Forteza Fitness & Martial Arts

Multi-Class Punch-Card

Our ten class punch-card is an ideal solution for casual students or those who need more flexibility in their training schedule. Buy your punch-card and drop in to the classes that fit your schedule.

(per 10 Class Card) $195.00

Membership Packages

If you are serious about training in one or more of our martial arts programs, then we strongly recommend one of our membership packages, which allow you a chance to train more and pay less; bringing your cost to as low as $4.00 per class! They also provide discounts in the Forteza store, not otherwise available to members. Note that with all packages, a student is still only eligible take classes for which they have completed that program's prerequisites and hold the appropriate rank.

The Swordsman Membership

If you are drawn by the allure of the sword, taught in a traditional martial arts environment, then the Swordsman Membership is ideal for you. Membership includes: Drop-in access to the Renaissance Swordsmanship and Knightly Arts Taster Classes - get a refresher whenever you need it! Two weekly, and one weekend Foundations classes; Three weekly Focus classes: Close-Quarter Combat, Rapier and Longsword; Four weekly FightingFit! bootcamps; A weeknight and Saturday Scholar's class for students of the necessary rank

(per Month +$40 annual CSG Association Fee) $195.00

(per Six Months (3 weeks free!)) $1,080.00

(per Year (8 weeks free!)) $1,850.00

The FightingFit! Membership

Aimed at the student who wants to combine a practical, proven street-defense system with combat sports, traditional American fighting arts like bare-knuckle boxing and Catch-as-Catch-Can wrestling, and classical conditioning, our Modern Combatives Membership Includes: Six weekday FightingFit! classes; Sunday SpartanFit! bootcamps; A private, monthly Forteza Combative Club class

(per Month) $150.00

(per Six Months (3 weeks free!)) $760.00

(per Year (8 weeks free!)) $1,200.00

The All-Inclusive Membership

The All-Inclusive Membership is truly just that: full access to all of the classes we offer! With over 18 weekly classes to choose from, you'll be a true part of the Forteza family. Comprehensive training in Historical Swordsmanship, including all Taster, Foundations and Focus classes; A weeknight and Saturday Scholar's class for students of the necessary rank; A weeknight and Satruday Scholar's class for students of the necessary rank; All Forteza Combative System classes. All FightingFit! bootcamps.

(per Month +$40 annual CSG Association Fee) $250.00

(per Six Months (3 weeks free!)) $1,375.00

(per Year (8 weeks free!)) $2,500.00

Functional Fitness Personal Training & Semi-Private Lessons

FightingFit! Bootcamps

Sword fighting is one of the most effective forms of cross-training available. It combines aerobic and anaerobic exercise with a diverse workout that builds core strength, cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, balance, and timing; all through practicing a fun and engaging martial art. FightingFit! meets four times a week, including mornings, early evenings and weekends.

(per month!) $150.00

Functional Fitness Personal Training & Semi-Private Lessons

There is no better way to either learn a martial art, or to refine your skills, than through personalized attention. Using the same model as our personal trainers, we provide both private and small-group lessons.

Private Training

(per hr) $75.00

One-on-One with Instructor

10 Pack (per hr) $70.00

One-on-One with Instructor

20 Pack (per hr) $60.00

Couples Training

(per hr) $100.00

Couples Training

Fee divided between students

10 Pack (per hr) $70.00

Mini Class

Fee divided between students

(per hr for 3-4 Students) $120.00

Archery

A complete, competition-length indoor range with beginner and intermediate classes and multiple Open Range hours. All equipment provided.

Archery Basics

is is one-off class is designed to get a bow in your hand and get you shooting. Once you've taken one of these, you'll be ready to start shooting comfortably on your own during Open Range. All equipment provided. We require all of our staff and students to be vaccinated AND boosted against Covid-19 within the last year. Proof of vaccination must be provided to the front desk before participating in classes.

(Dollars) $40.00

Introduction to Archery -- 4 classes

$165.00

Intro to Archery class! Learn the basics to shoot a recurve bow - one 60 minute class per week for 4 weeks! This is an adult course or ages 16yrs and older! We require all of our staff and students to be vaccinated AND boosted against Covid-19 within the last year. Proof of vaccination must be provided to the front desk before participating in classes.

