The Scholum is a multi-tiered syllabus and leveled ranking system in which a standardized framework of material, testing, and advancement is provided to help develop students through their progression of the combat arts.  Students begin at the Novicius level.  After their first test and authorization as fighters they are inducted into the melee units of Ponte Alto and Stierbach and the Grand Army of the Potomac and advance to the Legionnaire level of training.  After students have completed the coursework at the Legionnaire level to the satisfaction of the Scholum trainers, they are tested and if successful advance to the Centurion level of training and are inducted into the Command Staff of the melee units of Ponte Alto and Stierbach as Buddy or Triad Commanders.  After students have completed the coursework at the Centurion level to the satisfaction of the Scholum trainers, they are tested and may advance to the Principes level of training and are advanced in the Command Staff to the Triad or Lance Commander level.  After students have completed the coursework at the Principes level and passing the examination, students are invited to join the Training staff of the Scholum as Lanista and may choose to seek command positions in the Grand Army of the Potomac.

The Legionnaire level of training is the introduction to the basic tactics and strategies of combat (the basic "where-to-do, when-to-do-, and how-to-do" of fighting).  It is meant both to construct appropriate approaches to combat from the ground-up as well as to assist those who have been fighting in deconstructing their concepts so that they might better understand what they are doing and perhaps learn more effective tactics and methods toward their art.

As in Scholum Noviciate level mechanics, Scholum Legionnaire level tactics are also based on an integrated framework of fighting in which maneuver, offense, and defense are integrated with assessment, timing, and focus to create a holistic system that allows the integration of a vast array of techniques across the entire range of contexts.

At their most basic conceptual level, the Legionnaire level tactical concepts can be viewed as Seven Deadly Virtues: Assessment (Analysis), Intent (Aggression/Will), Footwork (Balance/Stance), Position (Range/Zone/Angle), Timing (Tempo), Technique (Power), Accuracy (Edge).  Each of the Deadly Virtues evolve from each other and integrate with each other into the actual offensive, defensive, and maneuver tactics and techniques deployed.  They are Deadly Virtues, both because when applied correctly, they will result in the death of your opponents (thus, their deadly virtue), but also because when applied inappropriately and sinfully, they will most likely result in your own death.  The table below outlines the benefits of their virtuous applications, and the impact of their sinful application.

Fighting is continous decision-making on the margin (at each passing moment), and proper biomechanical fighting technique develops by applying the Noviciate Seven Deadly Virtues in the moment-by-moment decision-making context of the Noviciate Twelve Choices in which fighters must choose what they are doing amongst the Three Ranges (Inner-Baseline, Dead-Zone, Outer Baseline) along the linear axis facing their opponent, amongst the Three Zones along the longitudinal axis facing their opponent (Onside, Offside, Angle-Change/Wrap), amongst the Three Angles (Jam, Zero-Pressure, Fade/Follow) along the diagonal axis facing their opponent, and amongst the Three Actions (Offense, Defense, Maneuver) that they can take in regards to dealing with their opponent).  The moment-by-moment application of the Noviciate Virtues in the Noviciate Choices let to Twenty Basic Techniques that could be utilized for offense, defense, or maneuver.

Similarly, properly applying the Legionnaire Seven Deadly Virtues through a selection of the Legionnaire Twelve Choices (Three Stances, Three Positions, Three Tempos, Three Actions) -- which astute observers will note are developed from and expanded out of the Noviciate level twelve Choices -- will allow Legionnaires to effectively learn the key tactical and strategic concepts for a set of Twenty Basic Situations -- Ten Basic Onside Tourney Situations and Ten Basic Melee Situations.  Legionnaires will thus become completely familiar with the "Where to do" and the "When to do" of proper fighting strategy and tactics as described below:

The classes of the Legionnaire level of training (Scholum 201) are taught in a four-part framework.  First, Legionnaires are split into different Exercise, Drill, and Stretch stations to evelop strength, balance, and agility in the Drill Section of the class (201D).  Second, already-covered material from the week before is Refreshed (201R) in two parts -- first, appropriate material is Refreshed as a group, covering the material together (201R-Group) and then individuals are paired-off into their Buddy teams to Refresh material covered in one-on-one drills (201R-Buddies).  Third, New Material (201N) is regularly introduced in a set schedule and an integrated framework to develop the basic skillset necessary for the Legionnaires to know a comprehensive basic set of fighting skills to the group as a whole.  Finally, school instructors will begin to work one-on-one with Legionnaires in Tutoring/Coaching sessions (201T) to ensure the Refresh and New Material are being properly applied and that Legionnaires are developing an understanding of the tactics, concepts, and techniques and muscle memory sufficient both for their own goals as well as for the goals of the Scholum.  Tutoring/Coaching during the 201T sessions will focus on the syllabus material (refresh of the material already taught and the new material covered at each class).  Students will be asked to focus on the material covered.

Sundays Practice Schedule (202D, 202R, 201N, 201T)

12:00 (show-up) to 1:00pm   Setup, Armor-up, and Discussion

            Do service by helping setup, to ask questions of senior fighters and the training staff, and to prepare for class.  It is *not* the time to seek individual training.

1:00pm to 2:00pm Legionnaire 201D (Group) – Exercise, Drill, and Stetch

            Exercise, Drill and Stretch Stations to develop strength, balance, and agility

2:00pm to 3:00pm Legionnaire 201R-G/B (Group/Buddies) – Material Refresh

            Open-Order Assembly of Class to Refresh material from prior class.  Buddy Drills and one-on-one practice between paired-off trainees

3:00pm to 4:00pm Legionnaire 201N (Group) – New Material

            The new material of the class will be introduced and practiced.  This will include melee drills, as appropriate and might extend into the Tutoring session as a result.

