For several years now, I have taken up Olympic Fencing, learning the three weapons: foil, epee, and sabre. Coming from a martial arts background where the training revolves around the concepts of avoidance and proper something, I have found that the sporting culture of fencing does not yet synthesize all that well. For me, in … Continue reading Martial Mindset Versus a Sports Mindset
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
Jason Barrons began training in historical fencing in 2014 at the New York Historical Fencing Association. He later found himself in Denver, Colorado with Aaron Karnuta and Sam Ross where the three of them founded the Denver Historical Fencing Academy. Since then, Barrons remains as the sole founder of the school but is joined by … Continue reading Interview with Devner Historical Fencing Academy Co-founder Jason Barrons: Diversity in Sword Fighting
Like many historical fencers before the explosion of the internet, YouTube, and other platforms, José Ortiz-Inchausty early training was composed of pieces of information coupled with his background in previous martial arts. His interest in historical fencing became more apparent while he was in college and a few of his friends helped him and each … Continue reading Interview with 417 HEMA Founder José Ortiz-Inchausty: Fencing From Puerto Rico to Missouri
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 