Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
@thetavernknight.bsky.social
⚔ Historical Fencing Coach, Instructor at Arms
Founder of Boston Academie d’Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social
Rapier | Saber | Smallsword | Italian Foil
1:1 Training & Group Classes
www.JustinSwordFit.com
www.BostonAcademieDArmes.com
(He/Him)
Founder of Boston Academie d’Armes @bosacademiearme.bsky.social
Rapier | Saber | Smallsword | Italian Foil
1:1 Training & Group Classes
www.JustinSwordFit.com
www.BostonAcademieDArmes.com
(He/Him)
Pinned
Want to play with swords? I offer historical & classical fencing lessons in the Greater Boston area!
Private and small group/party lessons, and workshop/seminars are available for rapier, Italian foil, dueling word, saber, and spear!
justinswordfit.com
Private and small group/party lessons, and workshop/seminars are available for rapier, Italian foil, dueling word, saber, and spear!
justinswordfit.com
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
I've had a promotional VHS for the test animation that became Batman: The Animated Series for a long time, I bought it on eBay in like...1999? The version they put as a bonus on the DVD said they lost the audio but uh, here it is. You're welcome Bruce Timm.
January 27, 2026 at 1:30 AM
I've had a promotional VHS for the test animation that became Batman: The Animated Series for a long time, I bought it on eBay in like...1999? The version they put as a bonus on the DVD said they lost the audio but uh, here it is. You're welcome Bruce Timm.
NEW VIDEO! This one looks at the legendary life of Jean-Louis Michel. Seriously, his life reads like it's straight from a Dumas novel.
youtu.be/ywzyJarYnp8?...
#blackhistory #smallsword #historicalfencing #westernmartialarts
youtu.be/ywzyJarYnp8?...
#blackhistory #smallsword #historicalfencing #westernmartialarts
February 7, 2026 at 7:02 PM
NEW VIDEO! This one looks at the legendary life of Jean-Louis Michel. Seriously, his life reads like it's straight from a Dumas novel.
youtu.be/ywzyJarYnp8?...
#blackhistory #smallsword #historicalfencing #westernmartialarts
youtu.be/ywzyJarYnp8?...
#blackhistory #smallsword #historicalfencing #westernmartialarts
Patrolling his kingdom
February 7, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Patrolling his kingdom
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
IMPORTANT OLYMPIC NEWS:
THE POLISH FIGURE SKATING TEAM HAS A PLUSH PIEROGI
THE POLISH FIGURE SKATING TEAM HAS A PLUSH PIEROGI
February 6, 2026 at 3:56 PM
IMPORTANT OLYMPIC NEWS:
THE POLISH FIGURE SKATING TEAM HAS A PLUSH PIEROGI
THE POLISH FIGURE SKATING TEAM HAS A PLUSH PIEROGI
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
2/ Here are the CBC announcers watching & LISTENING to the Vance booing in real-time: bsky.app/profile/jule...
Vice President JD Vance gets roundly booed at the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics. "Those are a lot of boos for him, whistling jeering," says the presenter. US athletes receive a warm welcome from fans, though.
February 6, 2026 at 11:02 PM
2/ Here are the CBC announcers watching & LISTENING to the Vance booing in real-time: bsky.app/profile/jule...
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
Emote VI
8.5x11” watercolor, pencil, and gouache
For Impermanence opening with @wowxwow_art today
8.5x11” watercolor, pencil, and gouache
For Impermanence opening with @wowxwow_art today
February 6, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Emote VI
8.5x11” watercolor, pencil, and gouache
For Impermanence opening with @wowxwow_art today
8.5x11” watercolor, pencil, and gouache
For Impermanence opening with @wowxwow_art today
*record scratch*
“Yep. That’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here…”
#rapier #rapierfencing #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing #massachusetts
“Yep. That’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here…”
#rapier #rapierfencing #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing #massachusetts
February 6, 2026 at 6:26 PM
*record scratch*
“Yep. That’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here…”
#rapier #rapierfencing #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing #massachusetts
“Yep. That’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here…”
#rapier #rapierfencing #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing #massachusetts
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
So I did always wonder what this song was about.
February 5, 2026 at 10:39 PM
So I did always wonder what this song was about.
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
I think it should probably be a bigger story that the president of the United States is a raving lunatic
Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast: "We hit 'em. And we want to hit 'em right, sir, and we want to hit them from the top! East, west, north, south. Sir, they won't know what the hell! And we'll knock them out. We did it politically correct. Five years."