Recurve Archery Basics

For those who have completed our Intro to Archery course, we have a new Recurve Archery Foundations course that will be on Wednesdays 6-7pm starting April 5th! The course will build upon lessons from our Intro class with more shooting time, more personalized instructor feedback and more. This is pay-as-you-go one-time Drop-In fee. Buy an Archery Punch-Card and save! All equipment provided. We require all of our staff and students to be vaccinated against Covid-19. All of our students and staff over the age of 12yrs must be boosted as well. Proof of vaccination must be provided to the front desk when starting classes.

(per class) $30.00

Welcome to Forteza!

Going Old School in a New Way. Welcome to Forteza Fitness, Physical Culture & Martial Arts, a unique studio blending cutting-edge knowledge with old school training. Forteza is an ancient Italian word meaning "fortress" or "stronghold". Within our studio, that stronghold is you. At Forteza our goal is to help each person who comes through our door build their own personal stronghold; the stronghold of their bodies, minds and spirits. Below all, we are a fellowship and home-away-from-home for anyone who has ever been fascinated by these subjects and wants to challenge themselves to do more and be more.More than just another martial arts school or a gym, rather, we are:

A studio combining a unique offering of traditional martial arts and modern self-defense

with personal training, adventure racing, functional fitness and nutritional counseling, set in a beautiful, 5000 square foot, hundred year-old facility

The Midwest's only full-time school for the study of traditional Western martial arts, and historical swordplay

Home to the Forteza Combatives Method

an eclectic blend of empty-hand, ground-fighting and weapons training, incorporating Bare-Knuckle Boxing, Catch-Wrestling, and Martial Blade Concepts' a nationally known and respected method of hand, stick and knife defense designed for modern people with limited training time

Home to the Bartitsu Club of Chicago

dedicated to the revival of this "Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes," a unique, Victorian fighting disciple which was the world's first eclectic martial art

Pioneers in the revival of 19th century "physical culture"

the combined use of calisthenics, Indian clubs, medicine balls, therapeutic gymnastics, body-weight exercises and games designed to create natural strength and grace with athletic performance;

A gymuseum

a unique "living museum" of antique exercise equipment and an inspirational gallery of 19th century prints portraying combat sport athletes in training;

An international center for education on the rich and sophisticated martial traditions of Western Civilization

Home to an innovative and eclectic series of workshops, lectures and unique social events.

What to Expect at Forteza

There was a time when gymnasiums and fitness clubs were not just someplace you stopped in for an hour on your way home from work: they were a part of your social, cultural and intellectual life. This sense of community is part of the Forteza difference. Even though students of swordplay, modern self-defense or private training clients might never interact in class, they are all part of the larger Forteza family, with the same opportunities to participate in special training and social events we host throughout the year.

Class Structure

Combining classes, small group lessons and private lessons, our formal classes are designed to scale to your fitness and experience level, so you will always have a challenge no matter where you are in your development. We also use a variety of different class formats, to give students the best chance to push themselves and their training to new heights:

Boot Camps are short, focused training regimens meant to increase physical fitness and peak performance

Foundations Classes are beginner to intermediate level martial arts classes, and are the core training for that program.

If you like what you see in the Taster Class, this is where you go next! Foundations Classes are also the perfect way for long-time students to keep their basics crisp.

Focus Classes are martial arts classes aimed at a specific weapon or topic and build off of the skills learned in Foundations.

Not everyone has the schedule flexibility for set class times, or they find that they learn better in a more intimate setting.

Our small group classes are for 2 - 4 students, all of whom are there to work on the same, specific skill set or exercises. Push yourself, push each other, and get the benefits of personalized attention and group interaction!

Private lessons are just that: private.

We've all had the frustration of signing up for a private lesson in personal training, martial arts, music or dance, only to find that there is a second person training, or the instructor is running several "private" lessons at once. When you sign up for a private lesson at Forteza, you are the client, and you will always be working one-on-one with your instructor to get the specific results you seek.

Other Info

What to Bring

Although some of our martial arts classes will eventually require a uniform and training weapons of your own, all you need to get started in any program we offer are comfortable workout clothes, a water bottle, towel, a training notebook and lots of enthusiasm - we'll supply the rest!

Who can Participate?

