Caravaggio—With sword or brush
byOne of the world’s foremost artists throughout history, was also a man who lived by the sword and who constantly got into trouble. He…
Historical Fencing culture
The real men behind The Duellists
byIt’s a classic among fencers and has some of the most realistic fencing scenes ever portrayed on the silver screen. The Duellists, based on…
Creativity, stress and a stiff upper lip
byWhy is creativity important in fencing, and how come it shuts down when we are under stress? And what has that got to do…
Choreographing historical fencing for film
byA director who was filming a documentary about a historical battle on a ship recently approached me. So, this is an attempt to share…
That time when a countess duelled a princess
byIn 1892, honour demanded that two women settled their dispute sword in hand. The Countess Anastasia Kielmannsegg and Princess Pauline von Metternich fought each…
Etiquette in the 18th and 19th Century Fencing Schools — Part I: 18th Century
byIn this first article on fencing etiquette and required behaviour in the salle, Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martinez goes through the regulations and practices of 18th century…
Fence anywhere! #fencefreely
byNo salle? No problem! We decided to create some training videos during the vacation, and now we’re challenging all of you to share videos…
The lovely Grace Kelly taking a fencing lesson in The Swan, 1956
byWith elegance and style, as always.
When monks fought a nobleman in a judicial duel
byIn the medieval period the practice of dueling was part of the legal system in many places in Europe. The idea was that if…
Last Blood: The grave of the last German student killed in a thrust duel
byThe last German student to die as a result of a duel using thrusting swords—not unlike the French épée de combat—was the young jurist…