4:00pm to 5:00pm Legionnaire 201T (Tutoring) – Material Coaching

            School instructors will work one-on-one with Legionnaires to ensure the refresh and new material are being properly applied and that trainees are developing sufficient understanding of the tactics, concepts, and techniques for their goals.  Tutoring/Coaching will focus on the syllabus material (refresh of the material already taught and the new material covered at each class).  Students will be asked to focus on the material covered.

Thursdays Practice Schedule (201R-G/B, 201T)

6:00pm to 7:00pm   Setup, Armor-up, and Discussion

            This is the opportunity to do service by helping setup, to ask questions of senior fighters and the training staff, and to prepare for class.  It is *not* the time to seek individual training.

7:00pm to 7:20pm Legionnaire 201R (Group) – Material Refresh

            Open Formation group review of the new material taught on Sunday

7:20pm to 7:40pm Legionnaire 201R (Buddies) – Material Refresh

            Buddy Drills and one-on-one practice between paired-off trainees to drill and practice the material

7:45pm to 8:15pm Legionnaire 201T (Tutoring) – Material Coaching

            School instructors will work one-on-one with Legionnaires to ensure the refresh and new material are being properly applied and that trainees are developing sufficient understanding of the tactics, concepts, and techniques for their goals.  Tutoring/Coaching will focus on the syllabus material (refresh of the material already taught and the new material covered at each class).  Students will be asked to focus on the material covered.

8:15pm to 9:00pm Those who have armor should make sure they get some fighting done.  Those who don’t should analyze the fighting and discuss what they see.

We hope to recommence the the local Ponte Alto/Stierbach Mini-Tourney of Honorable Elevation and all Legionnaires will be encouraged to participate in the Mini-Tourney as an attempt to fight in a controlled list environment.  All those who have taken the Marshall's Class will be encouraged to Marshall at the Mini-Tourney to pursue their Warrants.

Though we are on a path of eternal progress in a martial art, every path has milestones and goals.  Thus, Legionnaries are expected to be working towards a set of stated goals that will demonstrate a thorough understanding of and a sufficient ability with the basic techniques of fighting to pass an examination given by the teachers of the Scholum so that they may move on to the Legionnaire level (201) of Scholum classes, and to be working towards the next level on their progress through the Scholum and in their art.

The basic goals for the Legionnaire-level 201 class, which trainees will be expected to learn and which will form the basis of the examination to enable movement to the Legionnaire (201) class include:

• Be able to Focus (Breathing, Assess and Analyze the fight, Concentrate/Center/Control)
• Demonstrate comfort, balance and control across a range of stances (fighter stance, zero-stance, high-stance, low-stance, funny-foot, right-foot-lead)
• Be able to close and change range with agility and control
• Be able to to change zones and angles through footwork, maneuver, and balance
• Demonstrate In-Fighting at the Inner Baseline for Tourney and Melee
• Demonstrate Gun-Slinging at the Outer Baseline for Tourney and Melee
• Demonstrate appropriate power generation and proper biomechanical techniques
• Demonstrate appropriate use of weapon edges and blow accuracy
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic tactics of fighting from their knees and to the knees
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic tactices of fighting lefties
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic tactices of fighting greatweapons
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic tactices of fighting single sword
• Be able to control the tempo of a fight by leading an opponent to their loss with combinations and fakes
• Be able to control the tempo of a fight by timing and reacting to an opponent with counters and feints
• Understand and demonstrate melee flanking
• Understand and demonstrate melee breakthroughs
• Understand and demonstrate how to fight against multiple opponents
• Understand and demonstrate how to fight upskilled or downskilled opponents
• Demonstrate aggressive expression of purpose and the will to carry it out on the field

Legionnaire 201 Class One: Exercise, Drill, and Stretch (Increasing Strength, Agility, and Balance) 

Legionnaire 201 Class Two: Focus/Intent (Breathing, Assessment/Analysis, Concentration/Centering, Anticipation, Intervention, Control)

Legionnaire 201 Class Three: Legionnaire Deadly Virtues (Assessment, Intent, Footwork, Position, Timing, Technique, Accuracy)

Legionnaire 201 Class Four: Footwork (High/Low, Right/Left, Sword-Guard) 

Legionnaire 201 Class Five: Position (Closing, Maneuvering and Withdrawing across the Inner and Outer Baselines) 

Legionnaire 201 Class Six: Leading (Combinations, Fakes, Jams, Zero-Pressures 

Legionnaire 201 Class Seven: Timing (Counters, Feints, Fades, Follows)

Legionnaire 201 Class Eight: Technique (Fighting from/to the knees)

Legionnaire 201 Class Nine: Technique (Fighting lefties)

Legionnaire 201 Class Ten: Technique (Fighting greatweapons)

Legionnaire 201 Class Eleven: Technique (Fighting single sword)

Legionnaire 201 Class Twelve: Technique (Fighting upskill/downskill/weight classes)

Legionnaire 201 Class Thirteen: Technique (Melee flanking/multiple opponents -- local numerical superiority)

Legionnaire 201 Class Fourteen: Technique (Melee breakthroughs -- local weapons mix superiority)

Legionnaire 201T, 202, 203: Beginner Basics (201), Continuing Refresh (202), Advanced Practicum (203)