DEUTSCH
ENGLISH
ITALIANO

What is „La Lotta dei Folli“?

Our club event consists of a workshop day and a day of fun tournaments. The focus is always on the Bolognese tradition with all its facets and weapons, as well as other historical styles from Italy and occasionally from the Iberian region. We highly value a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, especially at the tournaments. We also provide a stage for the SaberAcademy Vienna, which holds a lightsaber workshop and its annual tournament as part of our event.

„La Lotta dei Folli“ means something like „The Battle of the Fools“ and is a reference to Victor Hugo’s „Festival of Fools“ in „The Hunchback of Notre Dame.“

WHEN?

  • SATURDAY, 26th of April, 2025
  • SUNDAY , 27th of April 2025

WHERE?

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

  • Underground: U4 Hietzing
  • Tram 10, 49, 52, 60: Dommayergasse
  • Bus 56A, 56B, 58A, 58B: Am Platz

LANGUAGE & CATERING

Our main language is German, but we will adapt to the registrations and can also switch to English if necessary. We will provide you with snacks and drinks in the ‚break room‘ throughout the weekend. For lunch and dinner, there are numerous restaurants in the immediate vicinity of our hall, such as:

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE

Workshops

In 2025, the focus will clearly be on sidesword with shield (rotella & brocchiero) and the single sword itself – against the same combination or against polearms. There will also be the traditional lightsaber workshop with the SaberAcademy Vienna. We are very much looking forward to our instructors:

Instructor: Roman Vučajnk

Language: ENG

Equipment: Sidesword, basic protective equipment; a limited number of sideswords will be available (if you require equipment, please specify when registering);

Similar to other giants of ‚Kunst des Fechtens‘, Joachim Meyer was keen to acknowledge diversity in fighting, and how to implement various influences into the Art that he wanted to share with his ideas of reformed German society. Even if the weapon in question was foreign, non-German, but obviously magnificent enough to make it to the core of what Meyer perceived as the knightly art of fighting.
Introducing Joachim Meyer’s art of fighting with one-handed sword through the lens of the Bolognese tradition. In addition to understanding both perspectives and where they come close based on relevant sources, the participants will get the chance to interact through exercises and gain experience in practical comparison.

The workshop will be presented in English. Suitable to all skill levels.

About Roman:

HEMA came to my life in the late 1990s through the big gate of the ascending world wide web with all the reenactment and medievalism. In the early 2000s, proper studying, interpreting and practicing the Art of Fighting took over from reenacting and the Early Modern Age stepped to the front of the queue of my interests. Joachim Meyer and his approach to fighting led me through wondrous landscapes of the urban combat of the 16th and 17th centuries, and I’ve never looked back. Italian and Spanish traditions followed, and complement the wonderful experience of combat.
At the same time, I became a fervent supporter of HEMA communities from big stern structured federations to happy circles of dear friends (and I even got to preside over marriages of several HEMA couples!).
Close to 30 years later, I am a content practitioner of fighting with things that cut, thrust, slice or poke, and I am grateful to be able to share my views with great people at the Academia artis dimicatoriae in Slovenia, and wherever HEMA takes me.

Instructor: Stefan Feichtinger

Language: DEU (ENG)

Equipment: Sword, buckler, gloves, and mask are the minimum requirements. Full equipment is advantageous. Some bucklers will be available; a limited number of sideswords will also be available for rental (if you require equipment, please specify when registering);

Level: Attacks and guards from the Bolognese school are required. Prior experience with the buckler is an advantage but not mandatory.

In this workshop, we will take a closer look at the synergy between sidesword and buckler, with particular focus on using them as a unified whole, working proactively, and applying pressure on the opponent. What does Manciolino’s abbellimento reveal to us about how to control the buckler without having to constantly think about where to move it next? In this refinement of the game, as he himself says, he strikes blows into the wind—but we won’t deny him a little hidden intention behind it! Using Manciolino’s first assalto as a foundation, this workshop will build a fundamental understanding of the effective use of the buckler.

About Stefan:

Stefan began classical épée fencing in Passau in 2011 and, after moving to Vienna, was compelled to switch to the rapier—which, as it turned out, was exactly the right fit for him. Later, his interest grew in Italian longsword and sidesword, leading him to delve deeply into the Bolognese and other early Italian sources. He approached these as predecessors to the rapier, using them to gain a deeper understanding and examining them from a top-down perspective. His focus lies on Italian sources from the 16th century, which the trained historian translates and adapts for training at his club, Sprezzatura, in Vienna.

Instructor: Alex Zalud

Language: DEU (ENG)

Equipment: One-handed weapon and shield strapped to the forearm; a limited number of shields and pole arms will be available (if you require equipment, please specify when registering);

There’s hardly anything more disadvantageous than facing someone armed with a polearm when you don’t have one yourself. In this workshop, you’ll learn what to watch out for when taking on nasty lances and the like with a sword and shield.

About Alex:

Alex Zalud published his first book on fencing in the so-called Bolognese tradition (Italy, 16th century) in 2012. Two more books followed in 2015 and 2016. He is the founder and head coach of the club Fior della Spada and has also made a name for himself internationally as a coach and workshop leader.

Instructors: SaberAcademy Vienna

Language: DEU (ENG)

Equipment: 2x lightsaber; a limited number of lightsabers will be available (please specify when registering)

Tournaments

The tournaments should emphasise fun, respect for each other and „beautiful“ fencing. They are kept informal – which means, for example, that referees do not have to be present at all times. What is also important to us: weapon control and controlled attacks are not only the most important ingredient for good cutting technique, but also the most effective measure against injuries. Note from the chairwoman: „If you get too rough, I swear I’ll personally chase you out of the hall with a partesana! >_<“

We value sportsmanship and fairness. This also means that the fighters are expected to report received hits.

