About the Hotspur School of Defence
Established in 2003 by Robert Brooks, the Hotspur School of Defence, has become a respected name within the international HEMA community for its study of medieval combat treatises dating from 1389 to 1494.
The School has a firm focus on German and Italian sources, teaching the following disciplines - longsword, messer, arming sword and buckler, dagger, wrestling, poleaxe, and spear.
In 2012, the HSD was invited to become one of the founding schools of the Chivalric Fighting Arts Association, a confraternity of like-minded HEMA schools across the world which promotes the ideals of historical fidelity to the study of ancient treatises.
In 2016, it founded the international HEMA Messer Guild, which now has over 1,700 members worldwide.
Robert Brooks stepped back from active involvement with the HSD in 2024 to focus on his writing and other projects. HSD Provosts, Andrew Milburn, Jo York and Ian Lowery now look after the day-to-day running of the school.
Provost & Lead Instructor - Andrew Milburn
Andrew started his martial arts journey in 2000 studying Wing Chun Kung Fu (because it lead to the use of the paired broadswords) with a focus on practical self defence. He later expanded his training with Budo and Jiu Jitsu.
He started training HEMA with the HSD in 2014, quickly attaining the rank of Scholar with Longsword and Messer and then Free Scholar with Polearms and Dagger. Andrew passed the British Federation for Historical Swordplay (BFHS) Instructor Level 1 qualification in 2016, before becoming an assistant instructor within the School and then being invested as Sergeant at Arms.
Andrew took over as lead instructor in 2024 and supported by the other provosts Jo and Ian.
He has taught at HEMA events in Spain, France, Ireland, South Africa, The Netherlands, Malta and Romania as well as within the UK. Andrew has an outstanding level of attention to detail, coupled with a dynamic practical approach to historical fencing.
In 2023 he and fellow Provost Ian, founded Warbadger Blades where they make small batches of high quality aluminium Messers.
Provost & Instructor - Jo York
Jo began her martial arts journey in 2000 studying Capoeira Regional, before transitioning into Aikido in 2007 and gaining her Black Belt in 2012.
At the beginning of 2017, Jo joined the Hotspur School of Defence and quickly set about developing her skills in Historical European Martial Arts. Over the next 5 years she rosed through the ranks and was awarded the rank of Provost in June 2022. Jo now runs the HSD alongside the other Provosts Andrew and Ian.
Outside of the HSD Jo has taught at HEMA events across the UK including Fightcamp, Fightcamp Skirmish, The Cavendish Convivial, The Art that Adorns You, Messerfest and Gathering of Wolves. Internationally she has taught at Swordtrip - The Gathering in Germany and often assists the other HSD Instructors.
In 2024 Jo joined forces with Lauren Ireland to co-found Messerfest, the UK’s only Messer focused event.
She also assisted Robert Brooks in getting his long anticipated book on the Messer, “At Your Mercy” into production.
Provost & Instructor - Ian Lowery
Ian Lowery joined the HSD in 2015 with no previous martial arts experience. His interest in the period and the weapons we study originated from glimpses within film and print and, in common with many of our students, Ian took initial inspiration from fantasy and fiction and translated this through the HSD into practical, physical activity.
Ian attained the rank of Scholar in 2017 with Longsword and Messer, then focusing on Dagger and Poleaxe as Free Scholar. He brings a wealth of professional experience from his corporate Training background to support and advise the HSD and is passionate in supporting the School and its students.
Ian has a particular love of polearms, teaching poleaxe within the school and at this years Cavendish Convivial. He now runs the HSD alongside the other Provosts Andrew and Jo.
In 2023 he and fellow Provost Andrew, founded Warbadger Blades where they make small batches of high quality aluminium Messers.