British Academy of Fencing

The British Academy of Fencing is an organisation for fencing coaches in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Its origins go back to 1540, when King Henry VIII issued a bill (or Warrant signed by the Sovereign and directed to the Lord Chancellor for passing Letters Patent under the Great Seal) under the title "Masters of ye Noble Science of Defence". This still exists at the Public Records Office C.82/770).

The Bill gave Masters a monopoly of teaching fencing in England and empowered them to commit to goal any offender who taught without being a member of the Guild.

When Henry VIII died in 1547 this monopoly lapsed and it was not renewed. However, the Ancient Masters recovered their lawful privileges from a sympathetic James I. On the 1^st July 1605 he granted them a Warrant (Rymer’s Foedera Vol.XVI). This Warrant was abolished when James I was forced to pass the Monopolies Act 21 Cop. III in 1623/24.

During the Restoration the body fell into disrepute because of the so-called "Masters" who did not ply their prizes (a traditional examination which required the fighting and defeating of their betters). These swordsmen merely gave themselves the title of "Master" or "Professor" and were in fact, nothing more than paid prizefighters with swords and were the forerunners of pugilists.

From then on the decline was rapid and to all extents the body ceased to exist, although some Fencing Masters managed to earn a living in the country.

In 1903 the Guild was reformed under the title "The London Académie d’Armes", and again in 1931 under the title "The British Federation of Fencing Masters".

During the Second World War it hibernated, but in 1949 an Ancient Guild of Fencing Masters was again refounded as "The British Academy of Fencing". The inspiration for this venture came from the late Charles de Beaumont and it was implemented by Professor Roger Crosnier, Professor Leon Paul and Mr. J.D. Aylward. The Academy’s first President was Professor Leon Bertrand. The British Academy of Fencing (B.A.F.) is a founder member of the Academie d’Armes Internationale – the international federation of fencing academies.

The Academy of today is a progressive organisation and changes are constantly taking place. By the maintenance of a carefully structured system of courses and examinations, the Academy provides teachers and/or coaches of fencing with the opportunities to qualify through Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Awards, with Foil, Epee and Sabre up to Diploma standard. The B.A.F. Diploma is recognised and respected throughout the world and is the qualification required for full Membership of the Academy

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Last modified: 27th April 2008