Description:
Hilt and Helm Pittsburgh Fencing Club is excited to kick off Unicorn Cup weekend 2027 once again with a seminar on KdF Longsword on Friday, January 15, 2027 featuring Hilt and Helm Alumnus Dan Evans and Special Guest Instructor, founder of MKE HEMA Club Connor Zaeske! Registration for Full Participants and Spectator Only passes are live now!
Dan (left) and Connor (right) fencing in the gold medal match of the longsword tournament at Krump Pow 2025 (Appleton, WI).
Daniel Evans
Connor Zaeske
Do your fencing matches feel chaotic? Do you ever feel frustrated that your best moves seem predictable? Have you had trouble "reading" an opponent to know whether you should attack, defend, or invite? Then this seminar is for you. Join nationally recognized, multi-medal-winning fencers Dan Evans and Connor Zaeske as they explore the German Kunst des Fechtens principle of "Vor." In their 3-hour seminar, they will explore what it means to (not) have "the Vor", when fencers should initiate or follow their opponents' motion, why and how a fencer's "turn" ends before they get hit, and how to "take your turn back" once it has been lost.
About the Instructors
DAN EVANS (Center for Blade Arts, Minnesota) has trained and competed in historical fencing for 5 years. He began his career in Pittsburgh, quickly earning success in competitive longsword. Since he moved to Minnesota in 2023, he has thoroughly trained in the early German fencing traditions of Kunst des Fechtens longsword and the sword and buckler system of Royal Armouries manuscript i.33. As a competitor, Dan has won medals in longsword, rapier, sword and buckler, and team events at tournaments in 5 states, winning refereed matches against 8 longsword fencers currently or formerly ranked in the top 100 in the world. In addition to private coaching, Dan has taught classes and seminars at 7 clubs in 4 states. As an event manager, Dan has refereed matches at 11 tournaments in 6 states, and he serves on the organizing committee of the Minneapolis HEMA Study Group as the lead judge for the Icebreaker tournament. Dan returns to Unicorn Cup after teaching the event's inaugural seminar in 2026.
CONNOR ZAESKE (MKE HEMA Club, Wisconsin) started Olympic fencing in 2010 and began training historical fencing in 2017. Having trained continuously with the Goliath Historical Fencing Academy, he started the MKE HEMA Club in Milwaukee in June of 2025, where he continues to serve as owner and head coach. He then surged onto the competitive HEMA scene, winning medals in longsword, saber, sidesword, and mixed steel events at every competition since he started his own club. Connor currently ranks in the top 20 in the world and top 10 in the United States in longsword, demonstrating the success of his understanding of the German Kunst des Fechtens system. He is excited to attend Unicorn Cup for the first time and is eager to connect with the Pittsburgh HEMA community.
Space for class participants is limited to 16 slots, so reserve your spot today!
We are also making a small number of Spectator-only passes available for the day, with more details below.
The Venue
Hilt and Helm Pittsburgh Fencing Club
Address: 5842 Forward Ave
Parking: There is a parking lot next to the club. DO NOT PARK IN IT!!! There is plenty of free parking along Shady Avenue and Forward Ave. Don’t get towed, there’s free parking near by.
Note, the Unicorn Cup Tournament is at the Boys and Girls Club. See the Event Page for Unicorn Cup 2027 for those details
Tickets
Tickets are available on our website in the store. Space is limited and if it sells out, please sign up for the appropriate wait list and we’ll contact you if something becomes available.
Seminar Pass:
Cost: $50
Quantity: 16/16
Description: Participate in the full seminar
Spectator Pass:
Cost: $15
Quantity: 8/8
Watch the class and ask the instructor questions during the breaks.
Wait Lists:
Cost: Free
Quantity: infinite
If the seminar sells out, please feel free to sign up for our wait list by adding it as a check out option and “purchasing” it. We’ll contact you through the email associated with the purchase about purchasing a pass when/if one becomes available.
Seminar Schedule
5:00pm: Doors Open
5:30pm: Seminar Begins, with breaks throughout.
8:30pm: Seminar concludes.
