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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Ready to learn the art of the duel with the iconic rapier? This class is perfect for anyone looking to live out their Musketeer or swashbuckling fantasies! It's also a great way to get some exercise that works both your mind and body. 🎟️ bookwhen.com/bostonacadem... #massachusetts #somervillema

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Congrats to Rose and Jack for passing their rapier assessments! They now officially qualify for our intermediate rapier class. Rose and Jack were tested on fencing theory, technical skills, simple coaching cues, and a fight assessment (technical and tactical). 🧵🧵🧵 #boston #rapier #somervillema

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Kicking off Cloaktober a day early since I’ll be on a plane for Rome tomorrow. This is an option drill working on a second guard from Fabris. 🧵🧵🧵 —— #cloaktober #rapier #swordandcloak #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing #historicaleuropeanmartialarts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Our classical and HEMA saber folks working on direct cuts to the head with an optional double tap — a fun way to make sure the grip is loose and we’re triggering with the fingers. Sundays in Cambridge www.bostonacademiedarmes.com #massachusetts #cambridgemassachusetts #classicalfencing

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Congrats to Kate for getting her writ for the SCA's Order of Defense! This is the organization's highest award, giving out for superior fencing skill and leadership in the community.

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

POCKET SAND! 🏝️⚔️ Yes, pocket sand is a historical technique. Domingo Luis Godinho talks about it in his book “Arte de Esgrima” (On the Art of Fencing) in his section about defeating treachery. 🧵 #rapier #hema #historicalfencing #historicalfencer #mysca #boston #massachusetts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Also congratulations to Alexis for competing in her first SCA rapier tournament at Falling Leaves this month! —— #rapier #mysca #societyforcreativeanachronism #massachusetts #greaterboston #bostonfencing

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Our Sunday crew exploring limited grappling and in-fighting solutions. When the duel gets in close, what are your options if a lot of the “dirty” solutions are off the table? 🧵🧵

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Had a great time running a Renaissance Duel workshop at the Reading Public Library last week. We looked at posture and movement, basic offense and defensive actions, plus some fun, specialty actions. 📸 Jocelyn Gould

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Italian Dueling Sword or smallsword or smarra or whathaveyou training video with Eli. First lesson back with Eli after a summer break. We did a lot of fundamentals and then started adding on some fun actions to one another. #medfordma #smallsword #classicalfencing #historicaleuropeanmartialarts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Huge thanks to the Reading Public Library for having us out last week! We worked with a fun crew on the basics of the Renaissance duel with the rapier. Folks got a crash course in stance, movement, offense & defense, and got to partake in their own duel. #readingma #massachusetts #boston

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Little training game during saber training this week. One fencer attacks, the other defends and it can go into a parry-riposte volley until a good hit lands. —— #bostonfencing #cambridgemassachusetts #somervillemassachusetts #boston #Massachusetts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A great weekend for the Academie's SCA fencers this past weekend at Falling Leaves. Donovan won the the Round & Round Robin tournament, winning him a sweet new buckler from Heartsprung Steel. 📷 Lauren Dubois #mysca #societyforcreativeanachronism #boston #greaterboston #massachusetts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Gavin working on one of Fabris’s 2nd guard with rapier + dagger in a fun option drill. Lotta fun! 🧵🧵 —— #massachusetts #bostonfencjng #belmontma #arlingtonma #somervillemassachusetts

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This past weekend at Falling Leaves (a local SCA event), Donovan and I hosted a sharp sword demo. The SCA talks A LOT about blow calibration and what would/wouldn't injure someone — but for 99.99% of folks, we’re making some sweeping assumptions. justinswordfit.com/2026/09/09/t... 🧵

justinswordfit.com

Testing SCA Fencer's Perception of Calibration - Sharp Sword Demo - Justin Aucoin | Historical Swordsmanship & Classical Fencing

How hard do you need to attack to injure an opponent with a sharp sword? We tested SCA fencer's perception of calibration in this interactive experiment.