February 5, 2026 at 2:29 PM
I think it should probably be a bigger story that the president of the United States is a raving lunatic
We did each basic drill twice -- one from a Fabrisian stance and one from a Marcellian stance.
Goal was to let folks try both, see the overlapping principles and aesthetic differences, and figure out what works best for each individual fencer on the team.
Goal was to let folks try both, see the overlapping principles and aesthetic differences, and figure out what works best for each individual fencer on the team.
Our rapier class is back! This time exploring dagger-extended guards while the rapier hangs back.
Here, beginner Kaycee works on her crossbody dagger parries in a more Marcellian stance.
#rapier #massachusetts #bostonfun
Here, beginner Kaycee works on her crossbody dagger parries in a more Marcellian stance.
#rapier #massachusetts #bostonfun
February 5, 2026 at 9:21 PM
We did each basic drill twice -- one from a Fabrisian stance and one from a Marcellian stance.
Goal was to let folks try both, see the overlapping principles and aesthetic differences, and figure out what works best for each individual fencer on the team.
Goal was to let folks try both, see the overlapping principles and aesthetic differences, and figure out what works best for each individual fencer on the team.
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
This pup found a stick shaped like an old timey pipe earlier today and has already solved three mysteries. 13/10
February 4, 2026 at 9:59 PM
This pup found a stick shaped like an old timey pipe earlier today and has already solved three mysteries. 13/10
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
Been a couple of weeks off from coaching due to snow and a sick pupper, but we are getting back into the swing of things this week.
Steel therapy works on the coaching side too.
#bostonfun #somervillema #fencingcoach #westernmartialarts #rapier
Steel therapy works on the coaching side too.
#bostonfun #somervillema #fencingcoach #westernmartialarts #rapier
February 4, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Been a couple of weeks off from coaching due to snow and a sick pupper, but we are getting back into the swing of things this week.
Steel therapy works on the coaching side too.
#bostonfun #somervillema #fencingcoach #westernmartialarts #rapier
Steel therapy works on the coaching side too.
#bostonfun #somervillema #fencingcoach #westernmartialarts #rapier
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
Today we celebrate and salute this fantastic crew of swashbucklers and duelists on National Girls & Women in Sports Day!
⚔️⚔️⚔️
#nationalgirlsandwomeninsportsday #swordwomen #bostonfencing #womenathletes #somervillema
⚔️⚔️⚔️
#nationalgirlsandwomeninsportsday #swordwomen #bostonfencing #womenathletes #somervillema
February 4, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Today we celebrate and salute this fantastic crew of swashbucklers and duelists on National Girls & Women in Sports Day!
⚔️⚔️⚔️
#nationalgirlsandwomeninsportsday #swordwomen #bostonfencing #womenathletes #somervillema
⚔️⚔️⚔️
#nationalgirlsandwomeninsportsday #swordwomen #bostonfencing #womenathletes #somervillema
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
Our Classical Fencing program with the Italian saber, foil and smallsword happens in Sundays.
bostonacademiedarmes.com/classical-fe...
bostonacademiedarmes.com/classical-fe...
Classical Fencing at Boston Academie d'Armes | Dueling Saber & Smallsword
Learn Italian classical fencing in Boston. We train with the Italian dueling saber & Italian smallsword/dueling sword.
bostonacademiedarmes.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Our Classical Fencing program with the Italian saber, foil and smallsword happens in Sundays.
bostonacademiedarmes.com/classical-fe...
bostonacademiedarmes.com/classical-fe...
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
Robert McCall was an illustrator for Life Magazine and other publications, but is best known for being NASA’s primary artist for many years. He had a lifelong love of aviation and spaceflight, and the pre-production illustrations he made for Star Trek: The Motion Picture are marvelous.
February 3, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Robert McCall was an illustrator for Life Magazine and other publications, but is best known for being NASA’s primary artist for many years. He had a lifelong love of aviation and spaceflight, and the pre-production illustrations he made for Star Trek: The Motion Picture are marvelous.
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
These people are terrorists. Full stop.
Fucking surreal that people dressed like this and carrying assault rifles are permitted to kidnap people off our streets
February 4, 2026 at 1:00 AM
These people are terrorists. Full stop.
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
This @bostonreview.bsky.social piece by @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social is an absolute must-read, as are many of the responses to it.
Spread this one far and wide.
Spread this one far and wide.
