Fenris Kunst des Fechtens Brings Ancient Sword Fighting to Lovettsville
In Lovettsville, history comes alive at one of its newest additions. Fenris Kunst des Fechtens (Fenris KDF), which translates from German as “Fenris Art of Fencing,” is bringing the ancient art of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) to the heart of Lovettsville. Located in the iconic Blikken Hut, this academy teaches the practical application of historical sword fighting techniques.
Jake Priddy, the Head Instructor and Provost of Fenris KDF, has a lifelong passion for martial arts and history. “I got into martial arts as a young boy around nine years old,” Jake shared. “It was something to do between hockey seasons. It started with kendo, then in college, I started practicing HEMA.”
Fenris KDF opened in West Virginia in 1998, with Jake officially joining the HEMA community around 2010. In 2012, he became certified and joined the xKDF network, a group of clubs practicing the reconstructed martial arts of medieval Germany, which shared the same instructional manuals and methodologies. The community grew rapidly, largely in part to a 2014 New York Times article, which told a story about the Longpoint Tournament, that ran from 2012 to 2019.
Jake’s appreciation of ancient arts helped guide his path. By coupling his master’s degree and academic instruction experience in history, along with his background in martial arts, it was a natural progression. This fascination led him to discover German manuals—one being Sigmund ain Ringeck’s fencing manual from the 1400s—revealing a practical and adaptable approach to combat.
“I wanted to see how this technique worked at workshops because HEMA is all about doing things historically accurate.” With a wry smile, he continued, “German practicality tells us that while historical accuracy is important, there can be a better way to win a battle.”
Having lived in the area for over 20 years, Jake’s decision to bring Fenris KDF to Lovettsville, a town with centuries-old German history, was a serendipitous one. “Happy coincidence; I didn’t even know Lovettsville was a German settlement until I moved here in October [2024],” Jake reveals. “Being able to offer historical German fencing in a town proud of its German roots was just icing on the cake for us, and (we hope) a welcome addition to Lovettsville!”
Globally, there are approximately 1,800 active HEMA clubs, and about 450 in the United States with 15 in the Northern Virginia, Washington, and Baltimore area.
Fenris KDF welcomes fencers of all skill levels, from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners. The academy uses blunted feder (German for feather) swords for practice, and while sharps are used, they are only against standing targets for demonstrations. “The youngest I have taught is ten. Kids use plastic, lighter swords,” Jake shared. “I can teach the fundamentals in a day. Historical people would have started teaching these skills to young children.”
Fenris KDF is a growing community of sword fighting enthusiasts. Jake’s passion for teaching the art is decades-long and ardent. “I love it. I’ve been doing this for 27 years,” he beamed. “I found a way to share my love for HEMA and do it in a way that engages other people. Every Olympic athlete has a coach yet there are no coaches who compete. We have to teach the how.”
Fenris Kunst des Fechtens offers both a drop-in rate and monthly membership, with classes held at the Blikken Hut at 27 S. Loudoun Street in Lovettsville. They are actively involved in the broader HEMA community and will be hosting the Historical Integrated Longsword Triathlon (H.I.L.T.) at the Lovettsville Community Center on Saturday, August 16, from 8 AM to 5 PM. This tournament will feature 15 clubs representing the range of HEMA, including a “Passage of Arms” with full armorers. The spectator portion of this event is open and free to the public.
To learn more about Fenris KDF, please visit https://www.fenriskdf.com/.