Since the new year is upon us, I’d like to set myself some goals for 2019. I could do that quietly and privately, but I want to try and give myself a little public accountability, to make sure I actually get these things done! …
Is your art really “a killing art”?
Back in September, Kaja Sadowski posted quite an interesting question to Facebook for discussion by her friends and colleagues: Honest question for my HEMA friends: if you consider the totality of the sources you work from, to what extent is the …
Good fencing, bad fencing, and incorrect fencing
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 20th May 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here. Can good fencing ever be considered “bad fencing” or “incorrect fencing” at the same time? Sometimes people integrate …
Using lighter swords in training
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 25th March 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here. I often hear the advice that you should train with a heavier sword, in order to improve your strength, balance, …
Thomas Page and Timothy Buck
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 22nd July 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here. While searching for something else, I came across an interesting small article about broadsword author Thomas Page, …
The problem of attribute fencing
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 21st February 2014. It has been edited and improved for posting here. This article will attempt to define and explore the concept of attribute fencing, and why relying on this style of …
Some thoughts about tricks and systems in HEMA
I believe that there is a difference between a system and a bag of tricks, where historical martial arts are concerned. Both are effective, and both are important to have in your repertoire; the greatest skill, however, the greatest skill comes with …
How to begin working with a HEMA source
HEMA is an activity that relies on sources; but what does working with a HEMA source involve? Although it may seem obvious to people who have involved in HEMA for a while, it is not the simplest process, and there are many things to consider at each …
How Scottish is the broadsword method of Roworth and Angelo?
A common question in the study of broadsword sources is how Scottish is the method of Roworth and Angelo? How much of it is merely labelled as Scottish, but in fact comes from elsewhere? It is quite fascinating to trace the development of this method …
How Scottish is the broadsword method of Roworth and Angelo?Read More
What sabre system should you study?
If you have been intrigued by the idea of starting to fence with the sabre, then a common question is what sabre system to study? There are so many different systems that have been written about, so what sabre system is good for a beginner? …
Go for the legs!
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 16th October 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. It is a common piece of advice for shorter fighters who face taller opponents that they should "go for the legs". I …
Five reasons to learn foil fencing
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 21st August 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. Many practitioners of historical fencing have little interest in modern foil fencing, preferring the historical …
What is a “Claymore”?
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 6th February 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. A question that appears regularly is “what is a claymore?” There is a persistent misunderstanding about what the term …
Short Biography: Johann Justus Runkel (1751-1808)
I am interested in working with antique swords, since studying the original items can tell us much about the construction and use of swords in history. I have a small (but growing!) collection of antique swords, and some of them bear a signature on …
Five solo practice drills: Scottish broadsword
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 23rd September 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here. If you spend time working on your skills in between your regular weekly sessions, your skill will develop more …
Fencing with mixed weapons
An idea that seems to be enduringly popular is to see what happens when fencing with mixed weapons; if one person as a longsword and the other a messer, or sabre against rapier, or spear against sword and buckler, for example. Some combinations are …
What is HEMA to me?
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 10th June 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here. We all have different motivations behind our practice of HEMA, and we also tend to have slightly different understandings …
Review of the Carnage Claymores broadsword
Carnage Claymores is a new smithy that has opened in Scotland recently, with a focus on making Scottish swords for the HEMA community. Thomas McConnell is the smith behind the company; he is also the instructor at the Highland Broadsword Fencing …
Unhelpful advice part 1: “Make yourself a smaller target”
This is the first article in a short series, discussing common pieces of advice that sound helpful but in fact can be detrimental to your practice of some HEMA systems. A common piece of advice in HEMA is to stand in profile, with your side …
Unhelpful advice part 1: “Make yourself a smaller target”Read More