Get to know us!
Janusz "Tata" Sieniawski
The modern-day father of Sztuka Krzyżowa. A fountainhead of knowledge and values that have underpinned our endeavors from the very beginning.
Bartosz Sieniawski
A leading expert and researcher of European martial arts, he has authored groundbreaking scholarly articles on the Polish saber and Old Polish fencing.
Krzysztof Sieniawski
Fencer, cinematographer, and graphic designer, he is the author of the visual concept for our activities and sets the direction for building a modern image of Sztuka Krzyżowa.
The saber has participated in our lives from an early age. Due to our Dad's interests, we grew up in a house whose walls were always decorated with melee weapons. As the grandson of a Polish Legionnaire, the son of an officer and a Warsaw Uprising Insurgent, Dad raised us in the spirit of military traditions. He talked passionately about weapons, fencing, and the achievements of the Winged Hussars, Pancerni, and Elears.
My father, being a student of outstanding Polish Olympic athletes, fencers and cavalrymen (Prof. Zabłocki, Maj. Dzieldziecki, Maj. Olędziki), began our adventure with fencing when we were 16 years old. During training, he never gave up, although he never encouraged us to practice fencing. He kept repeating that we have to want it. We trained out of the passion for saber that our Dad gave us and we never expected that it would become our mission and path in life.
Driven by an 18-year passion, we have established ourselves as the world's foremost experts in Polish Saber combat.
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Our dedication has ignited a global following, with over 80,000 Facebook fans
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40,000 TikTok subscribers
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and over 3 million YouTube views.
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We are the authors of the "Sieniawski Trilogy", the world's first online course devoted to wielding the Polish saber.
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We are the authors of the "Sieniawski Trilogy," the world's first online course on Polish Saber, and actively collaborate with the Oakeshott Institute in the United States
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We are the originators and creators of the famous film "Zrodzeni do Szabli", which was broadcast by the History Channel in 35 countries in Europe and Asia.
We are a family of enthusiasts deeply committed to preserving and promoting the Golden Age of the Polish Commonwealth, Sarmatian traditions, and the Saber - the weapon in which the Polish soul is enchanted.
Our History
CROSS-CUTTING ART - The tradition of saber wielding in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (today's Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine), an intangible heritage of the old Polish art of war dating back to the second half of the 16th century.
The name "Cross-Cutting Art" comes from the "Cross Cut" - a fencing technique typical of Poles, which involves making two intersecting cuts. The first slash is to deceive or deflect the opponent's weapon, and the second is to wound or kill. This seemingly simple technique required masterful timing, distance, and strength, which is why it was taught from an early age.
Noble sons started learning saber fighting around the age of 7. It was the moment when boys removed from their mother's care came under their father's protection. Then, under the supervision of their father or a veteran employed at the manor, called a preceptor, they began learning military crafts: fencing, horsemanship, archery, and shooting.
In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, fencing, i.e. the art of using weapons, was taught using a dogwood or oak stick called a "palcat". After initial education in family manors, the nobility continued their education in the schools of the Jesuit or Piarist orders, where stick fighting (one-on-one or collectively) was the main element of the military education of young people.
Proficiency in the art of fencing was also developed during foreign trips. A significant part of the wealthy Polish nobility and magnates went to study at famous Western universities. Trips to universities in Italy, Germany, and France were an opportunity to explore new concepts of the art of war and practice in fencing schools valued in the West.
After completing their education, young people returned to their family manors, perfecting their acquired skills. This was facilitated by customs that forced the nobility to be constantly ready to fight. This custom was called "Stick Fighting Circle". According to tradition, during the proceedings of courts and tribunals, nobility armed with fencing sticks formed a circle in the streets in which they fought with sticks. As a result of a series of duels, the best fencer became the Marshal of the circle. The Marshal sent instigators into the streets, i.e. provocateurs recruiting passers-by to take part in the fight. Whoever accepted the challenge, regardless of the result, received recognition. If he won, he could fight the instigators and run for a fight with the Marshal. Anyone who refused or chickened out was beaten with sticks and thrown out of the circle.
However, this brutal and often bloody custom had a higher purpose. The circle collided strength with experience, fencing skill with the will to fight, it had its own hierarchy and rules, it was a brotherhood in arms shaping character and fighting spirit.
Today Cross-cutting art is more than just swordsmanship; it is an integral part of our national pride and identity. It serves as an inspiration to uphold traditional values and virtues, embodying a strength that has been passed down through generations. ◼
What is the Cross-Cutting Art?
Why are we doing this?
For three decades, our family has been ardent custodians of the Polish saber tradition, actively promoting the vibrant culture of old Poland. Inspired by our nation's glorious past, we share the values that define our heritage.
We are committed to fostering a strong moral foundation in children and youth, nurturing in them the qualities of bravery, tenacity, flair, and stress resilience while enhancing their self-confidence and strength of character.
We uphold traditional values such as bravery, courage, brotherhood and loyalty.
If you share our passion for Sarmatian culture and the art of swordsmanship, if you believe in showcasing it in a modern and inspiring way, if you feel that the Polish saber deserves a place in pop culture, and that winged hussars, pancerni, and elears are in no way inferior to samurai, ninjas, or ronin, join us!
Without pathos, but with wisdom and passion, let us tell the world about the saber and the country of winged horsemen.