Smallsword Academy 2026

Maestro Ramon Martinez

Maestro Ramón Martínez is a traditional master of arms, teaching classical and historical fencing. He studied with the late Maître d’Armes Frederick Rohdes in New York City for ten years. Maître Rohdes was one of the last fencing masters to teach fencing as a martial art. During that time Maestro 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 Maestro Martínez. Ramon Martínez is an inheritor of a “Living Tradition” generations old and a highly respected scholar of historical fencing. He has devoted over five decades to the study, practice and teaching of classical and historical fencing. In addition to the instruction in historical fencing that he received during his training with Maître Rohdes, he has also done and continues to conduct extensive research in historical fencing. Maestro Martínez has spent years researching many of the detailed treatises of the schools and systems left by some of the most prominent masters of the past in his effort to accurately reconstruct some of these systems. These historical forms are then taught as authentically as possible. His goal and responsibility is to teach, promote, and preserve these rare martial arts.

Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez

Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez is a traditional master of arms, teaching classical and historical fencing. She began her training in 1982 under the tutelage of Maître d’Armes Frederick Rohdes, and after his death in 1984, continued with his protégé Maestro Ramón Martínez. In 2000 she earned the rank of Maestro. In all, Maestro Acosta-Martínez has spent over four decades studying traditional fencing, both classical and historical. She annotated and created additional illustrations for the appendix of the republication of the 18th century fencing treatise The School of Fencing, by Domenico Angelo; published by Greenhill Press in 2005. Maestro Acosta-Martínez has also created a three-volume instructional DVD on the French school of small-sword, L’École Française: A Practical and Combative Guide to the French Small-sword. In addition to being a master of arms she is also a professional restorer of antique furniture specializing in works of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Maître Cecil Longino

In 2003, Mr. Longino was accepted as a formal student of Maestro Ramón Martínez and Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez, training in both classical and historical weapons. He earned the rank of Prévôt d’Armes (Provost of Arms) in November of 2013 and was later elevated to Maître d’Armes (Master of Arms) in November of 2016. He is certified to instruct in all weapons taught at the Martinez Academy of Arms in New York and continues to instruct in these methods at the Salle Saint-Georges in Seattle, WA.

(Schedule subject to change)

Friday:
1:15pm – 3:00pm: Lecture (How Historical Fencing Masters looked at Fencing in the 18th Century)*
3:00pm – 4:00pm: Break
4:00pm – 8:00pm: Classes and Training

Saturday:
10:00am – 6:00pm: Classes and Training

Sunday:
10:00am – 12:00pm: Metropolitan Museum of Art (Separate Charge)
12:00pm – 1:00pm: Lunch Break
1:00pm – 5:00pm: Classes and Training

Classes and Training will be held at City Center Studios (131 W 55th St (between Sixth and Seventh avenues)

*The Lecture will be held at the home studio for New York Combat for Stage & Screen (246 West 38th Street)