Martial Arts Industry Association

Hello Ladies & Gentlemen,

My name is Graham Russell. I operate Fire Heart Defence, a school of Historical Fencing and Western Martial Art in western Victoria. I have found that not many people are aware of the Western Martial Art systems so I will provide a brief outline of my background and of Western MA as it is practiced at FHD.

I practiced and taught Eastern Martial Arts, Kung fu, Tai chi, Jui-jitsu and others, for a few decades, then in the 90's I started reading centuries old English defence instruction manuals and I became captivated by the logical and beautiful construction of these lost fencing systems, which I found possessed a sound foundation of guards from which stem a well knitted system of techniques that are effective and economical in their use of space, energy and time.

Gradually the main focus of FHD shifted from Eastern to Western martial art and by 2003 FHD was a school of authentic WMA. FHD is still a member of the AKWF as I still teach Kung fu & Tai chi.

The FHD syllibus has developed into one of predominantly historical English Martial Art that is modelled according to English instruction manuals on dfence from the 1500's onwards. We also utilyse the European defence manuals of the same and earlier periods. Students commence their training at FHD with a three month course in Singlehanded Sword and Singlestick fencing according to the method described by George Silver in his instruction manuals (London 1599). Students then go on to study Sword & Dagger fencing according to the same method. Then Quarterstaff fencing according to both Silver and Swetnam (London 1617). Concurrently with their Sword & Staff fencing, students study empty hand defence according to European empty hand manuals of the same and earlier periods, wrestling and bare fist methods, and also contemporary empty hand defence methods. Students also study Two Handed Sword, Rapier, Rapier & Dagger, and Smallsword according to both English and Italian methods, and Sabre according to various English & European sources.

As far as I know I am the only Western Martial Art instructor in the MAIA (?) and I would like to know if there are other MAIA instructors and practitioners, or any others who visit this forum, who are studying or interested in authentic Historical Fencing & Western Martial art systems.


Graham Russell

Fire Heart Defence
School of Western Martial Art