Selohaar Fechtschule

Category: German Study

The Selohaar Fechtschule (German for 'Fencing School') is a historical fencing study group within the Order of Selohaar founded by Christian Henry Tobler. The "Manor", as it is known, serves as the group's home base. The group meets weekly to research, study, and practice the martial arts of Medieval and early Renaissance Europe under the guidance of the Grand Master of the Order, Christian Henry Tobler. Mr. Tobler, a member of the Advisory Board for Swordplay Symposium International, is an internationally-known researcher, instructor, and combatant and has instructed at seminars and symposia around the United States for seven years.

The Fechtschule focuses on the Fechtbücher, or "fight books", of the masters of the tradition arising from the teachings of the 14th century grandmaster Johannes Liechtenauer. We use the treatises ascribed to Sigmund Ringeck, Peter von Danzig, Paulus Kal, Hans Talhoffer, Peter Falkner, and others, whose commentaries on Liechtenauer's secret verses constitute the medieval German Kunst des Fechtens (Art of Fighting). These manuscripts document the use of the longsword, dagger, poleaxe, and unarmed combat, both in and out of armour, on foot and on horseback.