The rapier, a slender and sharply pointed sword, was the weapon of choice for nobility and the wealthy bourgeoisie in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. These refined classes preferred gracefulness to brute efficiency, and so the rapier eventually evolved into the smallsword and later the épée, as we know it today in modern Olympic fencing.

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The art of rapier combat is richly documented, especially in the area of modern-day Italy. Here, many master swordsmen recorded their knowledge in scientific treatises. Well-known masters such as Achille Marozzo, Antonio Manciolino, Camillo Agrippa, Nicoletto Giganti, Ridolfo Capoferro, and Salvator Fabris have shaped this tradition.

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At HSGL, we focus on the techniques of Nicoletto Giganti, one of the grand masters of rapier fighting. His most famous work, "Scola, overo teatro," forms the basis of our rapier classes.