Our objectives - Strength, Speed, Wisdom, Courage - are a life-path, not a pre-requisite! If your goal is to better yourself, and our programs and approach appeal to you, then there is a home waiting for you at Forteza. We have men and women of all fitness levels, from reforming couch potatoes to well-conditioned athletes. If you have any specific physical limitations or injuries you are working with, be sure to let our staff know so we can appropriately adapt the program to your needs.

The Gymuseum!

A Physical Interaction with HIstory

Circa 1900, schools of "physical culture" offered a wide range of tools and machines to develop strength, endurance, agility and flexibility. Sadly, many of these devices have been lost over the generations, but some have survived in working order. The Forteza gymuseum includes both a unique "living museum" of antique exercise equipment and an inspirational gallery of 19th century prints portraying combat sport athletes in training.

A Living Museum

"Look, but don't touch" does not apply at Forteza! We actively encourage you to use the gymuseum apparatus as it was originally meant to be used, as part of a vigorous, holistic exercise program. Our rowing machines, weights, gymnastics bar and wall-mounted weightlifting machine were crafted over 100 years ago, by artisans working with industrial age materials - cast iron, oak and spring steel. They're as strong as they ever were, and they can help you to become as strong as you can ever be. Thus, a circuit training session in the gymuseum isn't just a good workout; it's a physical interaction with history.

Can we visit just to see the gymuseum?

Of course! Guided educational tours for schools and other interest groups can be arranged. Please contact us for details

Our Staff - The Faces of Forteza

Gregory Mele

Martial Arts Director

Keith Jennings

Fitness Director and Combatives Instructor

Tony Wolf

Bartitsu Consultant & Gymuseum Curator

John O'Meara

Instructor: Renaissance Swordsmanship

Jesse Kulla

Instructor: Armizare

Treyson Ptak

Instructor: Victorian Martial Arts, Assistant Instructor: Renaissance Swordplay

Nicole Allen

Marketing & Merchandising

Armizare

MEDIEVAL SWORDSMANSHIP

Martial Arts are literally, the "Arts of Mars" literally means the arts of Mars

the Roman god of war, so it should be no surprise that Europe boasts a complex martial culture that extends back into antiquity and continues to this day.

Armizare (are-mee-TZAR-ay) is the medieval Italian name for the martial arts of the warrior class of Europe - the knight.

Like his Asian counterpart, the samurai, the knight was the developer and inheritor of a sophisticated martial arts system that encompasses more than just fencing with the medieval sword; it is a comprehensive combat system useful in a variety of contexts: armed with sword, lance, axe or dagger, unarmed and in or out of plate armour. The system also covers the use of improvised weapons, such as heavy clubs, a small baton and flexible weapons.

Forteza is the home studio of the Chicago Swordplay Guild, an internationally renowned organization

that offers two distinct tracks of historical fighting arts from Medieval and Renaissance Italy (1350 - 1650). Ranking is based on a traditional system of licensing used by fighting guilds found throughout late medieval Europe.

You Will Learn

Through the study of Armizare, you will learn:

A 600 year old fighting art, tested on the battlefield by generations of medieval warriors

A solid foundation in natural, elegant movement and universal body mechanics

How to wield a wide variety of swords, daggers and polearms, in and out of armour

Combative integration - learn how to move from weapon range to grappling range, and how to fight with and against diverse weapons in dissimilar combat scenarios

The evolution of the many tools in the knightly arsenal

The history of our tradition and the stories of its most famous (and infamous) students

The ethical system of chivalry, in theory vs. practice, and its evolution over time.

How do I begin?

Mastery is difficult, but beginning is easy! Just enroll in our Taste of the Knightly Arts introductory class and let your journey begin.

Antagonistics

VICTORIAN MARTIAL ARTS

In the late 1800's, soldiers of all social classes were trained in the use of saber, rifle, handgun, bayonet and boxing.

In many quarters it was also considered every citizen's duty to be morally upright and physically fit, which inspired the proliferation of fencing schools, boxing clubs and gymnasiums. This combination of fencing, boxing, wrestling and shooting was often referred to collectively as antagonistics, and was typically combined with physical culture (calisthenics, gymnastics, weight-training and swimming).

