The focus of our research and training is 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 poleaxe, spear, dagger, mounted combat and sword and buckler. Although we work with all of the weapons of the system, we spend most of our time with the unarmored longsword material and wrestling.

The tradition’s earliest known manuscript was written by 14th century master 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 art if not for the work of later day masters and students, who wrote in-depth and comprehensive commentaries on Liechtenauer’s verses. NYHFA works primarily with the Sigmund Ringeck and Von Danzig manuscripts, though we also draw material from other texts such as 3227a, the works of Hans Talhoffer, Paulus Kal and others.

Our curriculum is heavily focused on body mechanics and basics, and places equal emphasis on drills (solo and paired), free fencing and cutting (e.g. tatami), with each type of training used to inform and validate the others. We believe that, ideally, students should train as though they will one day have to use their skills in earnest, for to do anything less would not be true to the art we are attempting to revive.






Special Thanks
There are many people to whom we owe thanks, more than we can list here. However, there are a few individuals who are owed particular mention: Bill Grandy of VAF, Cory Winslow, John Bax, Chuck Wyatt and the rest of the MEMAG crew for their friendship and support, without which we could not have come as far as we did. Sang Kim sensei, for giving us something to strive for, Dave Drawdy sensei, for allowing us to reach out to the greater sword arts community, Paul Butler and Kirill Pokrovsky, for their generosity in letting us use their music for our videos, Steven Reich, for reminding us what HEMA should be, Peter Johnsson, Albion Swords and Arms and Armor, for providing us with the tools of our trade, and last but not least,our students, for their continuing support and trust.