The Instructors

Andrew Feest and Duncan Fatz are both BFHS certified instructors and are both fully insured and recognised coaches through the Amateur Martial Arts Association (club licence no. 43747).

In his early years Andrew Feest studied judo, gymnastics, modern ballet and tap dancing. His first involvement with Western Martial arts was through medieval armoured tounament fighting utilising the broadsword, bastard sword, longsword and broadsword & shield. Andrew was a founder member of the Sussex Rapier School established in 1997. In the last five years whenever possible Andrew has studied with his Master in Italy Maestro Andrea Lupo Sinclair (and continues to do so) in particular the Classical Rapier, Rapier and Dagger and more recently Side Sword and Longsword. Recently Andrew has been invited to teach in Italy by FISAS and in the USA at the ISMAC meeting in Detroit.

Andrew has been invited by the Discovery Channel and Channel Four to appear as an "expert" in WMA. Over the years he has also taken children's workshops in theatre and fencing. At the end of 2005 Andrew Feest was elected as the President of the British Federation of Historical Swordplay.

Duncan Fatz was a founder member of the Sussex Rapier Society, which later became the Sussex Rapier School and has been involved in the practice of historical swordsmanship since 1993. Initially involved in medieval armoured combat his interests turned to the study and practice of rapier combat, with an especial interest in the earlier ‘transitional’ period. The focus of his study and practice is therefore sidesword and early rapier, although he also practices late rapier and has travelled extensively to investigate other martial art forms. Accredited by the BFHS as an instructor in 2001, Duncan has made a number of screen and television appearances including “King Arthur” and “Nathan Barley”.

Lyell Drummond has been training now with the Sussex Rapier School for over 6 years. Before that he trained at the Brighton and Hove Fencing Club (Coaches Roy and Angela Goodall) for many years. Lyell has developed a passion for Highland Broadsword and single stick and presents regular classes on a Monday based on his studies and experience of cutting weapons.