becoming the first to challenge and achieve the rank of Scholar through study of the Bolognese tradition.
Bastien started his HEMA journey in 2010 in France with staged combat and XIIIth century reenactment, before studying HEMA proper at the PEAMHE-Grenoble from 2013-2015. He joined AEMMA immediately upon landing in Canada in 2016, and developed a passion for Fiore’s extensive body of knowledge about how to effectively defend and offend with and without weapon. He has been instructing the recruits in abrazare, daga, & spada since 2022, and has ambitions to become a free scholar in the next few years. Bastien is a proud bisexual cis-man, returning from his current parental leave to teach this special class.