Instructors
The Dawn Duellist Society teaches classes every week. These classes are lead by instructors with years of experience and research behind them, who have been approved for teaching and assessed by their peers in the nuances of martial arts instruction.
Currently the DDS has five instructors and one undergoing training. The five instructors are:
Mr Gareth Hunt
Gareth Hunt was born and raised in Edinburgh. He first encountered fencing whilst at school and continued to fence with the Napier University Fencing Club. Not long after the DDS was formed in 1994, Gareth became an enthusiastic member, and eventually also took on teaching duties. Since then Gareth has studied most fencing arts, in particular sabre, rapier, smallsword and sword and target. In 2001 Gareth became one of the first instructors to be certified by the British Federation for Historical Fencing, and in 2006 he became President of the DDS. Gareth teaches sabre, sword and shield, knife and rapier classes for the DDS - all using his right hand to make life easier for students, despite being decidedly left handed by inclination.
Mr Ian Macintyre
Ian Macintyre's first experience with the Dawn Duellists came in 1997 when his new flatmate arrived with a longsword and tales of a group that was teaching him how to use it. Ian resisted for nearly nine months but eventually went to a training session and was instantly hooked. Ian was accepted as a DDS instructor in 2003, having been mentored by Gareth Hunt, and passed his BFHS Certified Instructors assessment in October 2007. Born and bred in Edinburgh, Ian is the currently the DDS secretary. Ian's chief fencing passions are military sabre, in particular the works of Captain Alfred Hutton, 19th century stick arts and German medieval longsword, all of which he teaches at the DDS.
Mr Philip Crawley
Phil Crawley grew up all over Britain over but in 1996 he moved to Edinburgh where, apart from a year's fencing sabbatical, he has remained ever since. In 1997 he joined the DDS, having already had experience with swords since childhood in sport fencing and re-enactment. He is interested in every aspect of western martial arts, but his main weapon forms are those to be found in the 18th century, primarily backsword, classical rapier and the smallsword although he is prepared to give anything, and anybody, a go. He is particularly keen on unarmed arts such as wrestling, pugilism and gentleman's defence and this is where he focuses his teaching. Phil was accepted as a DDS instructor in 2003 and a DDS full member in April 2006.
Miss Katie Murray
Katie Murray is a longstanding member of the DDS. Her particular interests are body mechanics and movement, which she is enthusiatic to impart during the warm up sessions she leads before each DDS class. Katie is particularly keen on rapier, sidesword and smallsword, commencing study of Capo Ferro, Di Agrassi and Angelo. Also a keen capoeirista, Katie spent two months in Brazil in early 2007 training in the Brazilian martial art of capoeira.
Mr Greig Watson
Greig Watson was approved as an instructor in April 2006 and has since taught at DDS classes as well as taking workshops at various historical fencing events. He is originally from Newburgh in Fife, although he has lived in Edinburgh for a number of years. He joined the DDS in 2002. Greig focuses on late medieval/renaissance fencing and has researched techniques directly from such period texts as Filippo Vadi, Capo Ferro and di Grassi. Rapier and longsword are his favoured weapons.
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