Lectures & Demonstrations

Martinez Academy of Arms and affiliated schools have held demonstrations on a variety of television programs, as well as for museums, educational institutions, performing arts centers, historical sites, and various other venues. Past demonstrations have included:

  • Aston Magna Academy at Rutgers University
  • Bruno Walter Auditorium, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
  • CBS
  • Centro Español, New York City
  • Higgins Armory Museum
  • Historic Richmond Town
  • History Channel - Museum Secrets
  • La Nacional, Spanish Benevolent Society, New York City
  • Lincoln Center
  • MSNBC
  • Wallace Collection in London
Destreza demo at Higgins Armory Museum Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jared Kirby demonstrate the Spanish school of fencing (La Verdadera Destreza) with rapiers at the Higgins Armory Museum

Upcoming Events

Future workshops, lectures, and events will be posted here.

Past Events and Reviews

Spanish Saber, CombatCon, Las Vegas, August 3, 2019

Spanish Martial Arts Weekend, New York City, May 25 - 26, 2019

Spanish Martial Arts Weekend, New York City, May 19 - 21, 2017

Review of Spanish Martial Arts Weekend

Destreza Theory Applied to the Bowie Knife, New York City, February 25, 2017

Review of Martinez Academy of Arms Academia, New Orleans, September 20, 2015 PDF

Spanish Martial Arts Weekend, New York City, May 29 - 31, 2015

Spanish Martial Arts Weekend, New York City, May 24 - 26, 2013

The Mysticism of Western Swordsmanship: Beyond the Physical, November 27, 2012

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be giving a lecture on the tradition of esoteric knowledge found within European swordsmanship

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a one day seminar at the 13th annual Philadelphia Stage Combat Workshop, October 5, 2012

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching at Combat Con, July 6 – 8, 2012

Review of workshop in Edinburgh, Scotland, March 24 - 25, 2012

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching Spanish rapier and Northern Italian dueling sabre. Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching Italian rapier and French small-sword.

Spanish Martial Arts Weekend, New York City, August 19 – 21, 2011

Maestro Martinez surprises Guro Inosanto on his 75th birthday, New York City, August 24, 2011

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching at Combat Con, Las Vegas, June 24 – 26, 2011

Destreza workshop, Canada, March 23, 2011

Rencontre des Arts Martiaux historiques de Québec (Symposium d'escrime Qc) Historical Martial Arts Meeting of Quebec (Fencing Symposium), March 12 – 13, 2011

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a class on La Verdadera Destreza assisted by Maestro Acosta-Martínez.

Review of Spanish Swordsmanship Workshop, Toronto, Canada, April 20, 2010

Western Washington Western Martial Arts Workshop (4W), Seattle Washington, February 13 - 15, 2010

Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching a three-day workshop on French theory and practice as applied to foil, dagger, and bayonet. Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a three-day workshop on Destreza, applied to the Spanish sword, rapier and sabre.

Spanish Martial Arts Exposition, September 18, 2009

The Martinez Academy of Arms and The Raven Arts Institute will be making a presentation on Spanish martial arts.

Spanish Martial Arts Weekend, August 21 - 23, 2009

Martinez Academy of Arms will hosting this event which will include rapier, smallsword, sabre, navaja and walking stick. Maestros Ramón Martínez, Jeannette Acosta-Martínez and James Loregia will be teaching.

Redwood Rapier Camp, Arcata, CA, July 19 - 25, 2009

The 10th Annual International Sword Fighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), May 22 - 25, 2009

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching at this event.

2009 Paddy Crean International Art of the Sword Workshop, Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada, December 29, 2008 - January 3, 2009

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez along with Instructor Jared Kirby will be teaching at this event. Maestro Ramón Martínez - Spanish Sidesword/Rapier

The 9th Annual International Sword Fighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), July 31 - August 3, 2008

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching at this event.

