The Selohaar Fechtschule (German for 'Fencing School') is
a historical fencing study group within the Order of Selohaar. The group
meets weekly to research, study, and practice the martial arts of Medieval
and early Renaissance Europe under the guidance of the Grand Master of the
Order, Christian Henry Tobler. Mr. Tobler, a member of the Advisory Board
for Swordplay Symposium International, is an internationally-known researcher,
instructor, and combatant and has instructed at seminars and symposia around
the United States for seven years.
The Fechtschule focuses on the Fechtbücher, or "fight
books", of the masters of the tradition arising from the teachings of the
14th century grandmaster Johannes Liechtenauer. We use the treatises ascribed
to Sigmund Ringeck, Peter von Danzig, Paulus Kal, Hans Talhoffer, Peter Falkner,
and others, whose commentaries on Liechtenauer's secret verses constitute the
medieval German Kunst des Fechtens (Art of Fighting). These manuscripts
document the use of the longsword, dagger, poleaxe, and unarmed combat, both
in and out of armour, on foot and on horseback.
