Master James Loriega
James Loriega began his formal edged weapons training in 1967 when he embarked on a lifelong study of martial arts with Ronald Duncan, the "Father of American Ninjutsu." In the mid-70s, after achieving various instructor-level ranks in Asian systems, Loriega gained his first exposure to the Western martial traditions under the tutelage of Maitre Michel Alaux, a former coach to the US Olympic Fencing Team. It was from Maitre Alaux that Loriega learned the rudiments of epee and saber.
In 1980, Loriega founded the New York Ninpokai, the city's premiere training academy for the traditional arts of ninjutsu. It was while conducting ninjutsu seminars in Spain that Loriega discovered the acero sevillano knife arts of Andalusia. These arts include the use of the cuchillo (knife), puñal (stiletto), bastón de estoque (sword cane), bastón de paseo (walking stick), and navaja (clasp knife). His summers from 1991 to 1996 were spent in Seville learning the intricacies of these Andalusian arts.
In August of 1996, Loriega received certification as an instructor de Armas Blancas Sevillanas. Since that time, he has operated a recognized branch of the Escuela Sevillana in New York City known as the Raven Arts Institute.
In January of 2002, Loriega was inducted into the International Masters-at-Arms Federation (IMAF) based in Milan, Italy. The IMAF is "an organization of professional teachers of Historical and Classical fencing; that is to say, fencing of the 14th through the 19th centuries, based on surviving traditions and historical documentation." As teachers, they committed to preserving the historical and martial aspects of European fencing and edged weapons combbat.
Loriega's extensive writings have appeared in mainstream martial arts publications such as Black Belt, Warriors, Ninja, and Tactical Knives. His first book, Sevillian Steel: The Knife-Fighting Arts of Spain, (1999 Paladin Press) presents an overview of the edged weapons culture, styles, and strategies of this western martial tradition.
His most recent work is the English-language translation of the 19th century Manual of the Baratero, a handbook which detailed the combat use of the navaja for the average citizen.
In 1980, Loriega founded the New York Ninpokai, the city's premiere training academy for the traditional arts of ninjutsu. It was while conducting ninjutsu seminars in Spain that Loriega discovered the acero sevillano knife arts of Andalusia. These arts include the use of the cuchillo (knife), puñal (stiletto), bastón de estoque (sword cane), bastón de paseo (walking stick), and navaja (clasp knife). His summers from 1991 to 1996 were spent in Seville learning the intricacies of these Andalusian arts.
In August of 1996, Loriega received certification as an instructor de Armas Blancas Sevillanas. Since that time, he has operated a recognized branch of the Escuela Sevillana in New York City known as the Raven Arts Institute.
In January of 2002, Loriega was inducted into the International Masters-at-Arms Federation (IMAF) based in Milan, Italy. The IMAF is "an organization of professional teachers of Historical and Classical fencing; that is to say, fencing of the 14th through the 19th centuries, based on surviving traditions and historical documentation." As teachers, they committed to preserving the historical and martial aspects of European fencing and edged weapons combbat.
Loriega's extensive writings have appeared in mainstream martial arts publications such as Black Belt, Warriors, Ninja, and Tactical Knives. His first book, Sevillian Steel: The Knife-Fighting Arts of Spain, (1999 Paladin Press) presents an overview of the edged weapons culture, styles, and strategies of this western martial tradition.
His most recent work is the English-language translation of the 19th century Manual of the Baratero, a handbook which detailed the combat use of the navaja for the average citizen.