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism
Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.
www.bostonreview.net
February 3, 2026 at 4:31 PM
This @bostonreview.bsky.social piece by @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social is an absolute must-read, as are many of the responses to it.
Spread this one far and wide.
Spread this one far and wide.
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
Our saber class looks at both the light classical saber (pre-electric scoring sport fencing) and heavier dueling saber meant for old fashion duels.
Same system. Same approach. Slightly different weapons and rule sets. Lotta fun!
#bostonfencing #somervillema #cambridgema #bostonfun #massachusetts
Same system. Same approach. Slightly different weapons and rule sets. Lotta fun!
#bostonfencing #somervillema #cambridgema #bostonfun #massachusetts
February 3, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Our saber class looks at both the light classical saber (pre-electric scoring sport fencing) and heavier dueling saber meant for old fashion duels.
Same system. Same approach. Slightly different weapons and rule sets. Lotta fun!
#bostonfencing #somervillema #cambridgema #bostonfun #massachusetts
Same system. Same approach. Slightly different weapons and rule sets. Lotta fun!
#bostonfencing #somervillema #cambridgema #bostonfun #massachusetts
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
Our Tuesday squad getting acquainted with various offhand/secondary items with the rapier. Here they work on their parries and ripostes, using their offhand item in support (as backup).
Tuesday Rapier runs at 6pm and 7:30pm in Belmont, MA.
#belmontma #massachusetts #arlingtonma #rapier #bostonfun
Tuesday Rapier runs at 6pm and 7:30pm in Belmont, MA.
#belmontma #massachusetts #arlingtonma #rapier #bostonfun
February 2, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Our Tuesday squad getting acquainted with various offhand/secondary items with the rapier. Here they work on their parries and ripostes, using their offhand item in support (as backup).
Tuesday Rapier runs at 6pm and 7:30pm in Belmont, MA.
#belmontma #massachusetts #arlingtonma #rapier #bostonfun
Tuesday Rapier runs at 6pm and 7:30pm in Belmont, MA.
#belmontma #massachusetts #arlingtonma #rapier #bostonfun
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
Normal times we live in.
The Montreal Canadiens, who play in Minneapolis on Monday night, have been told to stay inside their hotel at all times, take the team bus rather than walk, and carry passports.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t be hosting the World Cup and the Olympics,” one Bluesky commenter wryly noted. trib.al/J3ldiJY
“Perhaps we shouldn’t be hosting the World Cup and the Olympics,” one Bluesky commenter wryly noted. trib.al/J3ldiJY
Montreal Canadiens Hide From ICE Ahead of Minneapolis Game
The NHL team is under a self-imposed lockdown in order to avoid the masked ICE agents roaming the streets of Minneapolis.
trib.al
February 2, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Normal times we live in.
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
I’m sorry but what did libertarians think that the anonymous money laundering racism coin that you could only functionally use for illicit activity was doing other than this, exactly
February 2, 2026 at 7:24 PM
I’m sorry but what did libertarians think that the anonymous money laundering racism coin that you could only functionally use for illicit activity was doing other than this, exactly
Reposted by Justin Aucoin — Historical Swordplay
This is sad, but good: Artists are refusing to normalize this idiocy, and instead of just commanding performances - which they can't do - the Trump people are closing it down and slinking away.
CNN is reporting the real reason Trump is closing the Kennedy Centre for two years is not for renovation: “the Kennedy Center does not have a 2026/2027 season. There would not have been any programming to announce."
February 2, 2026 at 8:49 PM
This is sad, but good: Artists are refusing to normalize this idiocy, and instead of just commanding performances - which they can't do - the Trump people are closing it down and slinking away.
Finally getting around to editing video from my Charles Besnard workshop from last spring.
Not sure if it'll be one video or a mini-series. Gonna edit it all and see what the overall length is. Do folks have a preferred upper time range in a video?
#rapier #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing
Not sure if it'll be one video or a mini-series. Gonna edit it all and see what the overall length is. Do folks have a preferred upper time range in a video?
#rapier #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing
February 2, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Finally getting around to editing video from my Charles Besnard workshop from last spring.
Not sure if it'll be one video or a mini-series. Gonna edit it all and see what the overall length is. Do folks have a preferred upper time range in a video?
#rapier #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing
Not sure if it'll be one video or a mini-series. Gonna edit it all and see what the overall length is. Do folks have a preferred upper time range in a video?
#rapier #westernmartialarts #historicalfencing