Francesco Lodà started his career in historical fencing in 1999 and is the head coach of Accademia Romana d’Armi. As a teacher and trainer, he has been appointed many titles, among which Maestro di Scherma Storica, Maestro d’Armi, Military Master-at-Arms and Athletical Trainer. He is a member of the board of HEMA and Commisioner for Italian Fencing Federation HEMA, and President and co-founder of A.I.M.A.

Francesco is the world’s most rewarded athlete for rapier fencing, and has won 60 gold medals at international/national events, and 11 Italian Championships. For his results and the commitment in the field of historical fencing, he received a Sport Merit from UNVS-Italian Olympic Committee, a City of Rome Merit, and has been inducted (2021) into the Hall of Fame of Western Martial Arts by the Panathlon, Meritorious Association within the Italian Olympic Games Committee.

As a researcher, he obtained two Ph.D.s in Ancient Religions and Roman-greek Tradition, and works on ancient warfare. He taught classes at Università degli Studi La Sapienza (2017-2021), Cambridge (2022), Shippensburg and US Army War College (2023), co-directed BAC and MA dissertation thesis at the Università degli Studi Roma Tre (2018-2019). He published six books and several papers and reviews about historical fencing, and among them one translated in English: Rapier Handbook, Freelance Academy Press, Chicago, 2019.

Chair of "Fencing, Edged Weapons, and Stunt Combat" at Cinecittà Campus- RFA, he teaches the stage combat to actors, directors, and stuntman (2016 – present).

Fight/Stunt coordinator and Historical consultant for TV, movies, series, sport live events and ceremony awards. Including: Gormiti Reboot (Rainbow), The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan (Pathé films), The Wheel of Time (Amazon Prime Italia), Domina seasons 1 and 2 (Sky), Gomorra 5 (Cattleya), Rosaline (Disney), Amici (Mediaset), Blood&Treasure 2 (CBS), The History Channel (special on Historical Fencing), Brunello Cucinelli Haut Couture, World Wheelchair Championships, Championnats de la Méditerrané, Paesi che vai (Rai).

Author of several books and papers on methodology, the social history of the profession of arms, and the history of religions, including:

- Storia sociale delle professioni delle armi a Roma nei secc. XVI e XVIII, Eterea Ed., Roma 2023;

- Florius, Reloaded. Manuale di spada a due mani, Eterea Edizioni, Roma 2022;

- Rapier Handbook, Freelance Academy Press, Chicago, 2019;

- Manuale di Scherma Storica–La Striscia nel Seicento e nel Settecento, Bonanno, Palermo 2014;

- Florius. De arte luctandi, Bonanno, Palermo 2013;

- Dal trattato alla Sala d’Armi, Bonanno, Palermo 2012;

- Il Circuit Training “insistente” nella preparazione fisica della Scherma Storica, ARA, Roma 2012;

- La bottega dello storico, Il Cerchio Iniziative Editoriali, Rimini 2011;

- and several papers for scientific journals.