About Classical and Historical Fencing

The Classical and Historical Fencing Meetup is affiliated with the
Martinez Academy of Arms in New York City.

Martinez Academy of Arms





The Martinez Academy of Arms is a unique school that preserves the tradition of fencing as the study of the sword in its realistic application in personal combat. Entering the Academy, one steps into another era and finds a serious group of practitioners dedicated to the art of the sword.

The structure of the school is based on that of the fencing academies of the past. Each student is taught on an individual basis and guided in developing a unique style suited to the individual. It is upon this foundation that an environment of formal training and scholarship have been carefully cultivated, supported by an ambiance of elegance and congeniality. Under expert guidance in this environment, students are supportive of each others' progress and development.

Modern competitive sport fencing and theatrical fencing are not part of the curriculum. We do not engage in sport, choreography, historical reenactment, or fantasy play. We practice every weapon (with the exception of foil, which is not an actual weapon but an academic training tool) as though we were preparing for a serious encounter.

Please note that the Martinez Academy of Arms also has affiliate schools with academy-certified instructors at the following locations:

1. Kim Moser in Jupiter, West Palm Beach, and Tequesta, FL

2. Cecil Longino in Seattle, WA

3. Antone Blair in Arcata, CA

4. Christopher Umbs in Maplewood, NJ


In addition, the Martinez Academy of Arms is associated with the following schools and organizations:

Association for Historical Fencing in New York, NY

The Macdonald Academy of Arms in Edinburgh, Scotland

Sala d'Arme Zaknafein Roma in Rome, Italy



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Weapons and Styles of the Martinez Academy

Classical Fencing

Foil: French & Italian

French School
"The French school emphasizes delicacy of movement and accuracy of point, achieved with a minimum of force. The almost straight grip allows the greatest freedom of movement of the fingers... Footwork is light and catlike. Guards and parries are very close, and to this end the arm in the guard position is generally more bent than in the other schools." (Clovis Deladrier, "Modern Fencing," Annapolis, 1973)

French Foil
The style of French foil taught is the "Rohdes" system, along with the traditional French School.

Italian School
"The Italian school uses the cross-bar on its handle, permitting a firmer grip of the weapon. In addition, the pommel is usually strapped to the wrist. While this restricts somewhat the freedom of the fingers, it allows greater firmness of action. The movements of the Italian school are forceful.... Guards and parries are wider, the arm in the guard position is three-quarters extended, footwork is heavier. Where the French school uses finesse, the Italian school uses force." (Clovis Deladrier, "Modern Fencing," Annapolis, 1973)

The Italian school is further divided into northern and southern styles. The above description is a generalization of the typical southern school which is fiery, and explosive. The northern school is influenced by French theory and practice. It is more forceful than the French school, but a bit more subdued in its character than the southern school.

Italian Foil
The style of Italian foil taught is a northern Italian system, with the "Rohdes" system as its foundation. This includes concepts from the techniques of Luigi Barbasetti and Agesilao Greco.

Épée: French & Italian

The style of Epee taught is primarily the "Rohdes" system, along with techniques of the traditional French and Italian Schools. It is a Franco - Italo system.

Sabre: Italian

Italian School
The Italian school of sabre is based on the dueling sabre, not the military sabre. Its foundation is the study and practice of the "molinelli," which are types of circular cuts executed by the forearm slightly aided by the wrist. In this system, through the practice of the molinelli the fencer learns a variety of specific types of cuts such as push cuts and draw cuts. Defensive actions are performed with the arm kept in front with the line of attack well covered.

Italian Sabre
The style of Italian sabre taught is a system that originates from the teachings of Luigi Barbasetti and Agesilao Greco.


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Historical Fencing

Smallsword: French & Italian (includes single sword, sword & dagger, and sword & cloak)

French Smallsword
The instruction of French smallsword technique is based on Domenico Angelo (1787), supplemented by concepts from Le Sieur Wernesson de Liancour (1686), and Le Sieur Labat (1690).

Italian Smallsword
Italian smallsword is not really the most correct term, because in Italy the weapon used was a cuphilt rapier of reduced sized compared to those used in earlier periods. It was a weapon that was longer and heavier than the contemporary French weapon. This instruction is based on Rasaroll Scorza & Pietro Grisetti (1803), with additional concepts included from the teachings of Allesandro Senesio (1660), Giuseppe Morsicato Pallavicini (1670), Francesco Antonio Marcelli (1686) and Bondi Di Mazo (1696).

Rapier: Italian & Spanish (includes single rapier, rapier & dagger, and rapier & cloak)

Italian Rapier
The system of Italian rapier is mid-17th-century technique based principally on the teachings of Francesco Alfieri (1640), with additional concepts incorporated from masters that preceded him. These include Achille Marozzo (1536), Angelo Viggiani (1575), Salvator Fabris (1606) and Ridolfo Capo Ferro (1610).

Spanish Rapier
The most unique aspect of the instruction offered at the Martinez Academy of Arms is the Spanish system of swordsmanship. Maestro Martínez has spent 15 years in intensive research and study in order to reconstruct this generally misunderstood system. Although he has been teaching this system at his school for many years, he unveiled it to the public for the first time at the Aston Magna Academy which was held at Rutgers University during the summer of 1995 (see résumé).

To fully understand the old Spanish treatises on swordsmanship, it is essential to comprehend the mindset, character, culture, religious, philosophical, and political environment in which this school developed. It is also requisite to have academic training in classical fencing with its applications in personal combat. As with other period treatises, it is not enough to just read and/or translate them. Maestro Martínez has clarified the modern myths and misconceptions which have created a completely erroneous view of this school. He presents the Spanish system in a more comprehensible form to students coming from a modern frame of reference.

The term given to Spanish swordsmanship is "La Verdadera Destreza." This phrase cannot be translated directly, but its closest meaning is "The True Art and Skill." More than mere combat training, Spanish swordsmanship is the art, science, philosophy, and experience that evolved from the genius of master swordsmen.

Maestro Martínez continues in this tradition. His system of Spanish swordsmanship is based on the teachings of Don Jeronimo de Carranza (1569), Don Luis Pacheco de Narvaez (1600), Girard Thibault (1628), Don Alvaro Guerra de la Vega (1681) and Don Francisco Lorenz de Rada (1705). Maestro Martínez has thoroughly researched this fine art and continues to study the treatises of these great masters, continually perfecting his knowledge in order to give his students a deeper and more refined education in this unique school of swordsmanship.