Master of Medieval Combat

After retiring from the information technology profession five years ago, David Cvet (BSc 1979 UTM) shifted his focus from modern to medieval pursuits.

He began concentrating full time on the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts, a non-profit school in Toronto that he founded in 1998. The academy teaches l’arte dell’armizare, the fighting art documented by Italian swordsman Fiore dei Liberi in the early 15th century. Combat skills include grappling and dagger and single-hand sword work, all of which can be used in self-defence. Cvet, who graduated with a double major of computer science, and biochemistry and genetics, set up a U of T chapter of the academy this past fall. Lectures periodically take place on campus, and students receive a discount and a month of training free. To the right, Cvet is wearing a reproduction 14th-century harness, holding a longsword and sporting a hounskul. His favourite mode of battle? “Armoured combat with dagger,” says Cvet. “The dagger was one of a number of knightly weapons used back then.”