Tournament of Defense - AFO Cup

We originally sold out Longsword yesterday evening but due to demand we are opening up 10 spots. Come and get it!

⚔️ ANOTHER REASON TO GET PUMPED FOR TOD 2026!

We are incredibly excited to welcome Greg Mele of the Chicago Swordplay Guild to the Tournament of Defense this fall!

Greg has been a major voice in the development of historical European martial arts in North America for decades—as an instructor, researcher, author, event organizer, and student of the Italian martial traditions.

His work with Fiore dei Liberi, Armizare, medieval swordsmanship and the Italian martial tradition has influenced generations of historical fencers.

And this November, he’s coming to Texas.

🇺🇸 Greg Mele — Chicago
🇮🇹 Francesco Loda — Rome
🇮🇹 Silvia Tomassetti — Rome
🇮🇹 Stefano Ciamei — Rome
🇪🇸 Alberto Bomprezzi — Madrid

Different backgrounds. Different traditions. Decades of experience.

One weekend. One floor.

Study the art.
Train the art.
Put it to the test.

And if you’ve been waiting to register, now is the time to start making plans.

🔥 REGULAR REGISTRATION RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER!

⚔️ LONGSWORD — ONLY 2 SPOTS REMAIN!

Our other tournament divisions are also beginning to fill, so don’t assume the spot you want will still be there later.

Rapier.
Rapier & Dagger.
Smallsword.
Saber.
Longsword.

Classes. Competition. International instructors. And a community coming together for three days devoted to the art of the sword.

⚔️ TOURNAMENT OF DEFENSE 2026
📅 November 6–8 | Texas

This is becoming a weekend that’s going to be very difficult to miss.

The Maestri are coming.
The fencers are coming.

Are you?

Stay tuned for another fab announcement coming tomorrow…

Ahem… it’s going to be a “swell” time. ⚔️

We are officially in the heat of Regular Registration for the Tournament of Defense!

45 competitors are already taking the Field of Honor, with nearly 100 people registered. The ToD is both martial and educational.

The field is forming. The community is coming together. And there’s still room for more.

So…

Who else will join us?

Study the Art. Test the Art. Share the Experience.

Tournament of Defense 2026

We’ve officially crossed a major milestone — more than 100 registrations are already in for the 7th Tournament of Defense!

Thank you to every fencer, instructor, judge, and supporter who is helping make TOD 2026 our biggest gathering yet.

This November, historical fencers will come together in Houston for a full weekend of competition, education, and community, featuring:

⚔️ Single Rapier
⚔️ Rapier & Dagger
⚔️ Smallsword
⚔️ Sabre
⚔️ NEW: Pilot Longsword Tournament
🎓 Clinics & educational opportunities
🏆 And three days dedicated to the revival of historical fencing

100+ registrations — and we’re not finished yet.

📅 November 6–8, 2026
📍 Heritage Classical Academy | Houston, Texas

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is the time.

The 7th Tournament of Defense is taking shape. Will we see you in the ring?

LAST “Early” CALL. ⚔️

The Field of Honor is taking shape.

40 competitors and counting.

Today is the FINAL DAY for 50% off registration for the Tournament of Defense.

You’ve trained the art.

Now come test it.

Early Registration ends tonight.

Tournament of Defense 2026
Hit Without Being Hit.

🇮🇹 FROM ROME TO TEXAS — MAESTRA SILVIA TOMASSETTI

The international instructor lineup for Tournament of Defense 2026 continues—and today we’re putting the spotlight back on Maestra Silvia Tomassetti of Rome, Italy!

Silvia brings a fascinating combination of competitive experience, martial arts background, historical research, and professional instruction.

Her martial career began in Judo with the Fiamme Oro State Police team before she entered historical fencing in 2011. Training under Maestro Francesco Loda, she went on to earn the rank of Maestra d’Armi and 3rd Level Coach, while becoming deeply involved in the development and teaching of historical fencing.

She’s also an accomplished researcher and author.

📖 Silvia is the author of “Close Play! Grabs and Disarms in Baroque Fencing,” her work on the extraordinary 17th-century manuscript of Obizzo Annibale Marescalchi.

And at Tournament of Defense, you won’t just have the opportunity to read about it.

⚔️ YOU’RE GOING TO LEARN IT FROM HER.

Silvia will teach a class devoted to Close Play — grabs, disarms, and the close-quarters world of Baroque fencing.

This is where fencing gets close.

Where blades become only part of the equation.

Where control, leverage, timing, grappling and the ability to dominate the encounter at close measure become part of the art.

Read the research.
Study the source.
Then put it in your hands.

