Our Sister School
One of the best aspects of fencing is the friends we make along the way. Michael Kňažko, a fencing master at Barbasetti Military Sabre since 1895, in Prague, Czechia, is not only a fencer in the same tradition in which I work, but also an instructor with a similar outlook and goals. Situated as they are in central Europe, Barbasetti Military Sabre since 1895 is well-placed to reach a wide and diverse audience. Their program is classical and historical, but they work with everyone, Olympic fencers, thespians, and HEMA. Their signature event, SabreSlash, brings all these people together for two days of skill-based learning, bouting, and great fun. Please check them out and if you are in the Czech Republic or close by, pay them a visit!
As of May 2024, Jim is an official member of Barbasetti Military Sabre (since 1895) thereby cementing and strengthening the bond between SdTS and our colleagues in the Czech Republic.
In June of 2024, Jim was promoted to Prévôt d’Armes and became Master Kňažko’s understudy as he continues study.[*] A prévôt or provost is a coach who primarily trains other fencers, from beginners to advanced students. It is the rank one earns before testing for master. The most important task of a fencing master is teaching and coaching other coaches (they may or may not be excellent competitors). In October of 2025, Jim traveled to Prague not only to attend and teach at SabreSlash, but also to test for maitre d’armes. He passed and now proudly represents Barbasetti Military Sabre (since 1895) in North America.
SdTS is a member school of Storica Defensa
WHAT IS STORICA DEFENSA?
Storica Defensa means Historical Defense in Latin. We are an organization that is dedicated to creating safety and best practices in the world of Historical Fencing. With the rapid spread of HEMA globally as a grassroots movement, giving fencers, instructors and clubs the tools to accomplish their personal and community goals has been challenging. While we have seen a lot of positives with rapid expansion, in other areas such as safety, coaching abilities, rulesets based on experience in the art, organizing tournaments, and classifying fencers into skill categories has some room for growth. Some of these are urgent (avoiding sports injuries, safety in terms of sexual harassment scandals) and others are just for the betterment of the general community.
Storica Defensa started as the brainchild of Xian Niles in initial drafts as a project to positively influence his larger geographical area. From there in discussions with Jay Maas, the project expanded into coaching, ranking, tournament rulesets across multiple weapons, a tournament league, rulesets and a code of conduct (created by Coach Bob Spracklin of the Prince Albert Northern Knights for an initial Canadian Federation), as well as a focus on Canada-wide participation. Drs Patrick Bratton and Jim Emmons, both long time sport, classical and historical coaches were consulted on the project, and it again expanded internationally as a number of clubs became interested.
Currently we have participants across North America, Asia and Europe and are experiencing continued growth.
Storica Defensa Coaching Program combines coaching practices from Modern Olympic Fencing, Classical Fencing and HEMA as well as elements and experience from Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing, MMA, Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The ranking system which is fully discussed in the Ranking Handbook, was developed with the assistance of Coach Stephen Symmons of Phoenix fencing, a long time professional Olympic Fencing coach with a classical background and former president of the Canadian Fencing Federation. The ranking system was based heavily off of the Canadian and French Armband Programs, but was also modified significantly for the context of Historical Fencing. The symbols were created by Xian Niles and Jay Maas, the artwork done by member Rui Ferreira.
NOTE
Storica Defensa does not control members. They are encouraged to train under as many affiliated and unaffiliated coaches as possible in a number of different martial arts and compete at outside events under diverse rulesets. This includes at a club level. While we enforce safety at SD sanctioned events and affiliated clubs, they may also participate in non SD activities.
[*] What do I mean by earned? In a field rife with people making all manner of claims, it’s important to be as transparent and public about one’s progress through the ranks as possible. There is no harm in doing so. It prevents the doubts that often attend such claims, and, hopefully in increases confidence in one’s coach. In my case, I applied to enter Barbasetti Military Sabre (since 1895), and was accepted. Naturally, being a foreigner, and someone the other masters at the school had only met once, they wanted assurances that I wasn’t pulling a scam or in some way jeopardizing their well-established respectability. They had a week to observe me, my teaching, and discuss the finer points of the Art while I was in Prague (2021), but to take me on in more depth was something they, naturally, had to weigh carefully.
Happily, to continue means that I will have to travel to Prague to be evaluated, tested, and give in-person demonstrations as I move forward in the program. Masters Michael Kňažko, Leonid Křížek, and Josef and Michael Šolc (father and son) evaluated me and awarded the promotion. I am deeply honored by this, and know that the work is only now beginning. It will only get harder, more demanding, and I look forward to the challenge.
Capitale Escrime Historical Fencing 