Redwood Rapier Camp, Arcata, CA, June 22 - 28, 2008

The Ninth Meeting of Classical and Historical Fencing hosted by FISAS, Verbania, Italy, April 24 - 27, 2008

Maestros Ramón Martínez - "Sciabola da Duello del Nord Italia" e "La Verdadera Destreza". Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez - "Spadino Francese".

The 2008 Saratoga Martial Arts Festival, Saratoga Springs, New York, February 23 - 24, 2008

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching at one of the premiere non-competitive martial arts events in the northeastern United States. SMAF brings together senior-level instructors from the widest possible range of styles to teach on the widest possible range of subjects.

Western Washington Western Martial Arts Workshop (4W), Seattle Washington, February 15 - 17, 2008

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching several classes; Northern Italian Duelling Sabre, 19th Century Dueling Sword & Dueling Codes, French Smallsword and Sword & Dagger.

The 8th Annual International Sword fighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), July 12 - 15, 2007

La Verdadera Destreza and "Personal Defence". Instructor: M. Ramón Martínez
Rapier & Dagger: Spanish vis-a-vis Italian. Instructor: M. Ramón Martínez
Examining the Assault: Small Sword vis-a-vis Rapier. Instructor: M. Jeannette Acosta-Martínez

Redwood Rapier Camp, Arcata, CA, June 17 - 23, 2007

Spanish Martial Arts Weekend, May 25 - 27, 2007

Martinez Academy of Arms will hosting this event which will include rapier, smallsword, sabre, navaja and walking stick. Maestros Ramón Martínez, Jeannette Acosta-Martínez and James Loregia will be teaching.

The Eighth Meeting of Classical and Historical Fencing hosted by FISAS, Verbania, Italy, April 28 - May 1, 2007

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be attending and teaching classes.

The 7th Annual Lansing International Sword fighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), August 3 - 6, 2006

Maestro Class: The Concept and Application of Time in La Verdadera Destreza. Instructor: Maestro Ramón Martínez.

Redwood Rapier Camp, Arcata, CA, June 25 - July 1, 2006

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will instruct students on the fundamentals of rapier combat according to the principles of both the Spanish and Italian schools of fencing.

Spanish Martial Arts Weekend, August 12 - 14, 2005

Martinez Academy of Arms will hosting this event which will include rapier, smallsword, sabre, navaja and walking stick. Maestros Ramón Martínez, Jeannette Acosta-Martínez and James Loregia will be teaching.

The 6th Annual Lansing International Sword fighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), August 5 - 7, 2005

Spanish Rapier / Rapier and Dagger: Closing and Opening the Circle. Maestro Class. Instructor: Ramón Martínez
Italian & Spanish Fencing: Tactical Considerations within the Assault. Maestro Class. Instructor: Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez

Redwood Rapier Camp, Arcata, CA, June 12 - 18, 2005

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta Martinez will instruct students on the fundamentals of rapier combat according to the principles of both the Spanish and Italian schools of fencing.

The Sixth Meeting of Classical and Historical Fencing hosted by FISAS, Verbania, Italy, April 23 - 25, 2005

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be attending, teaching classes and presenting demonstrations.

Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, April 9, 2005

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be presenting a paper on Jeronimo de Carranza's "Philosophy" of Arms.

Western Washington Western Martial Arts Workshop (4W), Seattle, WA, February 25 - 27, 2005

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta Martinez will instruct students on the fundamentals of rapier combat according to the principles of both the Spanish or Italian schools of fencing.

The 5th Annual Lansing International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), August 6 - 8, 2004

Spanish Smallsword. Instructor: Ramón Martínez. Spanish Rapier. Instructor: Jeannette Acosta-Martínez.

Redwood Rapier Camp, Arcata, CA, July 25 - 31, 2004

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta Martinez will instruct students on the fundamentals of rapier combat according to the principles of either the Spanish or Italian schools of fencing.