And look at what is assembling in Texas:

🇮🇹 Maestro Francesco Loda — Rome
🇮🇹 Maestra Silvia Tomassetti — Rome
🇮🇹 Maestro Stefano Ciamei — Rome
🇪🇸 Maestro Alberto Bomprezzi — Madrid

Rapier.
Rapier & Dagger.
Smallsword.
Saber.
Longsword.
Close Play.

Historical instruction.
International perspectives.
Serious competition.

Study the art.
Test the art.
Fence.

Tournament of Defense 2026 is becoming a weekend you simply don’t want to hear everyone talking about afterward.

⚔️ TOURNAMENT OF DEFENSE 2026
📅 November 6–8 | Texas

🚨 EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ENDS TODAY — SEPTEMBER 1! 🚨

If you’ve been watching the announcements and telling yourself you’re going to make a decision later—

Later is here.

Lock in Early Bird pricing today and join us in Texas this November.

The Maestri are coming.

Are you?

28 and counting. ⚔️

The Field of Honor is taking shape.

A huge thank you to everyone who has committed to joining us for the Tournament of Defense 2026. More instructor announcements incoming…

And we’re not done yet.

Tomorrow is the FINAL DAY for discounted Early Registration.

If you’ve been watching, thinking about it, checking the calendar, or waiting to make the decision…

This is the moment.

Come learn. Come fence. Come test the art.

Early Registration ends September 1.

We’ll see you on the Field of Honor.

Hit Without Being Hit.

🇮🇹 ANOTHER MAESTRO FROM ROME IS COMING TO TEXAS

The 2026 Tournament of Defense continues to grow—and we’re excited to announce that Maestro Stefano Ciamei of Rome, Italy will be joining us this November!

Stefano is a historical fencing instructor with the Accademia Romana d’Armi, where the curriculum spans the Italian martial traditions of two-handed sword, sword & buckler, rapier, saber and dueling sword.

But his work goes well beyond his own fencing salle.

Maestro Ciamei is actively involved in the development and instruction of historical fencing within the Federazione Italiana Scherma — the Italian Fencing Federation—serving as a federal instructor, examiner of historical fencing instructors, and member of the Federation’s Historical Fencing Working Group.

In other words:

He doesn’t just study the tradition.
He teaches it.
He develops teachers within it.
And this November, he’s bringing that experience to Texas.

🇮🇹 Maestro Francesco Loda — Rome
🇮🇹 Maestro Stefano Ciamei — Rome
🇪🇸 Maestro Alberto Bomprezzi — Madrid

And we’re not finished.

Rapier.
Rapier & Dagger.
Smallsword.
Saber.
Longsword.

Historical instruction.
International perspectives.
Serious competition.

Study the art.
Test the art.
Fence.

Tournament of Defense 2026 is becoming a weekend that’s going to be very difficult to miss.

⚔️ TOURNAMENT OF DEFENSE 2026
📅 November 6–8 | Texas

⏳ EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ENDS SEPTEMBER 1!

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is the time to register and lock in Early Bird pricing.

The instructors are coming.

Are you?

🇮🇹 FROM ITALY TO THE TOURNAMENT OF DEFENSE

If you’ve been watching what is coming together for November, here’s another reason Tournament of Defense 2026 is becoming impossible to miss.

We are proud to welcome back Maestro Francesco Loda of Rome, Italy to Texas.

Francesco is an internationally respected fencing master, researcher, author, and teacher of the Italian historical fencing tradition. His work combines deep study of the historical sources with something we value tremendously at TOD:

Making the art live with a sword in your hand.

⚔️ This year, Maestro Loda will be sharing a LOT throughout the weekend:

• A workshop exploring the fencing of Francesco Antonio Mattei and the 17th-century Neapolitan tradition.

• A deeper dive into the tactical world of Rapier & Dagger.

• A class exploring Fiore-style Longsword, bringing another branch of the Italian martial tradition onto the floor.

• And more throughout the weekend.

And Francesco isn’t coming alone.

🇮🇹 Maestro Francesco Loda — Italy
🇪🇸 Maestro Alberto Bomprezzi — Spain

Different traditions. Different perspectives.

One weekend dedicated to learning, testing and fencing.

Rapier.
Rapier & Dagger.
Smallsword.
Saber.
Longsword.

Historical instruction from internationally respected teachers—combined with the opportunity to step onto the floor and put your own fencing to the test.

Study the art.
Test the art.
Fence.

This is becoming a weekend you don’t want to hear about afterward.

⚔️ TOURNAMENT OF DEFENSE 2026
📅 November 6–8 | Texas

⏳ EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS SEPTEMBER 1.

If you’ve been thinking about coming, now is the time.

Tickets: https://www.afofencing.com/tickets