Interview with Crossing Fight School Instructor Stephen Dougherty: Modern Historical Fencing and its Future

Stephen Dougherty stepped into Crossing Fight School in late August 2016 almost by accident and never really looked back. Since inheriting leadership and instructorship, Dougherty began to institute more approaches to the practice. Today, Dougherty took some time to discuss these approaches, how he came to instructing, and what he wants to see in the … Continue reading Interview with Crossing Fight School Instructor Stephen Dougherty: Modern Historical Fencing and its Future

Interview with Montgomery County Historical Fencing Founder Peter Concannon: The Historical Fencing Community

Sword fighting was something Peter Concannon always wanted to do, ever since his youth. He gravitated towards Society for Creative Anachronism and stage combat, but they were not the stuff he was looking for. Later – two and a half decades later – Concannon received a Groupon for German longsword lessons and was hooked, training … Continue reading Interview with Montgomery County Historical Fencing Founder Peter Concannon: The Historical Fencing Community

Interview with Historical Fencing Mentor Peter Haas: Involvement in the HEMA Community

Peter Haas began training historical fencing in 2015 at Sword Class NYC in the middle of some life changes. Additionally, he studies Toyama-ryu, which has expanded his understanding of swordsmanship. In the year that followed 2015, Haas created Kollektiv des Messerfechtens and Squinting Rabbit Productions, and teaches at Gotham Swords, striving to be a mentor … Continue reading Interview with Historical Fencing Mentor Peter Haas: Involvement in the HEMA Community

Interview with Sala Della Spada Founder Patrick Bratton: Blending the Historical and Modern in Fencing

First starting in Tang Soo Do and enjoying the weapon forms, Patrick Bratton gravitated towards more weapons work, joining Olympic foil and Society for Creative Anachronism heavy fencing, and later HEMA in 2013. From there, Bratton established Sala Della Spada, teaching both Olympic and historical fencing, where he implements modern training methods to keep students … Continue reading Interview with Sala Della Spada Founder Patrick Bratton: Blending the Historical and Modern in Fencing

Interview with Capital Kunst des Fechtens Instructor William Buschur: Changes in Training Approaches in Historical Fencing

After seeing a more martial version of stage combat on YouTube, William Buschur was hooked on trying to find a place to do that. Unfortunately, there was nothing around him until he relocated to Northern Virginia and stumbled across Capital Kunst des Fechtens, studying under the tutelage of Jake Norwood. Once Norwood relocated for his … Continue reading Interview with Capital Kunst des Fechtens Instructor William Buschur: Changes in Training Approaches in Historical Fencing

Interview with Boston Academie d’Armes Founder Justin Aucoin: For the Love of Fencing

After seeing Disney’s The Three Musketeers, Justin Aucoin was hooked and wanted everything to do with swords. He found that outlet when he stumbled onto historical fencing after traying his hand in Olympic Fencing. From there, he explored the limited inventory of translated sources and manuals, blossoming when platforms like YouTube and Deullo.tv became available, … Continue reading Interview with Boston Academie d’Armes Founder Justin Aucoin: For the Love of Fencing

Interview with Richmond KDF Founder Michael Croke: Fencing in Virginia

Michael Croke first heard about historical fencing in the late 2000s but it was not until 2013 that he found a fencing club near him. He joined one, becoming one of the top fencers there and Jake Norwood suggested he form his own club when the former fell apart. Since then, Croke has been heading … Continue reading Interview with Richmond KDF Founder Michael Croke: Fencing in Virginia

Interview with The Saber Legion President Charley Cummings: Playing Star Wars

Charley Cummings joined The Saber Legion’s founders Josh Linden and Terry Birnbaum in the first six months of the organization’s existence. From there, it was nowhere but up, becoming the owner and president in 2021. Today, Cummings talks about how The Saber Legion approaches it curriculum, scoring, martial ethos, and its community. Martial Arts of … Continue reading Interview with The Saber Legion President Charley Cummings: Playing Star Wars

Interview with Ram’s Head Fencing Founder Josias Arcadia: Lineages and Competitions, Part II

He had to train in secret at first, but after a move to Minnesota, Josias Arcadia found a school to practice historical fencing. In an effort to learn more of the German tradition of longsword, Arcadia began his Ram’s Head Fencing and began training with James Riley in the Kunst des Fechtens tradition. Recently, he … Continue reading Interview with Ram’s Head Fencing Founder Josias Arcadia: Lineages and Competitions, Part II

Interview with Ram’s Head Fencing Founder Josias Arcadia: Lineages and Competitions, Part I

He had to train in secret at first, but after a move to Minnesota, Josias Arcadia found a school to practice historical fencing. In an effort to learn more of the German tradition of longsword, Arcadia began his Ram’s Head Fencing and began training with James Riley in the Kunst des Fechtens tradition. Recently, he … Continue reading Interview with Ram’s Head Fencing Founder Josias Arcadia: Lineages and Competitions, Part I