The International order of the Sword and Pen will host the Paddy Crean Workshop, Australia, July 12 - 17, 2004

Maestro Martinez will be teaching several classes on rapier and small sword.

The Australian Historical Fencing Conference, Sydney, Australia, July 2 - 4, 2004

Hosted by Stoccata School of Defence. Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching.

The Fifth Meeting of Classical and Historical Fencing, hosted by FISAS, Verbania, Italy, April 23 - 25, 2004

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be attending, teaching classes and presenting demonstrations.

"La Destreza" Corso base di Striscia Spagnola. - Basic class of "La Destreza"; "La Destreza" Corso avanzato - "La Destreza" advanced class.

In questa lezione verrà anche trattata "La Destreza del Espadin" (Spadino Spagnolo) - In this class there will be also basic notions of Spanish Smallsword.

The Gallowglass Academy, Inc. will host three full days of instruction in the art of rapier combat, March 19 - 21, 2004

Maestro Ramón Martínez will teach a three-day seminar on the Spanish school of rapier and Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will teach a three-day seminar on the Italian school of rapier.

The 4th Annual Lansing International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), August 1 - 3, 2003

Spanish Rapier & Dagger, Instructor: Maestro Martínez

Redwood Rapier Camp, Arcata, CA, July 13 - 19, 2003

Participants may choose to study either the Spanish or Italian style of rapier fencing under the expert guidance of Maestro Ramón Martínez or Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez.

The Fourth Meeting of Classical and Historical Fencing, hosted by FISAS, Legnano, Italy, April 25 - 27, 2003

Maestros Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be attending, teaching classes and presenting demonstrations.

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a two day seminar on La Verdaera Destreza. This seminar will cover the combative aspects of Spanish vs. Italian rapier, Ashland, Oregon, April 5 - 6, 2003

A weekend of study of the Spanish School of Rapier, Chicago, IL, March 29 - 30, 2003

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching an intensive seminar on the use of Single Rapier and Rapier & Dagger. More information is available on the Gallowglass Academy web site.

38th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, 2003

The Fourth Annual Western Martial Arts Workshop hosted by the Chicago Swordplay Guild, DeKoven Center in Racine, WI, September 13 - 15, 2002

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a workshop on the French rapier and dagger. Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching a workshop on French small sword technique.

The 3rd Annual Lansing International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), August 2 - 4, 2002

Maestro Ramón Martínez, Martinez Academy of Arms - La Verdadera Destreza: An Introduction to the Art, Science & Philosophy of Spanish Swordsmanship.

The second annual Schola St. George Swordsmanship Symposium, June 7 - 9, 2002

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a full 6 hour class on the Spanish School "La Verdadera Destreza" on Sunday the 9th of June. Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching in introductory class on Small Sword on Friday June the 7th.

A weekend of study on the philosophy and practice of the Spanish School of Rapier, May 11 - 12, 2002

Instruction by Maestro Ramón Martínez and Maestro de Armas Jeannette Acosta-Martínez, to be held in Ashland, Oregon, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The Third Meeting of Classical and Historical Fencing, hosted by FISAS, Legnano, Italy, April 26 - 28, 2002

Maestros Martínez and Acosta-Martínez will be attending, teaching classes and presenting demonstrations. Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a class on Spanish Rapier & Dagger and a class on Classical Italian Sabre. Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching a class on French Small Sword.

Third Annual Western Martial Arts Workshop, Hosted by the AHF, New York City, NY, October 12 - 14, 2001

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a workshop on the Spanish School of rapier. Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez will be teaching a workshop on French small sword technique.

The 2nd Annual Lansing International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention (ISMAC), August 3 - 5, 2001

Maestro Ramón Martínez, Martinez Academy of Arms: La Verdadera Destreza: An Introduction to the Art, Science & Philosophy of Spanish Swordsmanship

Spanish Rapier Seminar, Ashland, Oregon, May 12 - 13, 2001

Maestro Ramón Martínez and John Michael Greer will be teaching a weekend seminar on Spanish rapier play.