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

If you've ever wanted to give fencing with the rapier a try, we're running a demo and crash course workshop tomorrow at the Reading Public Library! 6:30-8:30pm. Come play! readingpl.org/event/17093937 #readingmass #massachusetts #greaterboston #readingma #boston

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Sunday Saber Squad working in their direct cuts to head and defense. One fencer attacks with a cut to the head, the other goes to parry & riposte. After that, the exchange flows into a back and forth “volley” until a void hit lands. Lotta fun! 📍 The Foundry #cambridgema #massachusetts #boston

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Rose showing off a little thrust with angulation to the elbow. Nice targeting. We were super excited to see Rose compete in her first HEMA rapier tournament last month. 📸 Luke Newman ---- #bostonfencing #rapier #cambridgemassachusetts #somervillemass #massachusetts #bostonsports

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Sunday Squad working through a couple of saber game variations. First one, a direct cut to the head vs defense of measure. Second one, same game but throw in a parry-riposte. Class is Sundays at Cambridge Foundry —— #bostonfencing #cambridgemassachusetts #somervillemass #medfordmass

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Gavin and Scott working a little Fabris Gavin approaches in a dagger-extended 3rd, then transitions to a 2nd while stepping toward Scott’s outside. 🧵🧵 —— #bostonfencing #rapier #massachusetts #belmontma #somervillemassachusetts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Our beginner rapier crew working their offense and defense. Fencer A attacks direct with an advance-lunge. Fencer B parries with dagger and ripostes with the sword. Fencers were allowed to play around with various rapier + dagger guards they know. www.bostonacademiedarmes.com

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

According to the Internet, it's Jean de Gassion's birthday today. He was a French maréchal during the Thirty Year's War and was nicknamed la Guerre ("War") by Cardinal Richelieu. 🧵 ---- #17thcenturyfashion #musketeers #historicalfencer #reenactment #societyforcreativeanachronism

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Been a couple of months, but nice to get back to work with this guy. A little dueling sword training with Eli on a beautiful afternoon. Got the inaugural New England Salon d’Armes in a few months. —— #smallsword #classicalfencing #medfordma #historicalfencing #duelingsword

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

We're excited to announce that we're teaming up with our friends at Athena School of Arms to co-host our first tournament! www.facebook.com/events/17528... #smallsword #massachusetts #historicalfencing #classicalfencing

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Death from Below! We had a fun time working some specialty actions this weekend in dueling sword class. Here, one of our beginners Leah, takes her first crack at the cartoccio — a low lunge beneath the opponent’s weapon. 🧵🧵 #cambridgema #somervillema #massachusetts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Today we pay tribute to Coach Gavin who'll be leaving us for an exciting 9 month ⛵sailing adventure. Gavin is one of the Academie's OG students and recently one of our novice and beginner rapier coaches. We'll miss his presence in the salle but look forward to all the fun tales he'll have to share.

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Our classical fencing crew getting a little offhand work during dueling sword practice. After parrying with the sword, the fencer transfers control to their offhand, keeping their own blade free to riposte. #bostonfencing #smallsword #cambridgemassachusetts #somervillemass #bostonadultsports

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Our intermediate rapier team working on one of our favorite Fabris rapier + dagger guards. This is one of his ‘second guards’ that we like to describe as a 🏹 bow + arrow. Rapier is Tuesdays in Belmont. — #bostonfencing #belmontma #somervillema #massachusetts #bostonadultsports #rapieranddagger

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A full house this week for rapier and dagger. Here the team warmups with some defensive work. They have a few options to choose from — sword parry & riposte, dagger parry & riposte or sword parry, transfer to dagger & riposte. All about building our fencers’ PCs, as it were. #massachusetts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Happy International Lefthander’s Day to our Sunday Classical Fencing Crew! Class is about 50% lefties by volume and often outnumber our righties in many weekends. Enjoy a quick clip of three of them all getting some play time in at the end of class. —— #cambridgema #somervillema #medfordma