You can find our framework rules here

We will provide the weapons for this. You are welcome to bring your own (sideswords, bucklers, rotelle, capes…) – but please stick to the specifications of our rulebook and/or show us the weapons in advance. Before the start you will get a deck of cards with weapons and weapon combinations of the Bolognese school. Before each fight, you will choose one card and play it face down. The cards are revealed at once right before the fight, you arm yourself accordingly and off you go! Cards may be exchanged with other participants, but you must always have the same number of cards. The following cards are available:

  • Spada sola (sidesword)
  • Spada & brocchiero (sidesword & buckler)
  • Spada & targa (sidesword & rectangular shaped buckler)
  • Spada & pugnale (sidesword & dagger)
  • Spada & cappa (Ssidesword & cape)
  • Pugnale & cappa (dagger & cape)
  • Due spade (two sideswords)
  • Spada & rotella (sidesword and round shield)
  • Partesana (pole arm)

Requirements:

  • Age: >18 years and HEMA experience
  • Protective Gear: Common HEMA gear for tournaments with steel simulators (at least fencing mask, jacket, gloves, cup)
  • Number of participants: max. 16

The SaberAcademy Vienna is a project of our coaches and will hold another lightsaber tournament this year. It will be semi-contact (i.e. no follow through, touch is enough for a hit: maximum weapon control!). Thrusts are not permitted. Especially young fighters receive a weapon advantage to compensate if necessary – as they did last year.

The Rules can be downloaded here

Requirements:

  • Age: >12 years (minors only with consent of parents)
  • Protective Gear: at least fencing mask and gloves, cup
  • Experience & Saber: If you don’t have a lightsaber simulator suitable for combat, we can provide one. If you are neither in a HEMA club nor in a lightsaber club, we would like to get to know you in advance to minimize the safety risk for everyone and to guarantee smooth execution of the event and the fights.
  • Number of participants: max. 16

A tournament for two-handed weapons or weapon with sidearm (e.g. sidesword with sidearm, rapier with sidearm, longsword,…). Each participant competes with a weapon/weapon combination of his choice – you can’t change the weapon, but have to fight with the selected weapon through the whole tournament, no matter what.

HOWEVER: Since we are beeing highly experimental and we want to prevent chaos, as well as that certain weapons and combos to be over- or underrepresented, the number of participants is highly restricted and we will have a talk or email exchanges with everybody interested. We also reserve the right to say „NO“ or to adjust the rules. Each weapon or weapon combo may only be chosen once in the tournament. It is not allowed to compete with the same weapon or weapon combination two years in a row.

Requirements:

  • Age: >18 years and HEMA experience
  • Protective Gear: Common HEMA gear for tournaments with steel simulators (at least fencing mask, jacket, gloves, cup)
  • Simulator: for the weapon/ weapon combo of your choice (controlled and approved by us in advance, bladed weapons made of steel)
  • Number of participants: max. 8

It’s time for another tournament experiment! You fence against your opponent armed with a Bolognese single sword. Once both of you agree that one of you would not be able to continue the fight after a received weapon hit, the fight ends. The „survivor“ advances. The riposte rule from our rulebook still applies. Should a double hit occur that would most likely incapacitate both, both fighters are eliminated. The referee takes the role of an observer and arbitrates if necessary, but that’s all it should be.

HOWEVER: Since we are highly experimental here (again… :P) and we want to prevent chaos, the number of participants is highly restricted and we will have a talk or email exchanges with everybody interested. We reserve the right to adjust the rules if necessary.

Requirements:

  • Age: >18 years and HEMA experience
  • Protective Gear: Common HEMA gear for tournaments with steel simulators (at least fencing mask, jacket, gloves, cup)
  • Simulator: Bolognese sidesword simulator in steel (see rulebook for details, your simulator must be checked and approved by us in advance)
  • Number of participants: max. 8

Fees & Registration

Fees for 2025:

  • 140€ – La Lotta dei Folli
  • 100€ – La Lotta dei Folli (members of Fior della Spada only)
  •   90€ – Lightsaber-Package (LS-tournament& LS-workshop)
  •   70€ – Lightsaber-Package (members of SaberAcademy Vienna only, LS-tournament& LS-workshop)
  •   30€ – Single Workshop (send a request to: elisabeth@marozzo.info)
  • If you only want to book the workshop day, please also send a request to: elisabeth@marozzo.info

We calculate the prices so that we can cover the hall fees as far as possible with the participation fees. The remaining costs (equipment, snacks, coaches, referees, etc.) are covered by our club. We offer all our coaches and referees an expense allowance and also finance travel costs and accommodation for long journeys.

REGISTRATION

Registration opens on Monday, January 13, 2025. Spots and weapon combinations will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, until January 31, members of Fior della Spada or participants of SaberAcademy Vienna will be given priority.

Cancellations can be made via email to elisabeth[at]marozzo.info up to and including April 11, 2025. After that: for cancellations up to and including April 18, you will receive a 50% refund. Starting April 19, unfortunately, no refunds can be issued. Exceptions may be made in the case of illness; please email us a medical certificate in such cases.

Registration deadline: April 11, 2025, 8:00 AM.

Contact: elisabeth[at]marozzo.info