Martinez Academy of Arms will be presenting a demonstration of classical and historical fencing at the United Nations International School fundraiser, February 10, 2001

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be giving a lecture demonstration on the Spanish School of rapier, at the Swords and Swordsmanship Study Day, Wallace Collection, London England, November 11, 2000

Second Annual Western Martial Arts Workshop, Toronto, Canada, October 13 - 15, 2000

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a class on La Destreza.

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a two-day seminar on the fundamental principles of the 16th and 17th century Spanish School of rapier (La Verdadera Destreza), August 26 - 27, 2000

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be teaching a class on La Destreza at the Swordplay Symposium International's first Bi-Annual Conference, Houston, TX, May 27 - 28, 2000

Maestro Ramón Martínez will be doing a presentation on the "Living Tradition of Rapier and Dagger" at the Higgins Armoury, May 20, 2000

He will be joined by Maestro Paul Macdonald of the Dawn Duellist Society and Stephen Hand of the Stoccata School of Defence.

International Paddy Crean Stage Combat Workshop in Banff, Alberta, Canada, January 3 - 9, 2000

Maestro Martínez will be teaching classes on La Destreza

Maestro Martínez will be representing Martinez Academy of Arms at the International Meeting of Ancient, Historical and Classical Fencing, Legano (Milan), Italy, November 27 - 28, 1999

On the 27th Maestro Martínez will be teaching a class on La Destreza. On November the 28th he will be doing a public demonstration in conjunction with Maestro Sinclair and Paul Macdonald.

International Paddy Crean Stage Combat Workshop, Edinburgh, Scotland, August 15 - 22, 1999

Maestro Martínez will be appearing at the workshop

A Meeting of Cultures: Guro Dan Inosanto trains with Maestro Ramón Martínez, May 3, 1999

10-week intensive course in Spanish Renaissance swordsmanship (rapier and dagger), May, 1999

Classical Fencing and Historical Swordsmanship Exposition, January 9, 1999

Maestro Ramón Martínez and Jeannette Acosta-Martínez demonstrated Italian rapier, Spanish rapiers, sword and dagger.
Description of La Destreza demonstration by Maestro Martínez
Trip Report - review by David Cvet

Dances of the Spanish court from the Golden Age and beyond [videorecording] / a lecture-performance by Alan Tjaarda Jones with Radamés Paz Díaz, baroque guitar, 1997, 1997

Demonstration of the Spanish seventeenth-century school of swordplay. Reconstructed by Ramón Martínez from the treatises of Carança, Narvaez, Rada, and Thibault. Described by Jeannette Acosta-Martínez. Demonstrated by Jeannette Acosta-Martínez and Edgar de la Vega.

The Historical Keyboard Society of Wisconsin, at Marquette University and Walkers Point Center for the Arts, Wisconsin, 1996

Maestro Ramón Martínez delivered lecture: "Spain and its New World Empire Part I: Golden Age Culture In Imperial Spain, ca. 1550-1750".

Aston Magna Academy, Rutgers University, Brunswick, NJ, 1995

Maestro Ramón Martínez delivered paper, "La Verdadera Destreza," pertaining to the Academy's theme, "Cultural Cross - Currents: Spain & Latin America, ca. 1550-1750"
"From Fencing to Fandango: Dancein Imperial Spain" (Fencing and its Relationship to Dance in Imperial Spain) along with Dance Master Alan Tjaarda Jones
Delivered paper, "The Common Vocabulary of Dancing and Fencing in Seventeenth Century Spanish Texts" along with Alan Tjaarda Jones, Zaravanda Dance Company

CUNY Graduate School and University Center Conference, "Perspectives on Movement: Interpretation of Dance Through Writing", New York, NY, 1995

Maestro Ramón Martínez delivered paper, "The common Vocabulary of Dancing and Fencing".