Gallowglass Academy, Inc.
Training, Tradition, Defence.....     Short classes and seminars
About Us.... and Some of Our Classes

Training, Tradition, Defence

Gallowglass Academy, Inc.
P. O. Box 201
Leaf River IL 61047
815-973-1615
[email protected]

Gallowglass Academy, Inc., provides an eclectic variety of short classes and seminars to the Student of Defence.  
     Law Enforcement Officers and their Agencies will find a range of Police Combatives and Firearms Training Seminars.  
    Civilians also may choose among Martial Arts and Firearms-related classes.  
    The Scholar of Western Martial Arts will find classes on Rapier, Sidesword, and a variety of 19th-century styles, as well as workshops with guest instructors expert in other historical combat styles.

Gallowglass Academy, Inc., is happy to work with Writers, Actors, Book Groups, and Convention Planners to tailor special seminars and demos to your needs.

 C. Allen Reed 

Bringing over 30 years experience in law enforcement, Oriental and European martial arts, C. Allen Reed was a firearms, baton, police combatives and TASER instructor in a U.S. Marshals Service for close to twenty-five years. Allen also served as a uniformed officer in a campus police department for six years.


Allen is a member and on the Board of Directors of the American Women's Self Defense Association (AWSDA) and a certified AWSDA's Women's Self Defense Instructor.
Allen holds the rank of Kaiden (7th dan equivalent) in Paracombatives Jujutsu which he taught at the Northwestern University Jujutsu Club for close to twenty years.
Allen studies and teaches the martial arts of Medieval and Renaissance Europe as well as 19th century American and English martial arts. Allen is Headmaster of Gallowglass Academy, Inc. Gallowglass Academy offers classes in Western Martial arts as well as modern self defense. Allen has taught multiple classes on Historical Combat in the Society for Creative Anachronism. He was also been an instructor for the International Bartitsu School of Arms in 2011 and 2012. Most recently Allen was invited to teach at the Fight Camp Historical European Martial Arts conference in England in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

  Complete resume and references available on request.

 

   Where the heck is Gallowglass Academy?

Big Picture: Relative to the well-known landmark of Chicago, it's about 100 miles northwest -- south and west of Rockford, north of I-88.

Electronically:  Here's the general idea of Leaf River, courtesy of Mapquest.com  

"You can get here, but you have to work at it"

  • There is no passenger rail service to Ogle County.
  • There is no public bus service to, or in, Ogle County.
  • A taxi company is listed in Mount Morris IL (5 miles away), but I have yet to check on their rates.
  • We're 20 miles off the Interstate.  There is, however, a small private airport about 7 miles away.  If that helps any.

Driving directions to the area: 

  • Take your best route to I-39 south of Rockford Illinois and north of I-88 (Rochelle); exit at Route 64, mile marker 104.
  • Head west roughly 20 miles, through the breadbasket of the nation, to Route 2, in Oregon Illinois -- our county seat. 


1)  to RIVER VALLEY COMPLEX (our favored training venue): 

  • Turn right (north) on Route 2, enjoy a pretty drive along the ramblin' Rock River...
  • Turn left (west, and the only logical choice, the other being Quite Damp) at Route 72 towards Leaf River and Forreston.
  • In "downtown" Leaf River, turn left (south) at Main Street.  There's a green sign for the Library, which is just beyond RVC at 605 Main St.

 2)  to Mount Morris Coliseum (an occasional training venue):

  • Continue on Route 64 for 5 more miles to Mount Morris (home of the Freedom Bell -- personally blessed, I believe, by St. Reagan). 
  • Two blocks west of the in-town stop light, turn left (south), then go a block and a half, and cast your eyes to the left.  That's the back of the building.  Much easier to find than to describe how to find.

