When the local chapter of The 1595 Club meets on Tuesdays in the Bend Masonic Lodge to duel, there are certain rules to follow. Each participant must stay within the marked boundary. Opponents must take turns attacking and defending each other’s cuts. And a point is given to the first swordsman to strike the other. An advantage of two points wins the match.

Another is that one must not leave themselves vulnerable while attacking the legs of their competition.

At the group’s first February meeting, instructor Eric Artzt introduced three new attendees (not including this reporter), to this specific format of swordfighting, what they call a skirmish. Except for a few brief reminders, the trainees caught on quickly, and each participated in multiple skirmishes.

At one point while dueling, a newbie lunged forward to swipe at the knee, while his opponent hit the newbie’s head. Artzt stopped the skirmish to give the point and match to the more experienced swordsman. Although both had struck, only one received a point.

If You Go

What: Swordfighting from the age of pirates — historical fencing practices and competition

When: 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays

Where: Bend Masonic Lodge, 1036 NE Eighth St., Bend

Cost: Free for the first month, sliding-scale dues after

Contact: bend1595.com or 541-241-6742

Artzt explained that in a duel with real blades, it would be considered “suicidal” to make such an attack. One would be putting themselves in a position where they are likely unable to block a cut to the head or neck. So, as to best replicate the conditions of a duel to the death, a swordsman concedes a point and receives a warning. An attack to the leg is fine only as long as the swordsman doesn’t leave themselves defenseless.

While in a mock duel with a plastic saber, it may seem like an obvious strategy to get the first hit on an opponent, but one must account for the repercussions of an enemy with a sharp iron blade.

“If you have a sharp sword, I’m going to want to be really careful,” Artzt said. “I’m not going to want to approach you first of all. But if you throw a strike at me, I’m not just going to ignore it and hit you at the same time. I’m going to block that strike before I try to counterattack.”

During my hour and a half with the Bend chapter of The 1595 Club, this idea appeared to be key — accepting the pretense, the make-believe aspect of the craft. Only then can one engross themselves in the art of it.

A long history

Full-time martial arts instructor Chris Chatfield formed The 1595 Club in 2002 in Brighton, a seaside town on England’s south shore. The club has nine chapters in cities all over the world, including London, Milan, Seattle and Auckland, New Zealand.

Members of the club study swordplay and the martial art of fencing in the cut-and-thrust military-style used in the 16th century. Teachings are based on the writings of Italian soldier and philosopher Vincentio Saviolo, from his book “His Practise,” published in 1595, from which the club takes its name.

While the club’s different chapters use a variety of weapons in their practice, the most common — and the Bend chapter’s primary weapon — is the cutlass. Unlike the blades typically seen in modern, Olympic-style fencing — the foil or the épée — the cutlass has a broad blade used for swinging, or cutting, and is much heavier than a modern fencing blade. When skirmishing, opponents take turns cutting and blocking until one strikes the other. Training exercises are done in a similar fashion, using a “tick-tock” method.

Chatfield has adapted this style of dueling, which is most closely related to the sabre in modern fencing, from Saviolo’s teachings to better suit a latter-day fun, competitive environment, while maintaining its historical roots.

And, as with most martial arts practices, there is an underlying ideology the club embraces to balance out the use of violence. Saviolo sums up this philosophy as “the more skill a man hath of his weapon the more gentle and curteous should he shewe himselfe.”

More sparring partners needed

As I arrived at the Masonic Hall, I noticed Artzt’s white Toyota Land Cruiser was decked with a bike rack and cargo box on top. It has “Share the Road” plates. His poodle, Sherman, always attends practices with him. Looking much younger than 60, Artzt considers himself a typical Bend resident: He skis and rides mountain and gravel bikes. He works as a software developer for San Francisco company Fieldwire by Hilti.

Artzt is a longtime martial artist who started karate when he was 18 and continued into his 40s. He also co-founded another weapons-based group in Seattle.

He formed the Bend chapter five years ago when he moved from Seattle. He said it’s a hobby of his he can’t do alone. So he started the chapter, which has been small the whole time — usually four guys — in order to have people to spar with.

Artzt transitioned into this style of martial arts because it’s skill-based and injury-free. He wants to stay healthy for work and his other hobbies.

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“I feel like I’m too old to get punched in the head anymore,” Artzt said. He hopes to continue practicing and skirmishing for another 20 years.

The club holds competitive skirmish tournaments. This year, it plans to have tournaments run simultaneously in the United Kingdom, Milan and the Pacific Northwest as part of an effort to bring more people into historical fencing. Each area will host competitions and post results on the club’s website. For the Pacific Northwest tournament, Bend will host two competitions. Seattle will host four.

In last year’s tournament, Chatfield, who’s 58 and competing against many guys in their 20s, was the undisputed champion.

“There’s something more to this art than just raw athleticism,” Artzt said.

Welcoming environment

The club doesn’t only skirmish when it meets on Tuesday evenings. Using Chatfield’s curriculum, Artzt taught the new students and I the eight different cuts and their accompanying parries. The other regulars helped us walk through them before the practice moved onto a footwork drill representative of what the British navy taught young men for deck combat.

With more than 40 years of training, Artzt leads the class with the demeanor of a seasoned veteran — less Inigo Montoya, more Old Ben Kenobi.

Andrew McCollum, Artzt’s second in command, has been with the group for four years, and said he really enjoys Artzt’s approach to Chatfield’s curriculum. When he first started, McCollum said having swords come flying at you with force took some getting used to, but the laid-back nature of practices and the mental stimulation of swordplay kept him coming back.

“You learn a lot. Everyone’s really chill,” McCollum said. “There’s no ultra-competitive macho-ness.”

It’s also fairly affordable for an active hobby. Classes are free for beginners but after the first few practices sliding scale dues are requested. Artzt lends out helmets and swords to beginners. He said most participants can get started with equipment for $50-60 and slowly acquire more as they go.

Take thy chance

After the four of us rookies had a fair grasp of the technique, it was time to try skirmishing. Artzt and McCollum, bringing out their helmets for the first time, faced off. Then another experienced swordsman dueled McCollum. And so on until it was time for the newbies.

Artzt asked if I wanted to jump in. I declined. It might have been nerves. I was also getting over a cold and felt uncomfortable borrowing a helmet. (Always looking out for others, right?) A woman who had been once before took the spot offered to me. The rest of the group each got a turn, and Artzt made sure not to pit two beginners against each other.

After leaving the practice, I drove south along Highway 97 and spotted High Desert Fencing Club holding its own practice. The group may have been twice the size of the one I just left. All were dressed in full white with helmets. Unable to see myself taking up the sport and uniform, I felt like I had missed my initiation into swashbuckling swordplay.