This is after only a year of training. I will add updates as I progress.
What is HEMA?
Historical European Martial Arts is the practice of combat, both armed and unarmed, up until the use of gunpowder. This includes boxing, wrestling, swords, shields, axes, maces, spears, halberds, etc. This can be done without armor, but it isn't recommended
The international level of HEMA is the IMCF, the International Medieval Combat Federation. They cover duels, melees, and bohurts.
America has several leagues, the most popular of which is the Armored Combat League, the ACL.
However, most clubs meet and fight each other on their own volition. These higher leagues are for people who can afford the gear and travel. Running a HEMA club and gym does not necessarily afford a master swordsman the opportunity to do this.
How to get into HEMA
Clubs are few and far between. You can either drive a minimum of an hour to the nearest club, or start your own.
"Wait, what? But YoungBlade, I don't know the first thing about knights! Well, unless Game of Thrones counts..."
No, Game of Thrones does not count. But it can be inspiring. So how do you get into HEMA without going to a club?
http://wiktenauer.com
Oh hell, look at that. That's every source on HEMA from the Middle Ages ever, translated into English.
Now, the issue is that much of the material is written in verse due to a conspiracy of silence against peasants. The literati were meant to be able to understand it due to their study of poetry, while literate peasants would get confused and annoyed and decide to keep poking at things with pitchforks. Thankfully this conspiracy was given up as more men needed to know how to properly wield a martial weapon. Lichtenauer, the original authority, was highly poetic. Dobringer made it a little clearer, and Ringeck finally said, "Fuck it, this is what they mean."
Styles
I personally practice German-style Longswording. It is very technical, and physically intense. The Italian style is more artistic, and also physically intense, but in a different way. It's like chess, where you wait and watch your opponent, then move in for a quick flurry until there is either a strike or you disentangle yourself again. German style may have brief period of sizing each other up before the combat, but it comes to blows quickly until there is a strike or the referee steps in to separate you with his staff because he doesn't want to see blood on the gym floor.
While Longswording is the most popular for duels, there are a million others: rapier, sword and buckler, sword and shield, spears, mixed weapons, etc.
I practice one handed with and without a shield when I can, but the club I'm in is primarily dedicated to longswording.
Gear
This is the most difficult part, because it is expensive. A decent plastic sparring sword is gonna run you a little over one hundred. A steel trainer sword is gonna run you a couple hundred. You also want a HEMA fencing mask, the cheapest of which is around 60 bucks. The cheapest item will be hand protection. The cheapest but not really ideal hand protection is lacrosse gloves. They'll keep your hand from being shattered, but you can still break a finger bone or two. If you don't want bruises marring your skin, a gambeson is also recommended, which costs around a hundred-and-twenty at the cheapest. Other pieces of armor can be bought as well, such as shoulder protectors, gauntlets, cups, greaves, cuirasses, etc, usually of hard plastic for sparring.
The shop my club uses is http://www.woodenswords.com
Physical fitness
This is a must, or you will not succeed. The only fat men who are good fencers are those with a ton of muscle beneath their guts. The only fat women I've seen that are any good are moms who have a layer of fat to breed more knights. Recommended exercises include lunges, side steps, jogging, backwards jogging, pushups, situps, pullups and basic calisthenics. You can also do bodyweight exercises with your sword to keep the proper muscles conditioned. I cannot stress cardio enough either. During summer break the club met up briefly, and I was gassed as I had done no cardio over the summer.
Conclusion
The best part about HEMA is that while the tournaments have rules, the art does not. Wanna try something? Grab a friend and spar with him to see if it works. Confused about a poem? Follow it and see what the author meant based on your performance.
Grab a sword, and hope to see you on the battlefield!
What is HEMA?
Historical European Martial Arts is the practice of combat, both armed and unarmed, up until the use of gunpowder. This includes boxing, wrestling, swords, shields, axes, maces, spears, halberds, etc. This can be done without armor, but it isn't recommended
The international level of HEMA is the IMCF, the International Medieval Combat Federation. They cover duels, melees, and bohurts.
America has several leagues, the most popular of which is the Armored Combat League, the ACL.
However, most clubs meet and fight each other on their own volition. These higher leagues are for people who can afford the gear and travel. Running a HEMA club and gym does not necessarily afford a master swordsman the opportunity to do this.
How to get into HEMA
Clubs are few and far between. You can either drive a minimum of an hour to the nearest club, or start your own.
"Wait, what? But YoungBlade, I don't know the first thing about knights! Well, unless Game of Thrones counts..."
No, Game of Thrones does not count. But it can be inspiring. So how do you get into HEMA without going to a club?
http://wiktenauer.com
Oh hell, look at that. That's every source on HEMA from the Middle Ages ever, translated into English.
Now, the issue is that much of the material is written in verse due to a conspiracy of silence against peasants. The literati were meant to be able to understand it due to their study of poetry, while literate peasants would get confused and annoyed and decide to keep poking at things with pitchforks. Thankfully this conspiracy was given up as more men needed to know how to properly wield a martial weapon. Lichtenauer, the original authority, was highly poetic. Dobringer made it a little clearer, and Ringeck finally said, "Fuck it, this is what they mean."
Styles
I personally practice German-style Longswording. It is very technical, and physically intense. The Italian style is more artistic, and also physically intense, but in a different way. It's like chess, where you wait and watch your opponent, then move in for a quick flurry until there is either a strike or you disentangle yourself again. German style may have brief period of sizing each other up before the combat, but it comes to blows quickly until there is a strike or the referee steps in to separate you with his staff because he doesn't want to see blood on the gym floor.
While Longswording is the most popular for duels, there are a million others: rapier, sword and buckler, sword and shield, spears, mixed weapons, etc.
I practice one handed with and without a shield when I can, but the club I'm in is primarily dedicated to longswording.
Gear
This is the most difficult part, because it is expensive. A decent plastic sparring sword is gonna run you a little over one hundred. A steel trainer sword is gonna run you a couple hundred. You also want a HEMA fencing mask, the cheapest of which is around 60 bucks. The cheapest item will be hand protection. The cheapest but not really ideal hand protection is lacrosse gloves. They'll keep your hand from being shattered, but you can still break a finger bone or two. If you don't want bruises marring your skin, a gambeson is also recommended, which costs around a hundred-and-twenty at the cheapest. Other pieces of armor can be bought as well, such as shoulder protectors, gauntlets, cups, greaves, cuirasses, etc, usually of hard plastic for sparring.
The shop my club uses is http://www.woodenswords.com
Physical fitness
This is a must, or you will not succeed. The only fat men who are good fencers are those with a ton of muscle beneath their guts. The only fat women I've seen that are any good are moms who have a layer of fat to breed more knights. Recommended exercises include lunges, side steps, jogging, backwards jogging, pushups, situps, pullups and basic calisthenics. You can also do bodyweight exercises with your sword to keep the proper muscles conditioned. I cannot stress cardio enough either. During summer break the club met up briefly, and I was gassed as I had done no cardio over the summer.
Conclusion
The best part about HEMA is that while the tournaments have rules, the art does not. Wanna try something? Grab a friend and spar with him to see if it works. Confused about a poem? Follow it and see what the author meant based on your performance.
Grab a sword, and hope to see you on the battlefield!
YoungBlade's HEMA Datasheet
Tabletop Role-playing Games
Barefoot walking (earthing) datasheet
Occult/Wicca/Pagan Girls Datasheet
Havamal 77
Cows die,
family die,
you will die the same way.
I know only one thing
that never dies:
the reputation of the one who's died.