Although we imagine this time as a refined

elegant period of gentlemen with tailcoats and top hats, and ladies with crinoline dresses and lacy parasols, the streets of Victorian London, New York, Chicago and New Orleans were often far darker, rougher and more dangerous than they are now. Born from those rough streets, E.W. Barton-Wright's "New Art of Self Defence", or Bartitsu is a combination of fisticuffs (scientific boxing), low kicking, wrestling, jujitsu and self defense with a cane, umbrella or walking stick. Until it closed suddenly in 1902, Barton-Wright's School of Arms and Physical Culture quickly became a place to see and be seen. Ladies and gentlemen of distinction, famous actors, soldiers and athletes all passed through its doors, eager to learn the mysteries of Bartitsu.

In 2002, the international Bartitsu Society was formed to investigate and revive Barton-Wright's cross-training experiments into the 21st century.

The art has also recently been popularized on the screen in the Guy Ritchie/Robert Downey, Jr. Sherlock Holmes movies.

Beginning with Bartitsu as its foundation, Forteza's Antagonistics program is a unique entre for modern men and women into Victorian era martial arts and fitness programs

Bartitsu: an eclectic combination of Jujitsu, English Scientific Boxing, wrestling, kicking and self-defense with the cane or umbrella; Sabre Fencing; Stick Fighting; Bowie Knife combat (a most distinctly American weapon); Physical Culture; a truly "old school" workout regimen of calisthenics, Indian clubs, and more!

HOW DO I BEGIN?

Entering the is as easy as signing up for our new four week Bartitsu course! Thereafter, we invite you to attend our topic-specific weekend Antagonistics workshops, our join the Bartitsu Club of Chicago which meets monthly at Forteza to train and explore the fascintating world of Victorian martial arts and physical culture.

FightingFit!

WARRIOR BOOTCAMP CONDITIONING. Get fit, build confidence, and feel like a warrior with Chicago's most unique boot camp: FightingFit!, A unique program of seven separate, but inter-related modules that will let you toughen-up and push yourself in new ways:

Morning Challenge (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 AM)

Developed under the demanding standards of Spartan SGX bootcamps and run by a Spartan SGX-certified trainer, our morning FightingFit! course uses a unique system of periodization that will allow you to consistent results without really thinking about "working out" as you combine obstacle training, "old school" body-weight and calisthenics training and martial arts moves! if you've been wanting to get off your couches and become more comfortable in your own skin, then your journey starts here!

Core Conditioning (Mondays, 6:30 PM)

Forteza and Spartan SGX trainer Jesse Kulla has a special core strength and conditioning bootcamp that is the surest way to flatten your stomach, and work your way towards a six pack, while building power and endurance.

Muay Thai Striking (Tuesdays, 7:30 PM)

Popularized by Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai is known as "the art of 8 limbs" , because striking in this form of hand to hand combat includes the fists, elbows, knees, and shins. Besides being a dynamic, intense fighting form, the "all in" nature of Muay Thai training also provides an exhilarating, butt-kicking, full-body workout that will leave you sweating and begging for more. Burn calories, build muscle and speed while taking out some aggression on our ever-growing collection of hanging and standing bags!

Kettlebell Club (Wednesdays, 6:30 PM)

Taught by certified Kettlebell instructor Keith Jennings, this class will be a mix of Hard-Style Kettlebell strength training, as well as the conditioning of kettlebell sport. Whether you're new to kettlebell training, or you're experienced and want to work your way towards the five minute snatch challenge, this is the class for you!

Forteza Boxing (Fridays, 6:30 PM)

A perfect complement to our Core Conditioning and Muay Thai striking classes! Burn calories and bust stress, while learning the fundamentals of western boxing and kickboxing in this one-hour workout that will give you real fighting skills while getting you into shape. All skill levels are welcome, and no prior experience is necessary.

SwordFit! (Returning Spring 2014)

Swordfighting is one of the most effective forms of cross-training available. It combines aerobic and anaerobic exercise with a diverse workout that builds core strength, cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, balance, and timing; all through practicing a fun and engaging martial art. SwordFit! is a solo training program that combines a great way to build confidence, bust stress, and get in touch with your inner warrior with one of the most exciting tools available: the medieval longsword. Combined with the use of staff weapons, body-weight exercises and "old school" fitness techniques that literally extend back thousands of years, you can now use the tools of the warrior to build endurance, agility, raw power, reaction time, and fluid motion.

