Martinez Academy of Arms

Time and Location

Sunday October 16th, 2011
from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Holley Plaza in Washington Square Park
West 4th – MacDougal Streets
New York, NY 10012

Did you know that…
There was a dueling ground on Twenty-First Street?

During the late 1800s, at a fencing academy on Bleecker Street, one could learn how to handle the broadsword, rapier, dagger, bayonet, lance, bowie knife, and quarterstaff?

Mounted combat was fought in Madison Square Garden at the turn of the Century?

Duels were fought in Central Park as late as the 1920s?

It’s all true.

In fact the history of dueling in New York dates as far back as the 1600s, and, unbeknownst to most, lasted into the early 20th century. During the 18th century, duels were fought more frequently in New York City than in any other American city. Although no exact figure has ever been compiled as to the total number of duels fought in the city, in September of 1780, five duels were fought in one week; likewise, in September of 1786, a letter published in a New York newspaper noted that “Dueling of late seems to be very predominant in this city…for if reports are to be relied on, there has been two or three challenges given within this week past.” On Staten Island alone, nearly fifty officers were court-martialed and dishonorably discharged during the Revolutionary War in consequence of dueling and gambling. Throughout the ages, combats were fought by men as well as women, using weapons such as the small-sword, broadsword, saber, sword-cane, pistol, and stiletto knife.

Due in part to this extraordinary dueling culture, the tradition of classical and historical fencing became forever interwoven with the history of the city. During the late 1700s, New York City was the fencing Mecca of North America, with at least fourteen fencing schools total, mostly located in lower Manhattan. This tradition continued throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, when celebrated masters of French, German, Italian, and Danish origin trained New Yorkers in the noble art and science of defense, sometimes for the purpose of fighting duels. Occasionally these masters would gather to test and display their skills before the public, and contest with weapons such as the foil, épée, saber, rapier, dagger, cane, knife, buckler, and others. Nor were these fencing contests purely the domain of men alone. One of the most famous New York fencers was Ella Hattan, a woman popularly known as “Jaguarina.” Hattan began training in New York at the age of 18, and went on to become an international sensation with the broadsword, rapier, and knife. In 1896, she fought a broadsword combat on horseback in full armor against the German Captain Orlofsky, at Dickel’s Riding Academy on West Fifty-Sixth street, in front of a crowd of 500 people.

Martinez Academy of Arms on Sunday August 28th, 2011 will present a demonstration of the art and science of fencing as it was practiced in New York City during two of its most important historical eras, the 18th and 19th centuries.

During the 18th century the small-sword reigned supreme as the gentlemen’s sidearm. George Washington himself was practiced in the art of fencing with the small-sword and sabre. The 19th century saw continued interest and growth of schools as greater numbers of fencing masters immigrated to North America especially to New Orleans and New York City.

The demonstrations will include:

• The 18th century French small-sword, used for personal defense.
• The art of foil, the core training implement utilized in both civilian and military schools.
• Fencing with the stick, another training tool used in fencing schools through out the 19th century.
• Fencing with the sabre, demonstrating both the dueling sabre used in civilian duels and the military sabre.
• Fencing with the dueling sword, used specifically in affairs honor.