In the United States, I am a Scholar of the Chicago Swordplay Guild.  

All members of the guild begin their studies with an abrazare curriculum based on the Fiore dei Liberi medieval tradition, but in addition, they specialize in either medieval or renaissance swordsmanship. While I cannot resist taking part in various special opportunities within the guild (involving also medieval wrestling, knife/dagger, and longsword), I am predominantly a student of renaissance martial arts. In this regard, I have been focusing on Italian Rapier (based predominantly on the tradition of Salvatore Fabris) within the CSG. 

By clicking, find a "picture report" from (by now historical) CSG Wednesday practice (which is an "open night" while the "main" practices take place on Saturdays). 

More recently, I have also became a student of Bolognese Swordsmanship as well as Fabris Rapier (with companion weapons) with the Order of Seven Hearts instructors. (View the pertinent story through clicking here.)

A recording of some rapier fencing of mine can be viewed by clicking here (excuse its quality, please). I may still re-consider my idea that it is better to post this recording than nothing, but it at least gives a general idea of what it is that we are doing. 

This particular fight was a part of my CSG Prize Play, which was one of the conditions to be fulfilled before I acquired the rank of Scholar of the CSG. The following three pictures, also from said Prize Play, show me fighting my then three designated challengers, now fellow CSG Scholars--George (Hernandez), Phil (Willink), and Simeon (Schwarz). In the last picture, I and a fellow Scholar Candidate--Charles (Blair) are apparently enjoying ourselves.    

Since the following picture was taken randomly during some free-fencing with my primary CSG instructor John O'Meara, I do not even remember what I was doing (although most likely a cavazione in contratempo with an inquartata), but the picture pretty much summarizes certain characteristics of my fencing = having "too much" fun while doing actions around an elephant not present in the picture, but otherwise "looking pretty." Or, wait! I in fact wanted to say that in this picture I was hitting John right in the knee on purpose in order to display the excellence of my point control and timing with which I was getting out of the way :-). In any case, the second picture also aptly illustrates why no-one gets to complain that John has a greater reach on them; except perhaps after I have gotten to complain first :-).

Within the guild, an I.33 study group has been recently started. To see what this style is about, find a "picture report" from the "Principles, Techniques, and Tactics of Royal Armouries Manuscript I.33," a sword and buckler seminar led by Maestro Sean Hayes, which I attended in April 2007.

Featured is also the CSG seminar and workshop "Flower of Battle: Knightly Combat in Medieval Italy" that took place in January 2007 at the University of Chicago.

Finally, some pictures from the WMAW (Western Martial Arts Workshop) hosted by the CSG in September 2007 at the DeKoven center in Racine.

Some pictures from the WMAW 2009 are to be found at the very end of this website.