Chris Halpin (He/Him)
Head Coach / Club Owner
Chris studied a variety of martial arts arts such as karate, jujutsu, iaido, iaijutsu and kobudo before discovering European martial arts, eventually leading him to found the York School of Defence in 2013. The YSD is Chris’s full time profession, as such he has a diverse range of interrelated research interests including catch wrestling, pugilism, English longsword, broadsword/backsword, rapier, smallsword, quarterstaff, and KDF. He also very much enjoys Filipino martial arts and also teaches a small eskrima class at the YSD.
Chris Johnson-Sparks (He/Him)
Coach
Chris is a keen catch wrestler and he has a huge degree of passion and enthusiasm for our cut and thrust class, having a particular interest in the works of George Silver. Chris is a certified coach with the York School of Defence and ably assists with newer students as well as covering classes when the main instructor is away. Chris will be teaching outwith the school for the first time at Broadswordfest in November 2024.
Claire Rowland (She/Her)
Coach / Safeguarding Officer
Claire joined the York School of Defence in 2020 during one of the brief respites from COVID. Claire loves swords, especially big swords, and is a regular fixture in our English longsword, KDF and Cut & Thrust classes. In 2023 Claire stepped up to the role of safeguarding officer, she works tirelessly to ensure that that all the necessary steps are being taken to protect the people in the YSD should the need arise, and that we are fully compliant with safeguarding codes of conduct.
Ella Banken (She/Her)
Coach / Secondary Reporting Officer
Ella has been a student at the YSD since 2015, and in 2023 she taught her first full workshop to students from across the world and has since taken on the mantle of teaching assistant for wrestling and unarmed related disciplines. Ella is a huge fan of grappling, especially catch wrestling, and enjoys some old-school bare knuckle boxing in the pugilism class when time allows. Ella is an excellent coach, teacher, and a great wrestler, and loves spending one-on-one time with students.
Lauren Ireland (She / They)
Coach / Assurance & Wellbeing Officer
Via the YSD Lauren has discovered a love for Kunst des Fechtens, especially the use of the langes messer, alongside Victorian and Edwardian martial arts including suffrajitsu, bartitsu, defence dans la rue and related arts. As well as being a full coach with the club Lauren is our assurance & wellbeing officer, and offers suggestions and insights regarding best practice for insurance, safety and the wellbeing of the study body.
Mark Penman (He / Him)
Coach
Mark is a keen pugilist, fencer and wrestler, and he can be found coaching newer students and covering classes at our catch wrestling, prize fighting and kunst des fechtens sessions. Mark is an excellent communicator and when he isn’t punching, wrestling or fencing recreationally he is a senior lecturer in comic and concept art at nearby Leeds Arts University. Mark is an exceptional coach and a splendid student at the York School of Defence.
Matthew Maries (He / Him)
Coach
Matthew joined the York School of Defence in 2018. He is an exceptionally keen martial artist and frequents our wrestling, prize fighting and cut & thrust classes. He is a lover of spadroons and maker of the finest HEMA memes, and outside of the club he likes to run, cycle and swim ludicrous distances for enjoyment. Matthew is a valued member of the team at the YSD and has dived in to help us out during busy periods many times.
Viera Majernikova (She / Her)
Coach
Viera started as a student at the club in one of our self defence courses, and after attending a regular self defence class for a while made a sideways move to stick fighting, and she has become a skilled and reliable coach in our escrima and stick grappling class. If you attend our escrima sessions Viera may be one of the first people you get to train with as you take your first steps into this wonderful, unique and esoteric martial arts system.
Mollie Dog (Good Dog/Best Dog)
Morale Officer
Mollie is a rescue who lives with us at our home in York. She sometimes pops down to our training venue to say hello, but if you visit for private lessons you will undoubtedly, if you so wish, get to meet her and give her pats, cuddles and shower her with affection for being a very good dog.
