Paul Macdonald

Maestro Paul Macdonald was born in 1972, and raised in the West Highland village of Glenuig, Moidart, Scotland. He began his study of fencing in 1992 at Napier University, Edinburgh, there founding and running the University club as President and principal instructor for two and a half years. With an ever-growing interest in historical swordsmanship, he founded the Dawn Duellists Society in 1994, and ran the DDS as President until 2006. Since 1994, Maestro Macdonald has dedicated his path to...See more

Maestro Paul Macdonald was born in 1972, and raised in the West Highland village of Glenuig, Moidart, Scotland. He began his study of fencing in 1992 at Napier University, Edinburgh, there founding and running the University club as President and principal instructor for two and a half years. With an ever-growing interest in historical swordsmanship, he founded the Dawn Duellists Society in 1994, and ran the DDS as President until 2006. Since 1994, Maestro Macdonald has dedicated his path to European arms and martial arts, travelling throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and the US to research, study, practice, present seminars, demonstrations and teach. He has studied many styles of historical European combat and revived the methods and techniques of several lost systems, such as the medieval duelling shield, spada in arme, dusack and backsword. In 1998, Maestro Macdonald founded the British Federation for Historical Swordplay (BFHS), serving as its President from 1998-2004. He also in 1998 established Macdonald Armouries, where he continues to make hand-crafted swords and knives. Maestro Macdonald received his Master-at-Arms certification from the Italian Federation for Ancient and Historical Fencing (FISAS) in 1999 and established the Macdonald Academy of Arms in 2001. In early 2008, he founded the Commando D Living History Group, specialising in World War II combatives. Maestro Macdonald established the Conflicts of Interest battlefield archaeology group in 2015 and also continues to serve as a British Army Reservist. See less