Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
@thetavernknight.bsky.social
⚔ Historical Fencing Coach, Instructor at Arms
Founder of Boston Academie d’Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social
Rapier | Saber | Smallsword | Italian Foil
1:1 Training & Group Classes
www.JustinSwordFit.com
www.BostonAcademieDArmes.com
(He/Him)
Founder of Boston Academie d’Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social
Rapier | Saber | Smallsword | Italian Foil
1:1 Training & Group Classes
www.JustinSwordFit.com
www.BostonAcademieDArmes.com
(He/Him)
Little unscripted parry-riposte volley from recent training with Eli.
I’m big on getting folks comfortable with attacks failing and transitioning from offense to defense.
So I’ll throw in parries and ripostes to keep the fencer on their toes and be able to flow with the changing environment.
I’m big on getting folks comfortable with attacks failing and transitioning from offense to defense.
So I’ll throw in parries and ripostes to keep the fencer on their toes and be able to flow with the changing environment.
December 8, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Little unscripted parry-riposte volley from recent training with Eli.
I’m big on getting folks comfortable with attacks failing and transitioning from offense to defense.
So I’ll throw in parries and ripostes to keep the fencer on their toes and be able to flow with the changing environment.
I’m big on getting folks comfortable with attacks failing and transitioning from offense to defense.
So I’ll throw in parries and ripostes to keep the fencer on their toes and be able to flow with the changing environment.
Shoot your shot
December 7, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Shoot your shot
🇫🇷 🇫🇷 🇫🇷
December 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
🇫🇷 🇫🇷 🇫🇷
This was several weeks ago when it didn’t hurt it be outdoors in New England.
Fun little sequence; mixing a few blade actions here to get more practice in.
🧵
Fun little sequence; mixing a few blade actions here to get more practice in.
🧵
December 5, 2025 at 6:26 PM
This was several weeks ago when it didn’t hurt it be outdoors in New England.
Fun little sequence; mixing a few blade actions here to get more practice in.
🧵
Fun little sequence; mixing a few blade actions here to get more practice in.
🧵
🐕 ❄️
December 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM
🐕 ❄️
So I wanted to explore it’s use in fencing from the 17th centuries onward. I also wanted to see how the action could fit in modern historical fencing and classical fencing lessons.
December 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
So I wanted to explore it’s use in fencing from the 17th centuries onward. I also wanted to see how the action could fit in modern historical fencing and classical fencing lessons.
I bounced around a few ideas, but settled on 'yielding glides' as they’re an action I enjoy but don’t really exist in modern or classical fencing.
December 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I bounced around a few ideas, but settled on 'yielding glides' as they’re an action I enjoy but don’t really exist in modern or classical 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...
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#historicalfencer #rapier #historyresearch
justinswordfit.com/2025/12/01/h...
🧵
#historicalfencer #rapier #historyresearch
December 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
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
justinswordfit.com/2025/12/01/h...
🧵
#historicalfencer #rapier #historyresearch
But we did get some pretty awesome photos out of the experience. I don't think the horses cared about that bit, though. 🤣
📷 Opal
📷 Opal
December 1, 2025 at 5:29 PM
But we did get some pretty awesome photos out of the experience. I don't think the horses cared about that bit, though. 🤣
📷 Opal
📷 Opal
Rossfechten practice last week was shortened by a surprise snow squall and winds that blew everything horizontal. The horses eventually told us to sod off, so we packed it in early.
🧵
#rossfechten #mysca #historicalfencing
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#rossfechten #mysca #historicalfencing
December 1, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Rossfechten practice last week was shortened by a surprise snow squall and winds that blew everything horizontal. The horses eventually told us to sod off, so we packed it in early.
🧵
#rossfechten #mysca #historicalfencing
🧵
#rossfechten #mysca #historicalfencing
Working on flash cards.
So many many flash cards…
So many many flash cards…
November 29, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Working on flash cards.
So many many flash cards…
So many many flash cards…
A short but fun ride and rossfechtan practice today.
Got to ride Medallion today.
Also took a selfie with the new boy, Sereno.
Got to ride Medallion today.
Also took a selfie with the new boy, Sereno.
November 29, 2025 at 1:26 AM
A short but fun ride and rossfechtan practice today.
Got to ride Medallion today.
Also took a selfie with the new boy, Sereno.
Got to ride Medallion today.
Also took a selfie with the new boy, Sereno.
Happy Thanksgiving to my found fencer family. It’s been a fun year of fencing, learning and coaching.
Thankful to all the folks who continue to entrust their fencing education and training with me. Much love to you all.
⚔️⚜️⚜️⚔️
Thankful to all the folks who continue to entrust their fencing education and training with me. Much love to you all.
⚔️⚜️⚜️⚔️
November 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to my found fencer family. It’s been a fun year of fencing, learning and coaching.
Thankful to all the folks who continue to entrust their fencing education and training with me. Much love to you all.
⚔️⚜️⚜️⚔️
Thankful to all the folks who continue to entrust their fencing education and training with me. Much love to you all.
⚔️⚜️⚜️⚔️
🦃🦃🦃
November 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
🦃🦃🦃
Te was moving so fast coming out of the corners I had to ask folks if we were still trotting or if he went into a canter (which he isn’t allowed to do).
