Garden State Historical Swordsmanship

06/14/2026

06/14/2026

We are excited for this year's TWO DAY TIRE MACHÈT WORKSHOP! Come learn about the Haitian art of machete fencing with Master Instructor Michael Dylan Rogers.

This event is accessible at all levels of skill and fitness; all proceeds go to support the Avril family in Haiti.

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In Haiti, the traditional art of machete fencing goes by many names, among them Tire Machèt (“Pulling Machetes”). Tire Machèt has roots in the Haitian Revolution, when the revolutionaries were often forced to fight with fewer guns than soldiers. Its combination of ancestral African combat systems proved highly effective both in battle and as a means of individual self-defense.

Professor Avril first asked his student Michael Rogers to introduce people "on the other side" to Haitian fencing nearly 20 years ago. Since that time, the Haitian Fencing Project has been dedicated to promoting and teaching this system worldwide; Michael has developed an intensive curriculum that can teach the basics of the Avril family system over the course of two 7-hour sessions.

About Michael Dylan Rogers, Master Instructor, Project Coordinator: Michael is an assistant professor of humanities at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon. He first traveled to Haiti in 2002 and has spent over four years living and working there. He is the only non-Haitian known to have mastered the art of Haitian machete fencing, and is featured in the documentary short Papa Machete, which he worked on as a consultant from concept through post-production. He holds a PhD in history from the University of Cambridge.
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05/25/2026

Rainy weather...no problem.
Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. (Yes, one of our members is USMC).

05/12/2026

05/10/2026

Smallsword Academy 2026 Explore the precision and skill of smallsword New York City May 22nd – 24th, 2026 CombatCon is pleased to host the Small-Sword Academy, a three-day intensive seminar. This seminar will provide students with no previous experience a well rounded introduction to the art, whil...

05/10/2026

Congratulations to all, and our boy Brian (1st row, 2nd from left).

05/10/2026

Great time had by GSHS!

Another successful Springeck in the books!

05/10/2026

Congratulations!

Congratulations to David Ott and Shawn Allbee for playing their prize and attainting the rank of Provost! Well done!