The Albion Meyer. Image hosted on the Albion website.I have been using the Albion Meyer for several years. I went through some periods of leaving it to the side as I spent time using other swords, but I always return to it because it is such a …
I like to share my thoughts about life, business, and martial arts. I find writing a blog is one of the best ways to order my thoughts, so that I understand myself better. Sometimes my thoughts may even be of interest to other people.
I have collected a list of my most popular articles, as well as the various articles I have written with advice for shorter fencers. My various reviews of HEMA gear have been collected together for ease of reference.
Finally, I keep a curated page setting out my philosophy for training, teaching, and fencing. This links to the various pages and articles on this website that I believe help to explain my approach to these elements of life and martial arts.
Review of the Aureus Alexander II longsword
The current model of Aureus Alexander. Image hosted on the Aureus Swords website.The Aureus Alexander II is a phenomenally good training tool that allows for technical fencing as well as making high-intensity competition a much safer situation. I …
Thoughts about interpreting the Anonymous Unicum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb6PDjg86wY&My interpretation of the flourishes from the Anonymous Unicum, as a video submission for the So You Think You Can Sword 2020 competition for videos of solo forms and flourishes!Back in 2017, I was …
How to design drills and exercises for your HEMA club
Alex and James performing an exercise during a lesson at Liverpool HEMA. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2018.I often hear questions about how to design drills and exercises for a HEMA club. Sometimes it comes during discussions in person at events, or …
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Some thoughts about test cutting practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLEf7IxPC1AKeith Farrell doing some test cutting in the garden at the end of April 2020.I believe that test cutting practice is an important element of our HEMA training. It keeps us honest and ensures that our …
Flourishes in the German longsword sources
Keith Farrell practising some flourishes with the longsword in the garden. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2020.Are there flourishes in the German longsword sources?Flourishes are solo forms, sequences perhaps a bit like kata, that can be used to …
Why I like to use the Red Dragon synthetic longswords in my club
Alex and Marc performing an exercise during a lesson at Liverpool HEMA. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2018.It is perhaps quite a contentious statement, but I do like to use the Red Dragon synthetic longswords in my club. Not everyone likes them, …
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The longswords I realised I like borrowing at events
I recently realised that there are certain longswords that I like borrowing at events. When I travel for teaching, I often ask the organisers if I can borrow a sword, since this makes my travelling easier and usually makes the cost of travelling …
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Training a new system of karate
Keith practising karate at a Shoto Budo course in 2010. Photographer unknown.Late last year, I returned to practising karate on a weekly basis (when I haven’t been away teaching, or in self-isolation due to the current coronavirus). I used to …
Copyright and the HEMA Community – Part 6: How does sharing copyrighted material hurt authors within our community?
A cup of coffee helps the work flow!Copyright is a complicated thing. Members of the HEMA community participate in an activity that is inextricably linked with material that may well be copyrighted in some fashion, and therefore it is helpful to …
Thinking about your system’s doctrine
Marc and James performing an exercise during a lesson at Liverpool HEMA. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2018.Every system has a doctrine, an algorithm or set of instructions that describe the best advice for the vast majority of situations that will …
Copyright and the HEMA Community – Part 5: What is “fair use” and how far does it extend?
A cup of coffee helps the work flow!Copyright is a complicated thing. Members of the HEMA community participate in an activity that is inextricably linked with material that may well be copyrighted in some fashion, and therefore it is helpful to …
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Some thoughts about screaming, kiai, and making noise in HEMA
Keith Farrell and Jens Geuens fencing with the longsword at the Bunny Bash event. Photo by Gert-Jan Laureys, 2019 (edited by Keith Farrell).Is it alright or frowned upon for people to make noise, to scream, or to make a kiai of some sort while …
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Review of “The Art of Fencing: The Forgotten Discourse of Camillo Palladini”
I was recently given a copy of the new publication The Art of Fencing: The Forgotten Discourse of Camillo Palladini to read and review. Although rapier is not my main area of expertise, I have read (and edited and published!) several rapier …
Review of “The Art of Fencing: The Forgotten Discourse of Camillo Palladini”Read More
Copyright and the HEMA Community – Part 4: Photos of fencers at events
A cup of coffee helps the work flow!Copyright is a complicated thing. Members of the HEMA community participate in an activity that is inextricably linked with material that may well be copyrighted in some fashion, and therefore it is helpful to …
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How to start training 16th century Germanic common fencing
Alex and Marc performing an exercise during a lesson at Liverpool HEMA. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2018.I teach several workshops each year on the subject of 16th century Germanic common fencing, because I find it an incredibly interesting subject, …
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Copyright and the HEMA Community – Part 3: Books that are out of print
A cup of coffee helps the work flow!Copyright is a complicated thing. Members of the HEMA community participate in an activity that is inextricably linked with material that may well be copyrighted in some fashion, and therefore it is helpful to …
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Developing a personal style within your HEMA practice
Keith Farrell training with a dussack. Photo by Daria Izdebska, 2018.Is it a good or bad thing to develop a personal style within the practice of HEMA, which is essentially the recreation of fighting systems from the past? If we commit to an …
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Copyright and the HEMA Community – Part 2: Scans of original sources
A cup of coffee helps the work flow!Copyright is a complicated thing. Members of the HEMA community participate in an activity that is inextricably linked with material that may well be copyrighted in some fashion, and therefore it is helpful to …
Copyright and the HEMA Community – Part 2: Scans of original sourcesRead More
My goals for 2020
Keith Farrell teaching dussack at a seminar. Photo by Daria Izdebska, 2018.I have been thinking about what I want from my HEMA practice and teaching, and I have set myself some new goals for 2020. This year just past has been a …