Tag: Historical Fencing

Interview with Longtime UK Kenshi and Historian Paul Budden: Kendo’s Varied History and its International Future, Part I

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Growing up close to Hadrian’s Wall – erected during Rome’s reign of the British Isles – Paul Budden found his interest in history. His interest of Japanese sword – born out of his love of history – led him into a kendo dojo and has not looked back since. Throughout his time in kendo, he … Continue reading Interview with Longtime UK Kenshi and Historian Paul Budden: Kendo’s Varied History and its International Future, Part I

Interview with DoyleStick Instructor John Borter: An Insider’s Look at Irish Stick Fighting, Part II

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After training in many martial arts, John Borter stumbled onto Irish stick fighting by accident. Once he found out more, he was hooked and continues to teach and learn today. In this interview, Borter covers the world of Doyle Irish stick, sharing the techniques, traditions, and history that make it both a battle-tested martial art … Continue reading Interview with DoyleStick Instructor John Borter: An Insider’s Look at Irish Stick Fighting, Part II

Interview with An Tir Cut and Thrust Marshal Rachel Raposa: A Relationship with Historical Fencing and Inclusivity

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From her early days watching black-and-white adventure films to becoming a driving force in the growth of cut-and-thrust fencing within the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), Rachel Raposa has combined curiosity, scholarship, and grit to help build a more inclusive, dynamic, and historically informed community. Today, Raposa speaks to the challenges women face in the … Continue reading Interview with An Tir Cut and Thrust Marshal Rachel Raposa: A Relationship with Historical Fencing and Inclusivity

Creative Anachronism in Japanese Martial Arts: Preserving the Past Through Practice by Michael Martin

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Creative anachronism is more than nostalgia; it’s the pointed revival of historical practices in the modern world, imbued with symbolic resonance, ritual, and performance. Like costumed historical reenactors staging battles for educational or cultural impact, practitioners of budō, or traditional Japanese martial arts, engage in reenactment through their uniforms, weapons, customs, and values. In the … Continue reading Creative Anachronism in Japanese Martial Arts: Preserving the Past Through Practice by Michael Martin

Interview with Rapier Marshal Lyon MacKeegan: Fighting in the Past and Recreating the Past, Part I

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By the invitation of a high school friend, Lyon MacKeegan found himself being geared up for a Society for Creative Anachronism heavy combat bout. Shortly after, MacKeegan joined the rapier side of the SCA and continued has not looked back since. Throughout his thirty-plus years of active membership, he rose to the position of Rapier … Continue reading Interview with Rapier Marshal Lyon MacKeegan: Fighting in the Past and Recreating the Past, Part I

Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part II

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Dai Andrews has always been interested in the sword, beginning with classical fencing as a teenager. After getting himself into Kung Fu, he found himself studying Chinese swordsmanship, eventually finding his current teacher Scott Rodell. Such background prepared him for entering the Historical European Martial Arts community, taking one fight book and learning from it. … Continue reading Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part II

Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part I

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Dai Andrews has always been interested in the sword, beginning with classical fencing as a teenager. After getting himself into Kung Fu, he found himself studying Chinese swordsmanship, eventually finding his current teacher Scott Rodell. Such background prepared him for entering the Historical European Martial Arts community, taking one fight book and learning from it. … Continue reading Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part I

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

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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

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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

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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