Mishaël Abia Lopes Cardozo, head instructor and founder of the European Medieval Combat Academy (EMCA), is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of historical fighting and fencing arts, as well as three time winner of the Furor et Ferrum International Tournament of Historical dual in Italy. He is by origin an expert in East Asian martial arts with twenty years of experience in various Japanese disciplines including karate, judo, jiu-jitsu, kendo and katori shinto ryu. For the last 15 years he has been exclusively focused on intensive research into and practice of European medieval martial arts. In addition to historical combat arts he also practices modern western fighting methods such as grav maga and systema. He gives workshops to police officers and security personnel, but also self-defense and conditioning courses for private individuals and businesses.

Outside of time training and teaching, Mishaël is constantly involved with Western martial arts. Apart from teaching, his pursuits in the area of martial arts are the interpretation of medieval “Fechtbucher” and the exchange of ideas and experience with others. Mishaël teaches all over the world and his stated goal is to return European martial arts to their lost glory, both as an art form and as a viable fighting system in the modern fighting sport world. He places great emphasis on maintaining contacts across the international community of fighting experts to stay on top of the latest findings and developments.

Mishaël supports himself with his occupation as sword fighter. Apart from the running of four academies in the Netherlands he is constantly in demand for film and television work for stunts, fight choreography and acting. He also provides, both locally and internationally, lectures and seminars, demonstrations and workshops. He has given seminars in Canada, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. The free time left over he devotes to his other passions, painting and music. Mishaël resides in Haarlem, The Netherlands.