books | swords | teaching
The messer is an interesting HEMA discipline to study. There is quite an active and vibrant community of people who practise it regularly, and I would like to interview some of these instructors to help show some of the different approaches to study …
An interview with Joeli Takala about studying HEMA: the messerRead More
The messer is an interesting HEMA discipline to study. There is quite an active and vibrant community of people who practise it regularly, and I would like to interview some of these instructors to help show some of the different approaches to study …
An interview with Ross Bailey about studying HEMA: the messerRead More
A common problem for small or new HEMA clubs is how to ensure that everyone keeps practising the fundamentals, while still introducing new things for the more experienced members. How do you manage a class with several different levels of experience …
How to drill fundamentals while still teaching new materialRead More
The Cold Steel synthetic rondel dagger is a good training tool if you want to practise 15th century dagger fencing according to the source material from that period. It is a cheap and cheerful tool and it looks the part while being acceptably safe …
If there are two or more HEMA clubs in the same city, how do you handle this from the point of view of marketing your own club? There is competition for members, so how do you advertise? How do you differentiate your club from the others and how do …
I have been using the Red Dragon synthetic longsword for HEMA since they were first introduced to the scene. Although many people dislike them for being plastic and floppy, I find that they have many advantages and I use them regularly as loaner …
When you are running a HEMA club, or starting a new group, it is important to have a website for the club. You maybe don’t need one right away, but it should be high on your list of priorities. Having a website for your club will bring significant …
We all have certain things that we like to rely on during sparring. It might be a technique, a concept, or a special trick - it might be something that you learned while studying this discipline, or something that you picked up by studying something …
I have been using the Albion Liechtenauer at different events over the course of several years, and recently acquired one of my own. It is one of my favourite swords and is unfortunately expensive to buy new in the UK. …
I have been using the Regenyei museum replica feder for a few years now. The design is according to measurements of the KZ 1030 “paratschwert” in the Swiss National Museum in Zurich. It handles quite differently to other “feders” that are not …
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 great training tool. …
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 have been using it for a few months and enjoy the ability to project attacks at my …
Back in 2017, I was invited to teach at an event in Switzerland - a whole event dedicated to gemeinfechten, or common fencing. Although I was teaching my ideas about the Kölner Fechtbuch, one of the sources presented and discussed over the weekend …
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 sometimes in discussion threads online, but it is quite a common question. There are many instructors who …
How to design drills and exercises for your HEMA clubRead More
I believe that test cutting practice is an important element of our HEMA training. It keeps us honest and ensures that our techniques are effective. It is all too easy to spend time and effort working on mechanics and interpretations that are not …
Are there flourishes in the German longsword sources? Flourishes are solo forms, sequences perhaps a bit like kata, that can be used to practise techniques and generally do training with sword in hand even without a partner – useful if you can …
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, especially when steel is an option, but I do believe that they serve a number of important purposes and they …
Why I like to use the Red Dragon synthetic longswords in my clubRead More
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 …
The longswords I realised I like borrowing at eventsRead More
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 practise Shoto Budo karate and now I am taking up Kyokushinkai karate - it has been …
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 understand what copyright is and how it …
