The Grand Assault of Arms has been the ultimate test of martial skill among classical fencers since 2003. Each year classical fencers from various localities both national and international travel to New York City to participate as individual practitioners of classical fencing from traditional fencing schools, university clubs, and study groups. Over a span of two days the fencers contend with one another in a grueling test of fencing skill with many participants fencing more than one weapon. Read more about the history and origins of the Grand Assault here.
Preliminary assaults are held on the first day to determine the finalists in each weapon, and on the second day the finalists meet to determine the winners in each weapon category. These finals occur within an elaborately organized event that is open to the public. Professional fencing masters and instructors also participate with exhibitions of skill presenting demonstrations of various schools and weapons both classical and historical.
Schedule
Saturday – Preliminaries
Community Education & Recreation Center
180 Ninth Street, Jersey City, NJ
- 11:00 – 11:30am: Participant & Equipment Check In
- 11:30– 1:30pm: Qualifying Rounds Foil
- 1:30 – 5:30pm: Tournament: Foil, Dueling Sword, Small-sword, and Sabre
- 5:30 – 6:30pm: Dinner Break
- 6:30 – 10:30pm: Tournament continues
Sunday – Finals
New York Academy of Medicine Library
1216 5th Ave, New York, NY
- 1:30 – 4:30pm: Public Demonstrations & Final Assaults
Locations
Saturday – Preliminaries
Sunday – Finals
Competition Rules
All fencers fencing are required to read, understand, and adhere to the AHF Tournament Rules. Fencers participating in the foil competition must also read and understand the Qualifying Round Criteria by which they will be judged in order to proceed to the foil competition. Please review the rules as they have been recently updated.