 3)  to Gallowglass Manor (our house*): 

  • From Oregon IL, continue on Route 64 for 5 more miles to Mount Morris (home of the Freedom Bell -- see above for St. Reagan connection). 
  • At the in-town stop light, turn right (north) at McKendrie, which will turn into Mt. Morris Rd.  Four miles along, Gallowglass Manor will be on the left, at 6372 N. Mt. Morris Rd.
  • If you get to the Baptist Church, you've overshot by a half-mile.

*By the way, Mapquest seems to think that "Gallowglass Manor" is north of Route 72, up on the gravel road.  It's not, it's SOUTH 1 MILE, ON THE BLACKTOP! but let's just let that stay our secret, eh?  We don't need to help the terrorists win, and the cows that graze that field can practice their social skills on the occasional visitor.  

 under new management in 2004! 
 Mount Morris Motel, Ridge Rd at Rt 64 east, Mt. Morris, IL 815-734-4114 ($36 single occupancy -- $41-51 double).  Rooms are smaller than the Big Chains, of course, but freshened up! and now they've got a WWWeb presence! http://home.insightbb.com/~mtmorrismotel/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html

White Pines Forest State Park (7 mi west of Oregon IL), 815-946-3817  (lodge $79 dbl occ)  www.whitepinesinn.com

Blackhawk's Trail Lodge (on the Rock River, Rt. 2, 4.5 mi north of Byron IL), 815-234-5544 (no pets!)  www.blackhawkstraillodge.com

Lake Louise, Byron IL (815-234-8483) www.lakelouisellc.com (cabins $70; hookups available)

Paddle Wheel Inn (Rt. 2 north of Oregon IL) 800-468-4222. "Standard" rooms $99 (incl 2 queen-size beds, contintental breakfast, mini-bar, use of spa & sauna) 

Chateau Lodge, 1326 N. IL Route 2, Oregon IL   815-732-6195

Pinehill Bed & Breakfast, 400 Mix St. Oregon IL  61061-1113
     $80-145 Phone:  (815)732-2067  Fax: (815)732-1348
     The property has 5 total guest accommodations with private bath, 3 with fireplaces.   http://www.pinehillbb.com/     

 


 Self Defense Classes

Upon request, we will schedule any class for women only, or for seniors only.  Just ask – please!

Defend Yourself!
Everyone – from teenagers to senior citizens – has the right to defend themselves, their friends and their families from violence. This one-day class teaches one method of basic, unarmed self-defense that is easy to learn in a short time. This 8-hour class can be broken up into shorter sessions on request.

Dressed for Success
We must find ways to keep ourselves safe, particularly at a time when we all are concerned about urban crime and other threats to safety, and despite stringent security regulations. This one-day class focuses on the use for self-defense of everyday items that are legal to carry anywhere. This class can be broken up into shorter sessions on request.

First Aid / CPR Adult-Child-Infant
Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR, including AED.

Defensive Use of the Lockblade Knife
Many people carry a lockblade knife as an everyday tool, as well as a defensive weapon. In addition to tactics and techniques, this class will emphasize legal considerations for the defensive use of these knives.

"Some Like It Hot"  OC Spray Techniques
Pepper spray for effective, legal, and non-lethal personal defense.

"Hand Me Down My Walking Cane"
An ordinary cane, easily available at drug stores, is rarely challenged as a weapon, even at the airport.  Yet it can save your life in an assault.  We present some easily-learned strikes, deflections, and locks you can use -- even if you rely on a cane for ordinary walking. 

The DefenderTM
It's plastic, it fits in your hand (or pocket or purse), it does not look like a weapon, and it's not expensive.  But within a few hours, you can learn how to grip The DefenderTM and strike with it to control and repel even the largest attacker.  Class fee includes The DefenderTM and instructions.



 What Others Are Saying About Gallowglass...

Dan Maloy of Iowa for an insightful and complimentary review of 5/1/09 Bartitsu class -- read it at paciowa.blogspot.com/2010/04/bartitsu-at-gallowglass-academy.html

Content copyright Gallowglass Academy, Inc.  All rights reserved. 

Call Gallowglass Academy at  815-973-1615 today!

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