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The Haitian Machete Fencing Project
IN MEMORIAM: Professor Alfred Avril
Master Instructor
Professor Alfred Avril was a master of Haitian machete fencing, having trained in the art form since childhood. He taught generations of students from all over Haiti and the world. He is the subject of the award-winning documentary film Papa Machete. When he was not teaching fencing, he farmed his land on the wooded slopes of Cap Rouge, just outside of Jacmel. Professor Avril passed into the world of the ancestors on December 1st, 2014. We consider him still with us in spirit.
Roland Avril
Master Instructor
Roland is Professor Alfred Avril's youngest son and chosen successor. He has trained intensely with his father since early childhood. More recently, he has spearheaded our effort to explore the functional applications of his father's techniques in collaboration with students of other global combat styles. He is a devoted father who drives a motorcycle taxi in Jacmel when he is not teaching fencing. He is featured in the documentary film Papa Machete.
Jean-Paul Avril
Master Instructor
Jean-Paul is Professor Alfred Avril's second youngest son. He is a master fencer who carries forward his father's subtle, almost painterly style of attack. It is not surprising, therefore, that when Jean-Paul is not teaching fencing he is a professional painter who creates stunning works of fine art in traditional Haitian styles. He also supports his family by taking sign-painting jobs around town. He is featured in the documentary film Papa Machete.
Fredo Avril
Master Instructor
Professor Avril's son Fredo is a journeyman mason who works in the construction industry in town, as well as a master machete fencer. More than any other of Professor Avril’s sons, Fredo embodies his father’s perfect expression of Tire Machèt’s classic form. As an instructor he excels at helping students level up their footwork, posture and timing. He was pivotal in our effort to rebuild the Avril family home with help from our wildly successful 2014 Kickstarter campaign.
Reginald Turnier
Master Instructor
Reginald is a Haitian-American writer, musician, and peace activist. He is also the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization Cultural Capital Haiti. He currently lives between Haiti and Upstate New York with his wife the Rev. Jessica Turnier. A student of Professor Avril since 2004, Reginald is co-author of the book Haitian Machete Fencing: The Avril Family Method, and worked as a consultant on the documentary film Papa Machete.
Michael Dylan Rogers
Michael Dylan Rogers
Master Instructor, Project Coordinator
Michael teaches History, Philosophy, and Politics at Pacific Northwest College of Art and holds a PhD in History from Cambridge University. He began his training with Professor Avril in 2004 and is the only non-Haitian known to have mastered the art of Tire Machèt. Michael is co-author of the book Haitian Machete Fencing: The Avril Family Method, and is featured in the documentary Papa Machete. He is available to teach workshops worldwide and holds regular training sessions in Portland, Oregon.
Certified Instructors
Da'Mon Stith
Certified Instructor
Da’Mon is a recognized leader in the field of Historical African Martial Arts research and practice, with over 30 years experience. He is founder and chief instructor of Austin Warrior Arts, where he teaches Haitian fencing alongside numerous other combat arts from Africa and the diaspora. He has appeared on Man At Arms and on the History Channel’s Forged in Fire. He is also founder and lead organizer of the annual Rooted in Resistance festival of global martial arts in Austin, Texas.
Tobias Zimmermann
Tobias Zimmermann
Certified Instructor
Tobias is an instructor of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), based in Munich, Germany. He is the proprietor of the fencing school Fechtboden Zimmermann, where he teaches saber, smallsword and bayonet. He has hosted multiple Haitian fencing workshops in Munich, and visited Haiti to train with the Avril family in 2018. He now collaborates with the Haitian Machete Fencing Project on our outreach efforts in Europe, and incorporates Haitian fencing techniques into his curriculum.
Luz Rodriguez
Certified Instructor
Luz is a Boricua-American activist and cacao entrepreneur from Washington DC. They have participated in two intensive training camps with the Avril brothers in Haiti, as well as numerous HMFP events around the US, and now lead a Haitian machete fencing training group in the DC area. They are an amateur Muai Thai fighter affiliated with the gym Lotus Thai Boxing. Luz is also co-founder of Jícara Ancestral Remedies, a purveyor of ceremonial-grade Ruk’u’x Ulew cacao.
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