|
|
[ Home | News | Classes | Calendar | Instructor |
|
|
Ramón Martínez (see curriculum vitae) is a teacher of classical and historical fencing. He studied classical fencing with the late Maître d'Armes Frederick Rohdes in New York for ten years. Maître Rohdes (see bio) was one of the last fencing masters to teach fencing as a martial art. During that time Mr. Martínez became assistant and protégé of Maître Rohdes and was the only one of his pupils permitted to teach with full authorization at the Rohdes Academy. In late 1982, shortly before his death, Maître Rohdes conferred the rank of Fencing Master on Mr. Martínez.
In all, Maestro Martínez has devoted over 28 years to the study and teaching of classical fencing. He has also done extensive research in historical fencing. Many of the most prominent masters of the past centuries left elaborate, highly detailed treatises of the systems and styles which they taught. Maestro Martínez has spent years carefully and thoroughly researching these treatises (see bibliography) in an effort to accurately reconstruct these varied styles. These ancient and historical forms are then taught as authentically as possible to those of his students who are interested. Maestro Martínez' goal is to teach, promote, and preserve this rare martial art.
Maestro Martínez is a member of the Council of Advisors of Swordplay Symposium International. He is associated with the Federazione Italiana Scherma Antica e Storica and the British Federation for Historical Swordplay. He is the current president of the Association for Historical Fencing, founded to promote, preserve and revive classical and historical fencing. He is also one of the founders of the International Masters at Arms Federation.
Jeannette Acosta-Martinez (see curriculum vitae) is a professional restorer of antique furniture who specializes in works of the 17th and 18th centuries. This, together with her interest in antique weapons, led her to the study of fencing. She began under the tutelage of Mâitre d'Armes Frederick Rohdes, and after his death in 1983, continued with his protégé Maestro Ramon Martinez. In all, Maestro Acosta-Martinez has spent a total of 18 years studying traditional fencing, both classical and historical. In 1995, she became an instructor at Martinez Academy of Arms, as well as the Academy's business manager. She also became Maestro Martinez' assistant at all his demonstrations and seminars.
In preparation for her Provost's and Master's certification, Maestro Acosta-Martinez devoted time to learning the art of teaching, as well as extensively researching the fencing treatises of the classical and historical periods. In January 1999, she was instrumental in orchestrating a historical exposition at St. Peter's College, New Jersey, which had international participation and featured demonstrations not seen in public for more than 100 years. In May of 2000, she received her Master's certification from the International Masters at Arms Federation and a second certification from the Martinez Academy of Arms the following November, thus becoming the only other Master certified to teach the Rohdes system of classical fencing and the Martinez system of Spanish rapier fence. Maestro Acosta-Martinez is also the Vice President of the Association for Historical Fencing and a founding member of the International Masters at Arms Federation.
Andy Baiman, a former New York City high school English teacher, owns and operates an industrial hardware and mill supply business in Manhattan.
Following his introduction to the ubiquitous Olympic-style fencing via an undergraduate Physical Education class at Queens College, Mr. Baiman pursued fencing in various venues, including several years at a local YWCA under the tutelage of a former Pan-American Games champion, who was himself schooled by one of the last classically-trained masters of the previous age.
At about this time, in pursuit of something with less of a sporting aspect and more of a martial one, Mr. Baiman began what was to be a three-year study of Tai Chi Ch'uan with noted New York-area Tai Chi Master C.K. Chu. It was here that he met Maestro Martínez, himself then a student at the Tai Chi school, who was giving classical fencing classes in space provided by Master Chu. Mr. Baiman has studied with Maestro Martínez ever since then, a span of some seventeen years.
Prior to earning the rank of Provost in January of 2001, Mr. Baiman had assisted Maestro Martínez in several demonstrations and exhibitions including the Cloisters Renaissance Fair and a demonstration for the Brigade of the American Revolution in Huntington, Long Island. He became an instructor at the Martinez Academy in 1998.
Aside form his particular interest in the smallsword as the paragon and final evolution of Western sword disciplines, Mr. Baiman takes special interest in discovering the solutions to the mystery of guiding students through that troubling transition between academic knowledge of technique and practical application in the bout, long a source of consternation for teacher and pupil alike.
Jared Kirby began his studies of historical fencing in Minneapolis, MN. After several years, he moved to Scotland in order to work with Maestro Paul Macdonald, focusing on Italian Rapier, Longsword and Dusack. In pursuing his studies of Western Martial Arts, Jared has done research in to the historical forms of Dusack and the Italian Rapier, extensively studying the treatises written by the respective prominent masters of these weapons. He is the editor and one of the translators of Italian Rapier Combat, the first complete, professional translation of Capo Ferro's 1610 treatise.
Jared moved to New York in 1999 to focus his studies on the Spanish school of Rapier at the Martinez Academy of Arms. Since then he has been studying both the Spanish and Italian systems of Rapier at the Academy. In December of 2003, he received the rank of Instructor for Spanish and Italian Rapier. Jared often assists Maestro Martinez at seminars and demonstrations.
Jared is the co-founder of The New Dawn Duellists Society in Minneapolis, MN. He is also the co-coordinator of the International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention in Lansing, MI. This workshop, created in 2000, brings together the finest instructors from around the world for one of the largest annual Western Martial Arts workshops. Jared is a full member of the Dawn Duellists Society in Edinburgh, Scotland and a member of the Association for Historical Fencing.
Kim Moser has been studying at the Martinez Academy of Arms since 1990. A freelance computer consultant, he is also the designer and webmaster of the school's Web site (www.martinez-destreza.com).
Mr. Moser first spent several years gaining a thorough comprehension of French foil, later including French épée (dueling sword) and Italian dueling saber in his studies. He has also studied French smallsword and Spanish rapier. Mr. Moser has performed demonstrations of classical and historical fencing at several public events and on national television.
In February of 2000, Mr. Moser was certified by the Martinez Academy to teach French foil and épée, and, since then, has been teaching privately in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Tequesta, FL.
Christopher Umbs has been fencing since he was 13 years old. His first 5 years were spent studying sport foil and epee under Bruce Radher and Ted Li at the Pingry School followed by another 2 years of sport tournaments. At that point, Christopher began entering rapier tournaments at festivals and in various recreation groups. After 10 years of notable success in these arenas, he joined the Martinez Academy in 1997. While a student of many classical and historical arms, Christopher was certified in March of 2000 to teach Italian rapier.
Christopher has participated in over 300 fencing and other martial tournaments and continues to compete. Since the founding of the Association for Historical Fencing, he has won AHF champion titles in rapier, smallsword and dueling sabre.
|
Copyright © 1996-1998 by Ramón Martínez (contact) All Rights Reserved |
Webmaster: Kim Moser (email) |