Tag: HEMA

Interview with SoCal Swords Founder RJ McKeehan: Training and Supplying HEMA Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Swords were always enticing to RJ McKeehan, especially after a friend from Europe told him about the historical fencing events being held in the continent. He finally got the chance to try his hand at historical fencing in 2010 when he attended California State University. There, he learned from Jonathan Mashar and Jason Taylor who … Continue reading Interview with SoCal Swords Founder RJ McKeehan: Training and Supplying HEMA Part II

Interview with SoCal Swords Founder RJ McKeehan: Training and Supplying HEMA Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Swords were always enticing to RJ McKeehan, especially after a friend from Europe told him about the historical fencing events being held in the continent. He finally got the chance to try his hand at historical fencing in 2010 when he attended California State University. There, he learned from Jonathan Mashar and Jason Taylor who … Continue reading Interview with SoCal Swords Founder RJ McKeehan: Training and Supplying HEMA Part I

Interview with Lightspeed Saber League Founder Cang Snow: The Uniqueness of Light-Based Fencing

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After spending some time in Olympic Epee, Cang Snow wanted to find a sport that was both fun for the participant and the spectator. He set out to establish Lightspeed Saber League for just that. In the aftermath of the recent Covid pandemic, the League has grown, something which Snow is planning on continuing. Today, … Continue reading Interview with Lightspeed Saber League Founder Cang Snow: The Uniqueness of Light-Based Fencing

Interview with Macdonald Academy of Arms Founder Paul Macdonald: Finding and Exploring Historical Fencing

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Zorro first inspired Paul Macdonald to pick up a sword and fence. He did not start officially fencing until he reached university level, learning Modern Olympic Fencing. Something was missing from this type of fencing for Macdonald. That something was found in Domenico Angelo’s late seventeenth century treatise and the rest for him was history. … Continue reading Interview with Macdonald Academy of Arms Founder Paul Macdonald: Finding and Exploring Historical Fencing

Interview with Starbird Academy Instructor Kat Laurange: All the Things!

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An avid Star Wars fan, it did not take a lot of convincing for Kat Laurange to try out light-based fencing with the now-defunct Kyber Combat. At the same time, she was training winged sabre with Russ Mitchell, who headed Starbird Saber Academy. In 2023, Laurange took over instructional responsibilities and, just like training in … Continue reading Interview with Starbird Academy Instructor Kat Laurange: All the Things!

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

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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 II

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

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

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 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