Tidings from Abroad: The First International Meeting of Ancient, Historical, and Classical Fencing

The Federazione Italiana Scherma Antica E Storica (Italian Federation for Historical and Ancient Fencing, or FISAS) hosted the first International Meeting of Ancient, Historical, and Classical Fencing in Legnano, Italy (just outside of Milan) on Saturday, November 27th. The AHF was represented by President Martinez, Vice-President Acosta-Martinez, and AHF board members Keith Cini and John Kovacs.

The meeting began with a lesson given on the Spanish school of rapier by Maestro Ramon Martinez of Martinez Academy of Arms (MAA). This was followed by a class taught by Maestro Paul Macdonald of the Dawn Duellists' Society (DDS) on Italian longsword technique, with special emphasis on close-quarter fighting, from Flos Duellatorum (1410). The aforementioned demonstrations were videotaped by a German film crew, who had traveled more than eight hours to Legnano for this express purpose.

After a break for lunch, the master's exams given by the International Masters At Arms Federation (IMAF) began. These exams, one of the main focuses of the meeting, were the first to be held under the auspices of the IMAF, an association founded "...to preserve, study, practice, and teach the arts of ancient, historical, and classical fencing." To this end, the IMAF has established a Board of Examiners to test candidates for certification as Masters at Arms. Members of the initial board and founding members of IMAF were Maestro Andrea Lupo Sinclair (FISAS), Maestro Ramon Martinez (MAA), and Maestro Paul Macdonald (DDS). Saturday's meeting saw the first half of the test, which tested the candidates' theoreical knowledge. Following, the evening concluded with a gala banquet at which the AHF presented to Maestro Macdonald and Maestro Sinclair resolutions granting them status as honorary members and officers of the association.

Master's testing continued on the following next day with the practical portion of the master's exams. Candidates were required to fence with single sword, sword and dagger, sword and buckler, and single rapier against one opponent, and sword and dagger against multiple opponents. However, of the six candidates who tested, only one attained the rank of Maestro d'Armi.

Testing was followed by an open training and practice session in which Maestro Sinclair taught single sword, Maestro Macdonald taught dussack, Maestro Martinez and Provost Acosta-Martinez taught Spanish rapier, and Mr. Kovacs, assisted by Mr. Cini, taught Renaissance grappling arts. Following this, several of the FISAS member associations presented an exhibition of a variety of weapons including sword and buckler, sword and dagger, and hand-and-a-half sword. The highlight was a spectacular demonstration of sword and shield by two FISAS members wearing full chainmail armor and helms.

Mr. Kovacs and Mr. Cini also gave an amazing exhibition of Renaissance-era unarmed defense against a dagger-wielding adversary. Maestro Sinclair and Maestro Macdonald demonstrated dussack and sword and dagger, and Maestro Martinez and Provost Acosta-Martinez gave exhibitions of single rapier and rapier and dagger, 18th century smallsword technique, and 19th century Italian dueling saber. The afternoon concluded with the closing ceremonies, during which each of the FISAS member associations thanked the Maestri for their participation.