Who We Are

Jason picked up the HEMA-habit about ten years ago while living in London, first training at Schola Gladiatoria and then moving to The Exiles CMMA when a chapter opened about a 10-minute walk from his house, which coincided with a desire to focus on Fiore.  Returning home to the US in the summer of 2017, he took some time to settle in and began training with Selohaar Fechtschule. In early 2018 this club was launched to continue the study of Fiore.

Jason’s “side hustles” in HEMA include catch wrestling and classical pugilism. 

Jason maintains a certifications in American Red Cross First Aid, Heath and Safety (79DEC4B7D68F); CPR & AED (3E5777BF0E41); and Concussion In Sports (F4E7C6B5BA89); and is a certified fitness instructor. He currently sits on the board of directors of the HEMA Alliance.

Nate has been practicing Fiore’s art with the club since 2019, when he joined to pursue his longtime interest in finding a socially acceptable reason to own a sword.  He has since become the Senior Assistant Instructor and Board Member of Per La Vita Academy of Western Martial Arts. Nate is also intrinsic in the development of PLVA’s curriculum, and has helped add the study of messer fighting to PLVA. 

Nate also studies armor fighting with Connecticut’s Loudest Armor Nerd Group (CLANG) and late medieval wrestling with the Connecticut Yeet Association (CYA).

Nate has a background in sport foil fencing.  In real life, he is a high school English teacher. 

Nate maintains a certification in Adult, Child, and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED (0207T7T).

Jennifer started HEMA in 2017, with little to no previous martial arts background, as a way to “get some more cardio.”  She found not only exercise, but an amazing and welcoming group of friends and an exciting and interesting sport.  A current student of Per La Vita Academy and of Selohaar Fechtschule, Jennifer studies both German and Italian style fighting systems, including longword, dagger and hand-to-hand fighting.  She has also dabbled in sword & buckler and, most recently, in messer.

Jennifer has served on the Board of Directors of the club since 2022 and as the club’s Secretary since 2023.

When she's not swinging a sword around, Jennifer is a Community College Librarian.

Jennifer maintains certifications in First Aid, Health and Safety (09CD011DB3E9) and Concussion in Sports (34F1AF5D20F1).

Joe started studying German longsword in 2015 at the Virginia Academy of Fencing. After moving back to Connecticut in 2017, he began studying with Christian Tobler at Selohaar Fechtschule, and in 2018 he joined Jason as a student of Fiore and Italian longsword, becoming an assistant instructor in 2020.

Joe continues to study both German and Italian martial arts in order to increase his understanding of the art from different perspectives. He believes the study of both makes him a better fencer. Joe has additional interest in mounted combat and rapier, though has not had the ability to pursue either yet.

Joe has a certification in First Aid, Health And Safety (6A60032CC313).

A bit of a history nerd, Adam has always been fascinated with the Middle Ages and the style of martial art used by knights. Throw in the desire to take his gym workouts up a notch, and Adam quickly discovered that he could combine his two interests by joining the HEMA community. Once he began his journey at Per la Vita, he became hooked and took his studies in longsword, dagger, and wrestling techniques very seriously. Adam’s excited to join the team as an Assistant Instructor. 

When Adam is not working on his sword skills, he’s either spending his time as an Assistant Vet Tech helping care for animals, or he’s off in the woods exploring new and challenging hiking trails. You can usually catch him with a big ole smile on his face.

Adam maintains a certification in First Aid, Health and Safety (EC1CFECD0AA4).

Marc started practicing HEMA with Per La Vita Academy in January 2022 as a personal vow to himself to get more exercise. He found not only that but a group of supporting and welcoming group of friends. He has quickly picked up many of Fiore’s techniques in both longsword and dagger, and has recently taken up the role of Assistant Instructor in the club.

When not studying historical martial arts techniques, Marc is a licensed CPA at a local accounting firm.

Marc maintains a certification in First Aid, Health And Safety (F39E6BB7065A).

Ryan started his journal with Per la Vita in 2022.  While taking interest in his Scottish roots and searching for a HEMA club that taught baskethilted broadsword, he stumbled upon us.  The quickly fell in love with the study of Fiore and dedicated himself to the club.  Not only did Ryan find a martial art that he enjoyed, he found a family with PLVA as well.  

When he’s not drilling, sparring, or theorying, Ryan can be found playing with bands all over the tristate area.

Ryan maintains a certification in First Aid, Health and Safety (D3574318E79A).

Mike started studying Fiore's art at Per La Vita Academy of Western Martial Arts in 2023. He spent 15 years wrestling freestyle, collegiate, and greco-roman in his youth and the past ten years in various weight lifting programs. 

In the real world, he has 20 years corporate management/leadership experience in F50 finance and more than 30 years volunteer leadership roles in church, community, and BSA programs. 

He was recently appointed as the club's welfare officer where he looks forward to discreetly supporting the club's members in conflict resolution and disciplinary actions.