Jonah Pawley, left, fights another competitor at the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)
Centuries ago in Europe, people started developing the art of fighting with swords and documenting different techniques. Last week, a group of enthusiasts from around the Pacific Northwest met in Salem to recreate the art.
The tournament was organized by Seize the Vor, a Salem organization that also offers sword fighting classes, summer camps, seminars and team building events. It focuses on Historical European Martial Arts, or HEMA, which were developed by German fencing master Johannes Liechtenauer in the 14th century.
Safety is very important when practicing HEMA, and fighters have to wear protective equipment and comply with rules to participate, said Moses Jones, the founder of Seize the Vor. Jones is a former math teacher and was keeping score during the tournament.
The tournament was divided into three main pools by age and expertise, from the “gray” pool of instructors and judges to the “green” pool of fighters below the age of 18 and the “in-between.” The winners were “Rabbit” Anthony, Rocco Jones and Brice Galvin, respectively.
Two fighters compete against each other in a duel at the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)“Leonidas” Caleb and “The Valkyrie” Hannah fight against each other at the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Rossella Mariotti-Jones, from Seize the Vor, records a video during a duel at the longsword tournament organized in Salem on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)An instructor from Seize the Vor gives a safety briefing before a new section of the longsword competition in Salem on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)A person from Seize the Vor judges a fight in the longsword competition in Salem on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)A fighter prepares to compete at the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Moses Jones, the organizer of the tournament and founder of Seize the Vor, keeps score at the longsword tournament in Salem on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Jonah Pawley, left, fights another competitor at the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Logan Ray, left, fights another competitor at Seize the Vor’s longsword tournament as C. J. Switzer, center, judges, in Salem on April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)A fighter starts a duel at the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)William Knudson watches a duel right before entering the ring to fight at the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)William Knudson, left, and Scott Nyquist, right, fight at the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)Nate McBride of BladeFit Academy celebrates at the end of one of the sections of the longsword tournament organized in Salem by Seize the Vor on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)“The Valkyrie” Hannah competes at the longsword tournament organized by Seize the Vor in Salem on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Alan Cohen/Salem Reporter)
Clarification: This article was updated to reflect that NateMcBride was representing BladeFit Academy.
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Alan Cohen is an intern at the Salem Reporter and an undergraduate at Willamette University. Born and raised in Spain, he has also been involved in student journalism for three years, and is passionate about bringing a voice to underrepresented communities through ethical reporting.