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Yesterday we said goodbye to Kaycee as she leaves Boston for new adventures. We will miss you lots but look forward to running into you at events. ⚔️⚔️ Thank you for the beautiful art of Belle-monte! Good luck in your new home! -- #historicalfencing #somervillema #medfordma #cambridgema #belmontma

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Congrats to Justin Aucoin - Historical Fencing for taking 🥉third place in Rapier - Open Steel at Boar’s Tooth last Friday! 🎉🎉🎉

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Took 🥉bronze in Single Rapier - Open Steel at Boar's Tooth Friday evening. First time getting to compete at it. Usually it's over Pennsic or right after I get back when I don't want to look at a sword for a week. 🧵 #rapier #historicalfencing #westernmartialarts #historicaleuropeanmartialarts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

A full house for rapier! Class this week continued their exploration of rapier and dagger, learning a basic Fabrisian and Marcellian guard and how to defend from both. —— #bostonfencing #rapier #walthamma #somervillema #cambridgema #bostonadultfun

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Cool video of GNEW -- one of my fav SCA events. youtu.be/hazWfn8p12w?...

youtu.be

GNEW - 2026

YouTube video by Sage of the Sword

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Our classical fencing crew getting some playtime in with the Italian smallsword or dueling sword. Sunday mornings at Cambridge Foundry. —— #bostonfencing #cambridgema #somervillema #smallsword #medfordma #bostonadultsports

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Congrats to Donovan for being named to the East Kingdom's Rapier Melee Champions team at Pennsic 53! ---- #mysca #societyforcreativeanachronism #rapier #historicalfencing #historicaleuropeanmartialarts

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Great first session with Edvard. He’s a fellow SCAdian and been part of @bosacademiearme.bsky.social for the last year but this was our first private lesson together. 🧵 #mysca #rapier #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

In our dueling sword class, we explored the beat. Near the end we looked at ways to defeat or counter the beat. Here the team has fun using the Girata or Inquartata to void the attack after the blade beat. Instead of getting the sword in front of them, they seek to get behind their sword.

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Our two newest fencers getting their first taste of classical Italian saber. Who doesn't love a good parry of 7th? 📍The Foundry --- #cambridgema #bostonfencing #somervillema #bostonadultsports

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Making our way through Eli’s saber tournament prep from the spring. Here we worked on stop cuts to the arm. These are counterattacks against an opponent’s feint or improper delivery of a cut. —— #bostonfencing #saberfencing #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #classicalfencing #medfordma

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Kaycee attacks with the sword with her dagger in support. Stop those double hits.

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Our Sunday Classical Fencing Squad working through a simple choice parry exercise. Coach attacks direct, parry & riposte. If they feint-disengagement, double parry. Sundays in Cambridge at Cambridge Foundry www.bostonacademiedarmes.com

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Hang it in the Louvre 🎨 I don't remember this but must've been during Random Actions if we're both laughing. It's a long day & the test can feel like a tough, uphill grind. I'm glad Marli & I were able to find a moment to laugh during it all. #classicalfencing #historicalfencing #historicalfencer

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Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay @thetavernknight.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

As promised, here's the blog about my exam experience with the Fencing Masters Certificate Program. It includes what questions I got, my lessons, and random actions. justinswordfit.com/2026/07/17/a... #bostonfencing #classicalfencing #classicalfoil #classicalsaber #classicalepee

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Our newest fencers getting their first taste of rapier and dagger. Rapier is Tuesdays at 6pm and 7:30pm. #bostonfencing #somervillema #cambridgema #arlingtonma #belmontma

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Boston Academie d'Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Congrats to our school's founder, @thetavernknight.bsky.social for passing his examination this weekend with the 🤺 Fencing Masters Certificate Program! He is now a Provost in Arms in Italian Foil, Saber and Epee. He was one of six candidates who tested (five provosts and one instructor). 🎉🎉🎉

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