The Academie’s Five Year Anniversary logo was created by Rachel Creemers and was designed to tell the story of the school’s growth in its first half-decade. Take a closer look at the changes and symbolism in our blog post bostonacademiedarmes.com/boston-acade... #somervillema #massachusetts

Last week one of our local Academie fencers, Edvard, headed to Chicago and got to fence some of our remote fencers, Katerina and Anna, at their local SCA practice! East 🤝 Mid #rapier #societyforcreativeanachronism #mysca #historicalfencing #historicalfencer

Alejandro ready to duel with rapier and buckler. Our group rapier classes are Tuesdays at 6pm and 7:30pm. bostonacademiedarmes.com/italian-rapi... #rapier #belmontma #arlingtonma #walthamma #massachusetts

A reminder that the Texas Sword Retreat is coming up in a couple of months! I'm scheduled to be there to teach a workshop on the jaegerstock (one of my most popular topics) and two classes on rapier & dagger. Come out to learn & play! www.eventzilla.net/e/texas-swor... #rapier #historicalfencing

This was a fun drill in which almost all the power is in Anezka’s hands. She decides if she wants to hit me with a straight thrust or if she wants to set up a second intention action. 🧵 #somervillema #rapier #historicalfencing #westernmartialarts #swordplay

🤺⚔️😀

Sunday Saber Squad working through the fun but tricky simple beat of 1st. They then explore various attacks they can do after the beat.

Friday morning training sessions always put me in a good mood. #rapier #fencingcoach #massachusetts #westernmartialarts #societyforcreativeanachronism

Our very own man in black, Alejandro, warming up with some parry & riposte work with rapier & buckler. All this month, our rapier fencers are exploring the use of various secondaries with the rapier to see the differences and overlaps. #rapier #arlingtonma #boston #massachusetts #historicalfencing

Sometimes you catch the right photo at the right time. Nice squat edition of the Passata Sotto by Tristan. Beautifully timed. #rapier #bostonma #belmontma #arlingtonma #bostonfencing

Our classical fencing team worked on simple beats & attacks with saber this weekend. Fencers worked through various beat positions and explored how they could attack from there. #somervillema #classicalfencing #medfordma #cambridgema #bostonfunctionalfitness

Last month we had a couple of foil and epee friends from Moe’s Fencing Club come visit our classical fencing class for some smallsword freeplay. #bostonfencing #somervillema #cambridgema #bostonfun #bostonsports

Rose having fun with the little known combo — rapier and packing tube! 🤣🤣 And yes, she was trying it get her opponent’s blade stuck in the opening. #rapier #belmontma #massachusetts #medfordma #cambridgema

Another drill from this week’s lesson on changes of engagement. We can also use them as part of a compound riposte. Great for when you need to close distance a little more on your riposte and to befuddle them on what line you want to attack on. #somervillema #cambridgema

Our classical fencing crew kicked off a new training block with focus on Actions on the Blade, blade movements that deflect & deviate the opponent’s weapon off line. Here the team warms up with some single changes of engagement on both the high and low line. #somervillema #medfordma #cambridgema

Our Intro to Rapier crew salute out at the end of their first class. Huge thanks to the new team for showing up to learn and play! #belmontma #massachusetts #rapier #bostonfun #historicalfencing

Tonight our rapier crew kicks off a training block with various offhand secondaries! Both groups will explore the similarities and differences of using different secondaries with the rapier, including dagger, buckler, stick and even candelabra! #belmontma #arlingtonma #massachusetts #rapier

When you hit that perfect lefty/righty parity in class. bostonacademiedarmes.com/classical-fe... #bostonfencing #classicalfencing #smallsword #somervillema #somervillemassachusetts

Just ONE spot left! Free trial class is this Tuesday. Come play!

Different approach to the Low Guard, this one inspired by Pascha. It’s a little more classical in nature with engaging low. Instead of Pascha’s “pop & lock”, we target the wrist with a thrust. If the opponent disengages their blade high, re-engage and glide. #rapier #historicalfencer #scarapier

Saber Squad working through some alternative riposte options with saber. In this case, using the counter-cut (back edge of the blade) to keep opposition while landing a cut to the torso. Great work by the team! #somervillema #cambridgema #militarysaber #bostonfunctionalfitness #bostonadultsports

Happy New Year! May 2026 bring fond memories, adventures, and good swordplay. #bostonfencing #somervillema #bostonfun #massachusetts #greaterboston

Saluting out 2025 Huge thanks to all our fencers, friends and fam for making it a banner year for the school. Thanks for training and playing with us. 2025 is great and we look forward to celebrating our fifth birthday in 2026! #bostonfencing #classicalfencing #historicalfencing #bostonfun