SpartanFit! (Sundays, 10 AM)

Push yourself to be your best in our Sunday morning bootcamps! Specifically designed with the needs and objectives of Spartan and other adventure racers in mind, this is our "bring your best and leave behind the rest" workout! You may be fit, but are you Spartan fit?

Class Structure

Exercises allow for a personal and internal focus on body mechanics, speed, and strength. Exercises are designed to give you a balanced workout of cardiovascular, muscular, and technical training. All equipment is provided. You need only bring your workout gear, supportive footwear, a water bottle, and a sense of determination! A pair of snug-fitting gloves is recommended but not required.

Is FightingFit! for me?

Our FightingFit! boot camp is excellent for those who are looking for a a unique series of workout regimens, combining exercises of swordplay, unarmed combat, "old school" calisthenics and the best of modern athletic conditioning to give you a warrior's physique; a form of fitness that is exciting and not monotonous. A fantastic start to your day and a great way to pump up before heading to work perfect cross-training for obstacle racing, personal training or any of our martia arts courses

How do I begin?

Beginning is easy! Enroll in our FightingFit! or All-Inclusive programs and turn up to as many of these classes as you like; be ready to work!

Personal Fitness

BUILDING THE PERSON INSIDE. Fitness isn't a way of life. It is the way you stay alive. Fitness is also about far more than just how much you can lift or how far you can run. No matter your age, profession or hobbies, the goal is the same: maintain strength and flexibility, reduce stress and stay healthy. A true fitness program is one that takes each person's unique physiology, diet, lifestyle, needs and goals into account holistically to guide them toward their maximum potential. Whether you are brand new to fitness, a seasoned athlete looking to enhance your performance, or looking for help to shed a few pounds, our commitment is to make all of our fitness programs address your unique needs. Many trainers and dietitians become pleased with their "method," and focus on having their clients work the method, rather than the method work for the clients. At Forteza we work with you to design a personalized, holistic program that will ensure great success for you. We only succeed if you succeed!

Physical Culture: The Forteza Advantage

Every gym and fitness studio in the western world owes its origins to the physical culture movement of the 19th century, which placed an emphasis on coordinated training in functional strength, agility and endurance, using Indian clubs, gymnastics rings, medicine balls, ropes and rowing machines to focus on natural movement and performance in athletics. At Forteza we take this concept of physical culture literally. You won't simply come in and swing a kettle bell for 30 minutes or do a little cardio. No fad diets, no bizarre workout regiments. Instead, through a combination of old school calisthenics, modern personal training methods, nutritional counseling and fitness education we provide you with the tools to live a natural, healthy life.

Private Sessions

Working one-on-one with one of our expert Personal Trainers, you will learn real functional strength training using classical calisthenics and equipment kettle bells, body weight exercises, medicine balls, rope climbing, Indian Clubs, etc with modern understanding of circuit training, peak performance, bio-rhythms and muscular recovery. Beginning with an initial fitness assessment, we will provide you with a personalized fitness prescription plan that is tailored to fit you and your goals, no matter what your current fitness level may be.

Small Group/Buddy Training

Some people just don't enjoy working out alone. No problem! Bring a friend or two and come work out together, getting all the benefits of one-on-one personal training at discounted rates.

Group Classes & Boot Camps

Love the results of one-on-one personal training, but haven't worked it into your budget? Come take one of our small group training classes or our FightingFit! bootcamp! Although each fitness class takes a different approach, all are designed to create a perfect mix of cardiovascular and resistance training to burn body fat and help to build lean muscle. Our trainers are always coming up with innovative, challenging, and fun circuits. No two classes are the same! Check our schedule page for upcoming sessions and details.

How do I begin?

Enroll now in one of our boot camps, or register online for an initial evaluation, and let your journey begin. We are excited by the opportunity to have you become a part of the Forteza family.

