Folkstyle Wrestling Footwork and Takedowns for Swordplay
$35 Registration
Discounts Available - Please contact us to request
This class is 18 +
Taught by Josh Coslar
American Folkstyle Wrestling was the local unarmed complement to saber, cutlass, smallsword, and spadroon for over a hundred and fifty years. In this class, we’ll adapt the “shot”- the signature offensive footwork of this style- to swordwork. We'll start with the traditional application as a platform for takedowns, and then we’ll treat it just like any other piece of compound footwork. We'll build multiple phrases that demonstrate its uses, so you can use it to add historical, martial, or athletic flair to your fights.
Class Level: Open/Intermediate
Sunday, Jan 11, 2026 @ 9am to 12noon
at the Reston Players’ Lindsay C. Petersen Rehearsal Hall
264 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, Va 20170
Joshua Coslar is a lifelong martial artist and traditionally trained craftsperson from Newark, NJ. A published author, collected bladesmith and leatherworker, recognized expert in American folk wrestling and a certified personal trainer, Josh has a passion for teaching both theatrical movement and technical craft skills. He has had the honor of working with performers and martial artists of diverse backgrounds to interpret under-represented arts for stage, screen, and academic settings. Select credits include developing and directing the Four Swords historical marital comedy troupe (Renaissance Entertainment Productions), fight coordination and wrestling consultant for Noah’s Story (Cheap Heat Productions), performing as a featured fighter in The Song of Lethe (Plato Learning in conjunction with The Metropolitan Opera), and contributing to the Journal of Board Game Academics as both an author and martial arts consultant. Josh served his leatherworking apprenticeship and journeymanship at Hawk Studios in Philmont, New York, his bladesmithing apprenticeship at Starfire Swords in Spencer, New York, and his bladesmithing journeymanship at Lundegaard armory in Monroe, New York. He currently serves as an assistant instructor, armorer, and historical consultant at Arte Violenta in New York, New York.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the class, payment, safety, or any other topic, please email
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