From the Editor

Dear AHF Members,

It give me great pleasure to present to you the premiere issue of the AHF newsletter, and at that only a little behind schedule. It gives me no less pleasure to serve as the newsletter's editor, and I pledge to do my best by it, so far as deadlines and budget allow. I I hope to see this humble on-line newsletter expanded into an ambitious, academically respected print journal with four color graphics and glossy paper. In the meantime, the Web provides a convenient, free medium in which we can begin fulfilling our promises to the AHF membership.

To introduce myself, I have a broad range of experience in publishing, having worked as an editor for a variety of publishing houses, from a vanity press to several major consumer magazines. Currently, I am editing a grade-school social studies textbook for a major firm. My academic qualifications include a MA in history and dual baccalaureates in history and classics. I have several years' fencing experience under Maestro Ramon Martinez, and also hold the rank of 1st kyu in traditional Japanese karate.

This first issue brings with it a host of goodies. On the business end, the minutes of the AHF's inaugural meeting. Jeannette Acosta-Martinez has compiled a report on the historic first International Meeting of Ancient, Historical, and Classical Fencing in Legnano, Italy. Plus, we also have a special bonus: instructions on how to build your own smallsword for fencing!

This is, however, your newsletter, and one of the first things I would like to institute is a letters column. Your feedback is appreciated. What's more, your contributions are appreciated. Do you have a how-to or a research article you'd like to see in print? Do you have a question you'd like addressed? Please, write in and. Drop me a line at editor@ahfi.org.

Until then, take care and happy fencing!

Ken Mondschein,
Newsletter Editor