Longsword
The core discipline, following the German tradition of the late 14th–15th century fight books.
Historical European Martial Arts
Study the sources. Learn the technique. Test it in practice.
HEMA is the reconstruction of real European fighting systems from the manuscripts that recorded them — a martial art, a research discipline and a physical practice at once.
The masters of the 14th and 15th centuries left behind a substantial written record of how they fought. Our task is to read that record honestly, rebuild the technique it describes, and put it under the pressure of a resisting opponent — which is the only way to know whether the interpretation holds.
We train hard, but we are not a fight club and we are not a combat sport franchise. What distinguishes HEMA is the constant return to the source: the manuscript decides the argument, not the loudest voice in the hall.
HEMAResearchWorkshop
Disciplines
What we train
Sword & Buckler
Early material, including the I.33 manuscript and its later descendants.
Messer & Dussack
Single-handed cutting weapons of the townsman and the soldier.
Dagger & Grappling
Close work: ringen am schwert, disarms and throws.
Spear & Polearm
Formation and single-combat use, connected to our battle reconstruction work.
Source Study
Reading, translating and interpreting martial manuscripts alongside floor practice.
Beginning
The path from first class to the fight books
I
Introductory course
Eight weeks of footwork, guards, cuts and the vocabulary of the sources. Equipment is provided.
II
Regular training
Weekly technical classes, drills and controlled free play with a permanent training group.
III
Source work
Reading groups on the fight books, with interpretation tested directly on the floor.
IV
Demonstration & tournament
Public demonstrations, festival appearances and, for those who want it, tournament fencing.
No experience is required to start, and loan equipment is available at open sessions in both branches.