Combatives & Self-Defense

PRACTICAL SELF-PROTECTION. The Forteza Combatives Method is an eclectic blend of proven fighting arts designed to meet the needs of today's martial arts enthusiasts. We offer a well rounded approach to take your fighting skills to new heights, by combining boxing, kicking, clinch fighting, ground fighting, edged weapons survival, fitness training, and more! The Forteza System is taught in a series of four integrated modules:

Empty Hand Combatives

practical unarmed combatives training gives you gross motor skills that you can use to brutal efficiency in the chaos of an actual violent encounter. This includes open and closed fist strikes, joint locks and breaks, throws, and trapping skills

Edged Weapons Survival

he defensive and offensive use of the knife. Our edged weapons program is based on the world renowned Martial Blade Concepts system developed by well-known self-defense personal protection instructor Michael Janich, over more than 30 years of training, research, and analysis of the world's most effective fighting arts.

Closed Fist Combatives

a blend of old school Western bare knuckle boxing, combined with the devastating knees and elbows of Muay Thai and the kicks of old-school Korean martial arts.

Ground Survival

the Forteza Combatives Method's ground fighting techniques are a mix of military ground fighting combatives, jujitsu, and American Catch Wrestling. Our Catch Wrestling curriculum comes from Dr. Les Moore, in the lineage of Billy "Pops" Wicks. Ground survival training teaches throws, holds, submissions, and escapes to give you the skills needed when a fight goes to the ground. This is decidedly not grappling for sports competition, but rather for reality of the street.

Combat Conditioning

get into fighting shape with a blend of pad work, kettlebells, body weight exercises, and fighter conditioning. We will get you in fighting shape.....guaranteed. Besides being a robust, complete fighting system, the Forteza Combatives System is designed to be practical, efficient and tactical. You'll train your bodies hard, but you'll also hone your minds, learning how to boil empty-hand and weapon tactics down to the critical skills that you really need to survive a violent encounter, while putting a heavy emphasis on skills of tactical awareness, avoidance, and de-escalation. Forteza's Modern Self-Defense program is led by Keith Jennings, a direct student of both Dr. Les Moore and one of the Martial Blade Concepts first instructors to be fully licensed by founder Mike Janich.

How Do I Begin?

Beginning is as easy as enrolling in our on-going Combatives program today!

Renaissance Swordplay

THE ART OF THE DUEL

Learn the truth behind the swashbuckling swordplay of the Renaissance!

By the later 16th century the two-handed longsword had been replaced by the elegant and deadly rapier as the principal weapon of the trained swordsman. Only once this weapon had been mastered was the use of companion arms taught, occasionally followed by the older polearms and two-handed sword.

Although the rapier has come to symbolize the era

the older, military sword continued to be used throughout the same period in an elegant, cut-and-thrust style learned by soldiers and civilian fencers alike. Your training begins with the rapier and then adds the use of the older, cutting sword. Together, these two weapons form the foundation of an extensive curriculum derived from the teachings of the 16th and 17th century masters of defense that pairs the sword with the shield, dagger and cloak, and also includes knife-fighting and unarmed knife defense

Forteza is the home studio of the Chicago Swordplay Guild

an internationally renowned organization that offers two distinct tracks of historical fighting arts from Medieval and Renaissance Italy (1350 1650). Ranking is based on a traditional system of licensing used by fighting guilds found throughout late medieval Europe.

Is the Renaissance Swordplay Program right for me?

Through the study of Renaissance Swordsmanship, you will learn:

A more than 400 year-old fighting art that revolutionized swordsmanship and gave rise to modern fencing

How to wield the elegant, agile and deadly rapier and the powerful cutting sword, both alone and when combined with daggers, shields or cloaks

A solid foundation in natural, elegant movement and universal body mechanics

Combative integration - learn how to move from weapon range to grappling range, and how to fight with against diverse weapons in dissimilar combat scenarios

The evolution of both the sword and dagger during the Renaissance

The history of the duel

The history of our tradition and the stories of its most famous (and infamous) students

The ethical system of chivalry, in theory vs. practice, and its evolution over time

How do I begin?

Mastery is difficult, but beginning is easy! Just enroll in our Taste of the Renaissance introductory class and let your journey begin.

Forteza Cavaliers - Youth Swordplay and Martial Arts

Our youth swordplay program is specifically tailored to meet the needs of children ages 8 - 15 in a unique athletic program designed to engage your child's mind and body, instill self-confidence, and promote teamwork. More than just another martial arts class, our youth program is designed to develop life skills and ethical, self-confident young men and women, based on the traditional, seven chivalric virtues of the medieval knight. Classes interweave physical training with teamwork exercises, lessons on medieval and Renaissance military history arms and armour, heraldry, and short reading assignments to hone their minds and surely as their bodies.

