Traditionally the perpetuation of any martial art to future generations is through a chain of direct transmission from master to disciple. The martial art and science of fencing is no different. Martinez Academy of Arms as a traditional academy of arms adheres to this philosophy.
Maitre Agustin Grisier in his 1847 treatise Les armes et le duel best articulates the transmission of knowledge through the traditional process.
“de nombreux assauts particuliers ou publics, l’usage cotinuel de plastron avec la maître le rasuraient-ils sur la science qu’il avait acquise, alors se glorifiant du nom de son maître, recourant chaque jour à ses bon avis, il ovrait une salle dans laquelle il apportait les traditions sages qu’il avait recues. L’art si noble et si utile de l’escrime ne périclitat pas, et le professeur émérite, heureux des succés de son disciple, remettait avec confiance à une main plus jeune la fleuret devenu trop pesant pour son bras affaibli.”
“numerous private and public assaults, continual work on the plastron with the master will assure him of the science which he has acquired, then glorifying in the name of his master, seeking his good advice every day, he opens a salle to which he brings the wise traditions that he has received. The art of fencing, so noble and useful, would not come to ruin, and the professor emeritus, happy with the success of his disciple, bequeaths with confidence to a younger hand the foil that has become too heavy for his weakened arm.”
As a tribute to Maitre Frederick Rohdes and his master Marcel Cabijos we have included their biographies along with photos and newspaper articles. Maitre Rohdes also trained with Maestri Luigi Barbasetti and Aurelio Greco. Therefore, we have included brief biographies of these masters as well because their teachings directly influence the instruction imparted at Martinez Academy of Arms.
Frederick Rohdes was a Maître d’Armes (master of arms) who taught the art and science of fencing in New York City at his own academy for decades. He was one of the last fencing masters who continued to teach fencing in the old tradition.
Born in 1897 in Western Prussia, he first learned fencing in his native Germany as a boy. While still in his teens, just prior to World War I, he emigrated to the United States.
Marcel Cabijos was a Maître d’Armes (master of arms) who taught the art and science of fencing in New York City in the old tradition. Born in France, in 1893, Maître Cabijos began to fence at the age of 12.
Cabijos served in the French Navy as Marine Carpenter aboard the cruiser Jurien de la Graviere during World War I, from 1914 to 1919. He was also a combat instructor and served in the Fusiliers Marins, a combat unit that was deployed to the land from ships.
Luigi Barbasetti was born in Cividale, Italy on February 21, 1859. His fencing master was Maestro Giuseppe Radaelli a follower of the Northern Italian School, under whose tutelage Barbasetti was trained to be a military master of arms. In the late 19th century, during the attempted restructuring of fencing in Italy Barbasetti was ordered to go to Rome to be re-trained in the southern method of Maestro Masaniello Parise through courses at the Military Fencing Masters School in Rome. Upon completing his courses Barbasetti remained for a time as part of the faculty.
Aurelio Greco was born in Catania, Sicily on March 22, 1879. His father Dr. Salvatore Greco die Chiaramonte, Marchese di Valdina, a Sicilian aristocrat, was also a fencing master but Aurelio received his education in fencing from his older brother Maestro Agesilao Greco who was an internationally renowned master of the art.
