Our School
Learn about Black Boar’s history, how our school operates, and the global connections we’ve forged across the historical fencing community.
Founding Black Boar
The Black Boar Swordsmanship School (known simply as Black Boar) was founded in 2009 by Ian MacIntyre, out of a passion for the research and teaching of historical sword arts. Ian’s long-time friend, Phil Crawley, has assisted him with running the school since its early inception.
Both Ian and Phil are well respected figures within the historical fencing community, and have dedicated years to interpreting European weapon treatises from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. This knowledge was used to develop Black Boar’s smallsword and military sabre curriculum, which remains faithful to the source texts.
Evolution and Governance
When the school first started, it was based in a small community hall in Fife, Scotland. But as interest in historical fencing and Black Boar membership increased, we came to the capital city of Edinburgh, where our main chapter is now located.
Black Boar is run by a dedicated group of volunteers. We function on a non-profit basis, using the income we generate to pay our venue hire, equipment, insurance and administrative costs. When Ian retired from fencing in 2022, Phil took on the mantle of Black Boar president and lead instructor with responsibility for wider school governance.
Several members fulfil key roles within the school, including class teachers and the Black Boar secretary. They assist Phil with day to day operations, such as class delivery, communications and marketing, IT support, event coordination and much more.
UK and Global Connections
Black Boar has built strong relationships with many other historical fencing schools, and we’re part of the British Federation for Historical Swordplay. Some of our earliest members have gone on to establish their own schools, both in the UK and overseas, expanding the study of sword arts into ever varied weapon styles.
We regularly connect with the wider HEMA community by participating in events all over the world, and we’ve formed many friendships along the way. Black Boar is also the organiser and host of the annual Smallsword Symposium, the world’s first and largest event dedicated to smallsword, where we welcome guests from all corners of the globe.