Prowess

Humility

Courage

Courtesy

Largesse (Generosity)

Justice

Temperance (Balance and Self-Control)

Students will come away from these classes with

This exciting new program meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:00 - 6:00 PM; Register now for an introductory rate of $75 for the first month (normal tuition price $125/mo)

An improved sense of poise and confidence, as well as a high degree of athleticism

Improved self-discipline as a result of our supportive environment where respect and accomplishment are encouraged.

Inspiration to learn about history

An understanding of the responsibility of studying martial arts, and the ethics of their use

Experience working with longswords, rapiers, polearms, as well as medieval and renaissance wrestling techniques

Practical martial arts skill that will allow them to seamlessly continue in our adult program, if they wish to continue on

Stage & Screen

STUNT FIGHTING.

For over a century there has been a close interplay between martial artists and the theater.

Forteza is pleased to continue this tradition by providing actors, stunt-people and action-film enthusiasts in Chicago with an engaging and supportive environment to build and develop their skills through our partnership with two of Chicagoland's premier stage combat programs.

Want to apply your martial arts to the theatre?

R & D Choreography seeks to improve the power and effectiveness of Chicago theatre at its most visceral level through the art of violence design. We educate audiences, train actors, and bring organic, true, and responsible violence designs to theatres so that the power of the stories that are presented on Chicago stages can be heightened to their full potential.

Looking to learn how to do a dive roll over a car, walk on a wire, or do motion capture for special effects?

We can help! Asylum Stunts is a company of stunt professionals based in Chicago. Originally developed so that smaller shops and productions could have access to professional-quality stunt performers and training, Aslyum has since expanded to music videos, motion capture, and almost any venture where stunt performers or effects can be used.

How do I begin?

The Asylum Stunts Training Center meets at Forteza on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 8 10 PM, and Saturdays from 5 to 7 PM. Just drop by and jump in!

Introductory Classes

Get Started Today. Joining Forteza is as simple as signing-up for one or more of our introductory courses. No previous experience is expected and no equipment is required besides comfortable training clothes, athletic shoes, a water-bottle and enthusiasm. Choose the class(es) that appeal to you, check the schedule to see when they begin and come on down!

Martial Arts Courses

Entry into each of our martial arts courses is through either a six-week, introductory class or periodic seminars.

Taste of the Renaissance

$125.00

In this introduction to our Renaissance Swordsmanship program, you will learn the fundamentals of wielding the rapier, the deadly dueling sword of the courtier and swashbuckler. Grants access to our on-going Renaissance Swordsmanship program. Schedule: Tuesday & Thursday from 6:00 - 7:30 (for 6 weeks) and Saturday from 9:30 - 11:00 AM (12 weeks).

Taste of the Knightly Arts

$125.00

Our introduction to Armizare, the martial art of the medieval knight, will teach you to wield the powerful, yet surprisingly elegant, two-handed longsword. Grants access to our on-going Armizare program. Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:00 - 7:30 (for 6 weeks), Saturday from 9:30 - 11:00 AM (12 weeks).

Bartitsu

$125.00

A unique blend of bare-knuckle boxing, jiujutsu, savate and cane-fighting, Bartitsu will give you a well-rounded set of skills. Grants acess to our on-going Victorian Martial Arts program, which combines Bartitsu with a wide variety of Victorian-era fighting arts such as saber and bayonet fencing, Bowie knife fighting. Schedule: Thursday from 7 - 9 PM (6 weeks).

Fortetza Combatives Method

Open enrollment into on-going classes. Schedule: On-going class Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:30pm, Wednesday from 6:30 - 7:30pm. Cost: By tuition package or punch-card.

Personal Training

Register online for a free one-on-one or couple's initial evaluation, and let your journey begin. Schedule: By appointment. Cost: Varies by package.

FightingFit! Bootcamps

Use non-contact and partnered exercises to develop body mechanics, speed, and strength, for the perfect balance of cardiovascular, muscular, and technical training. Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 6:30 PM, Tuesdays and Thursdays - 6:00 AM and 7:30 PM, Sunday 10:00 am (on-going).

(per month) $150.00