At the School of Swords, we cross the gap between Eastern and Western sword styles. In particular, we specialize in the Korean art of Haidong Gumdo, and the Liechtenauer tradition of the German Longsword.

To be clear, the two styles are not cross-compatible, and we teach them separately. We do not teach jingum vs longsword, nor do we carry techniques from one style to the other. That said, it is our belief that both bodies of knowledge compliment each other in many ways.

To those familiar with Eastern martial arts, the appeal of Haidong Gumdo shows itself through its forms (poomse, kata etc). Passed down through history from master to student, the Korean swordsman can practice many (though not all) of his techniques alone, without any need for partner interaction. Much of the beauty lies in honed technique, and mastery over one's own blade.

The training curriculae of the German Longsword, on the other hand, is nearly entirely comprised of partner drills. Drawing upon hundreds of techniques found in manuals written by masters from the 14th to 17th centuries, it lends itself to an in-depth study of 'what works' during combat and 'what doesn't.'

The above examples are not meant to be exclusive, and much of what can be said of one style will also be true of the other. Indeed, as both deal with swords, the two styles share much in common. Unlike many schools, though, we do not take the stance of either training philosophy being superior to the other. Instead, we hold true to the belief that the student has much to gain through the study of both.