Our rapier team gearing up for Birka (SCA) at the end of January. Fencing in small lists with wounds retained bear pit. 😅 Get hit in the arm? Can’t use that arm. Hit in the leg? Gotta fight sitting down. Go until someone loses both arms or is hit in the head or torso. 🧵 #belmontma #bostonfencing

Our Sunday Saber squad working on a 2nd intentions exercise. A great tactic to use against an opponent who ripostes the same way every time. Our class is in Sundays in Somerville at 11:30am. #bostonfencing #somervillema #cambridgema #classicalsaber #bostonfun

We had a great time at the Worcester Art Museum Arms & Armor exhibit yesterday! So many cool things on display. Highly recommend it. 😃

Yelena working through invitations and parries with a heavier Italian saber. All part of our weekly classical fencing class in Somerville. We have an Open House event this Sunday! If you’re interested in checking us out, get in touch to visit! #bostonfencing #somervillema #cambridema #bostonfun

An epic, dramatic death for poor, poor Rose.

This week our classical fencing team explored invitations in Italian saber. They were asked, “When you take an invitation, how may your opponent attack? What’s your answer?” Folks had a lot of room to explore and experiment. 🧵 #bostonfencing #somervillema #bostonfun #classicalsaber #cambridge

On guard and ready for some fun ⚔️ Our next Free Trial rapier class is just a couple of weeks away. No gear or experience necessary to come play. We only have three slots left so sign up soon! 🎟️ bookwhen.com/bostonacadem... #belmontma #bostonfencing #swordfighting #rapier

Just 4 spots left. Sign up soon!

Our beginner classical fencing crew working on sounding out their partners and then countering. Breaking things down and slowly adding in chaos as we go. Love the effort folks put in! 🧵 #somervillema #bostonfencing #classicalfencing

Brian demonstrates an internal flanconade with the Italian foil. Our classical fencing class (Italian foil, smallsword, and saber) happens on Sundays in Somerville, MA. 📷 Olivia Treube Learn more about our program at bostonacademiedarmes.com/classical-fe...

Kick off the new year and learn how to duel with the rapier! Our next FREE Intro to Italian Rapier crash course class is coming up on Tuesday, January 6th! We’ll go over all the basics of the duel with the iconic rapier. Live out your Musketeer or duelist dreams! 🧵

Our beginners working through a probing action exercise to work on their fight reading, analyzing and ability to come up with a counter. 🧵

Spear vs rapier & cloak. A matchup you don’t see everyday! Our next free trial rapier class is coming up next month. Come join the fun! bookwhen.com/bostonacadem... #belmontma #bostonfencing #swordplay

Coach Gavin and Belle-Monte watch on as our rapier team plays.

Our Sunday classical fencing squad warming up with a little game. One fencer lunges and the other is at extension distance. The extension fencer can’t go until they perceive the lunger lunging. Fun warmup that works reaction time and explosiveness!

Always a favorite… interpreting Fabris’s very unique approach to defending against a spearman. Step 1: Don’t get yourself in this situation in the first place Step 2: If you gotta do it, here’s how… Step 3: Profit #bostonfencing #belmontma #rapier #historicalfencing #mysca #swordwomen

Just a friendly duel with saber at the end of class. Our classical fencing program is Sundays at 11:30 in Somerville! #somervillema #saber #classicalfencing

Kick off the new year with a little bit of swordplay! Our next FREE Intro to Italian Rapier crash course class is coming up on Tuesday, January 6th! We'll go over all the basics of the duel with the iconic rapier. Live out your Musketeer or duelist dreams! 🎟️ Register bookwhen.com/bostonacadem...

Y’know… we don’t hate it… Rose’s Tornado Dagger Defense Against Spear 😂💙😅 🌪️⚜️⚔️ #bostonfencing #boston #historicalfencing

A sinister engagement #somervillema #smallsword #fencing

This past summer I took the online Fencing Pedagogy & History class, as part of the Sonoma State University Fencing Masters Certificate Program (SSU FMCP). justinswordfit.com/2025/12/01/h... 🧵 #historicalfencer #rapier #historyresearch

Rapier Squad had some fun last week looking at unique fencing situations. A class fav was spear vs dagger… a situation you don’t want to get in, but if you did, this is how Giganti suggests you go about it. #Bostonfencing #historicalfencing #rapier #spear #bostonsports #westernmartialarts

Eli rocking some stylish pants during saber class this week. #somervillema #bostonfencing #saberfencing

Happy Thanksgiving to our fencer friends and family. Thanks for making the Academie an awesome community to be a part of! 🦃⚔️⚜️

🦃🦃🦃

We decided to lead into the Thanksgiving holiday with a little goofy and silly fencing fun, by exploring the odd and unique aspects of historical fencing. 🧵

The Art of Classical Italian Saber! Our classical fencing squad working in some saber parry & riposte basics while warming up in class. Here, our buddy Steve from @bostonarmizare.bsky.social works on his parry 4th and parry 1st + riposte options.