Interview with Longtime HEMAist Jess Finley: Adventures in Translating, Teaching, and Fencing, Part I

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Like with many historical fencers, Jessica Finley had an interest in swords at an early age, ultimately finding the Renaissance Faire to explore her interests. It was not until she acquired internet that she found what was then called Western Martial Arts and her current teacher, Christian Tobler. Since then, she has diligently studied, translated, … Continue reading Interview with Longtime HEMAist Jess Finley: Adventures in Translating, Teaching, and Fencing, Part I

Interview with Histroical and Light-Based Fencer Russ Mitchell: The Melding of Historical and Lightspeed Saber

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Russ Mitchell first began historical fencing while in Hungary conducting graduate research. After traveling around for historical fencing, he came upon Lightspeed Saber during a tournament and began it on a whim. Then he was hooked. He founded Starbird Saber Academy and Winged Sabre at Warlord Combat Academy. Today, Russ discusses how historical fencing and … Continue reading Interview with Histroical and Light-Based Fencer Russ Mitchell: The Melding of Historical and Lightspeed Saber

Interview Rockville Squadron Founder Chris Stadther: Finding Fencing During the Pandemic

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After spending fifteen years of Olympic Fencing, Chris Stadther was looking for another form of fencing that complemented his previous training. He found Lightspeed Saber League but continued to look for a group to train with. When he did during the recent Covid-19 pandemic, he quickly took to it. Within a year, Stadther founded his … Continue reading Interview Rockville Squadron Founder Chris Stadther: Finding Fencing During the Pandemic

Ukemi: Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight; Life Begins Now

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I recently completed the necessary education and received the proper certification for entering into a new career field. As I am applying for jobs, I have already received a handful of responses that contain the unfortunate words of, “We have decided to offer the position to another candidate,” that so many jobseekers’ dread. In this … Continue reading Ukemi: Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight; Life Begins Now

Interview with Order of Selohaar Cofounder Christian Tobler: Bringing the Medieval Era to the Present, Part II

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Christian Tolber was introduced to swordplay in the late 1970s. It was not until the 1990s that he discovered historical fencing manuscripts, taking to the study. Since 2001, Tobler has been publishing, translating, and interpreting various historical sources, becoming one of the first to publish academic works and a prolific practitioner within the historical fencing … Continue reading Interview with Order of Selohaar Cofounder Christian Tobler: Bringing the Medieval Era to the Present, Part II

Interview with Order of Selohaar Cofounder Christian Tobler: Bringing the Medieval Era to the Present, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Christian Tolber was introduced to swordplay in the late 1970s. It was not until the 1990s that he discovered historical fencing manuscripts, taking to the study. Since 2001, Tobler has been publishing, translating, and interpreting various historical sources, becoming one of the first to publish academic works and a prolific practitioner within the historical fencing … Continue reading Interview with Order of Selohaar Cofounder Christian Tobler: Bringing the Medieval Era to the Present, Part I

Interview with Star Temple Lead Instructor Dakota Eggert: Culture in a Fast Fencing League

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Lightspeed Saber appealed to Dakota Eggert differently than other sports like boxing and karate. He cites that the culture of Lightspeed Saber keeps him coming back to continue training and teaching. In 2019, Eggert founded his Star Temple school and has seen the Lightspeed Saber League grow since he joined. Today, Eggert discusses the culture … Continue reading Interview with Star Temple Lead Instructor Dakota Eggert: Culture in a Fast Fencing League