A good lesson. Had a lot of fun. Things are clicking. I also didn't freeze but I do need warmer socks.
A good lesson. Had a lot of fun. Things are clicking. I also didn't freeze but I do need warmer socks.
November 25, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Te was moving so fast coming out of the corners I had to ask folks if we were still trotting or if he went into a canter (which he isn’t allowed to do).
A good lesson. Had a lot of fun. Things are clicking. I also didn't freeze but I do need warmer socks.
A good lesson. Had a lot of fun. Things are clicking. I also didn't freeze but I do need warmer socks.
Took 2hrs to get to the stables tonight, but I did eventually make it...
Got to trot in Te for the first time!
Man… he can move for an old man. I had trouble getting him to slow down which was a new and fun experience. I’m used to Cody who doesn’t want to move for me. 🤣🤣
Got to trot in Te for the first time!
Man… he can move for an old man. I had trouble getting him to slow down which was a new and fun experience. I’m used to Cody who doesn’t want to move for me. 🤣🤣
November 25, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Took 2hrs to get to the stables tonight, but I did eventually make it...
Got to trot in Te for the first time!
Man… he can move for an old man. I had trouble getting him to slow down which was a new and fun experience. I’m used to Cody who doesn’t want to move for me. 🤣🤣
Got to trot in Te for the first time!
Man… he can move for an old man. I had trouble getting him to slow down which was a new and fun experience. I’m used to Cody who doesn’t want to move for me. 🤣🤣
I do appreciate the certain level of insanity one must have to do equestrian combat of any form. Yes, let's fence each other with weapons but also do it on a creature that could turn you into pulp if it so inclined. 🤣
November 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I do appreciate the certain level of insanity one must have to do equestrian combat of any form. Yes, let's fence each other with weapons but also do it on a creature that could turn you into pulp if it so inclined. 🤣
Still riding that Rossfechtan train... errr... horse. Anyways, this past week we busted out the spears for the first time. If you think spears are fun, in general, try it on a horse! 😆
November 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Still riding that Rossfechtan train... errr... horse. Anyways, this past week we busted out the spears for the first time. If you think spears are fun, in general, try it on a horse! 😆
Second half of this drill with Anezka. Same setup and actions, just with mobility thrown in to up the spice.
She’s looking to get me with a disengagement in time. Or, if I land the parry, transition to defense with her own counter-parry & riposte.
Real solid work by Anezka here.
She’s looking to get me with a disengagement in time. Or, if I land the parry, transition to defense with her own counter-parry & riposte.
Real solid work by Anezka here.
November 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Second half of this drill with Anezka. Same setup and actions, just with mobility thrown in to up the spice.
She’s looking to get me with a disengagement in time. Or, if I land the parry, transition to defense with her own counter-parry & riposte.
Real solid work by Anezka here.
She’s looking to get me with a disengagement in time. Or, if I land the parry, transition to defense with her own counter-parry & riposte.
Real solid work by Anezka here.
Me *scrambling*: WHERE'S MY SWORD?
Steve: 😏😏
Steve: 😏😏
November 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Me *scrambling*: WHERE'S MY SWORD?
Steve: 😏😏
Steve: 😏😏
Eli wanted to work on defending low attacks so we block drilled parry of 2nd and 1st (aka low 4th aka half-circle) and then jumped to an option drill.
From his blade seizure I’m attacking either high or low by disengagement. Eli needs to read and select the correct parry.
🧵
From his blade seizure I’m attacking either high or low by disengagement. Eli needs to read and select the correct parry.
🧵
November 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Eli wanted to work on defending low attacks so we block drilled parry of 2nd and 1st (aka low 4th aka half-circle) and then jumped to an option drill.
From his blade seizure I’m attacking either high or low by disengagement. Eli needs to read and select the correct parry.
🧵
From his blade seizure I’m attacking either high or low by disengagement. Eli needs to read and select the correct parry.
🧵
Finishing up our lesson with some simple beats and attacks direct.
Once in a while I parry and riposte to keep Eli honest and so he can get some O to D transition work.
Once in a while I parry and riposte to keep Eli honest and so he can get some O to D transition work.
November 14, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Finishing up our lesson with some simple beats and attacks direct.
Once in a while I parry and riposte to keep Eli honest and so he can get some O to D transition work.
Once in a while I parry and riposte to keep Eli honest and so he can get some O to D transition work.
Inherited some more booklets
November 13, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Inherited some more booklets
After doing some coached sparring to start the lesson, we found a few holes or actions that needed refinement, so we built it into this drill.
🧵
#bostonfencing #italianrapier #westernmartialarts #historicalfencer
🧵
#bostonfencing #italianrapier #westernmartialarts #historicalfencer
November 12, 2025 at 6:37 PM
After doing some coached sparring to start the lesson, we found a few holes or actions that needed refinement, so we built it into this drill.
🧵
#bostonfencing #italianrapier #westernmartialarts #historicalfencer
🧵
#bostonfencing #italianrapier #westernmartialarts #historicalfencer
Got to ride Tido last night who is a Very Tol Boi
November 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Got to ride Tido last night who is a Very Tol Boi