The New York Historical Fencing Association is a chapter of Selohaar Fechtschule, a Historical European Martial Arts school run by internationally-known researcher, instructor, and author Christian Henry Tobler.

The focus of our research and training is on the Liechtenauer tradition, which is a martial system of German origin primarily based on the use of the longsword and includes both unarmed combat (wrestling) and weapons such as the spear, dagger, mounted combat and sword and buckler. While we occasionally practice the use of some of these other weapons, our current studies are focused on the use of the longsword in blossfechten (German for unarmored combat).

The tradition’s earliest known manuscript was written by a 14th century master named Johannes Liechtenauer who documented his teachings in a set of cryptic verses designed to aid his students in remembering the fundamentals of his system. We would know little about the system if not for the work of later day masters such as Sigmund Ringeck, who wrote an in-depth and comprehensive commentary on Liechtenauer’s verse in the 15th century.

There are several interpretations of these treatises available today, though we have chosen the interpretations of Christian Tobler on which to base our studies. Christian is the author of several excellent books on the Liechtenauer tradition (see the Articles and Resources section) and a renowned scholar and swordsman.

Our group meets on most Saturdays in Sea Gate, a beach-side community near Coney Island, Brooklyn. When bad weather threatens, we have a large indoor facility available in nearby Staten Island.