Stuart Beattie and Keith Farrell sparring with singlesticks at FightCamp 2018. Photo by Jonathan Spouge, 2018 (edited by Keith Farrell).Many HEMA clubs have a very tight budget when starting out. This can make it quite difficult to get a club off …
Synthetic and steel, or a question of intensity
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 5th June 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here.When HEMA practitioners discuss protective gear, and for which kind of activity it is most suitable, someone usually says that …
A sensible progression for buying longsword equipment
When people begin training at a club, it is only reasonable for them to be able to borrow some equipment from the club. After all, no one can reasonably expect that a complete beginner will run out and buy themselves all the protective gear to …
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What is the difference between a “350N” fencing mask and a “1600N” fencing mask?
A row of fencing masks at The Vanguard Centre in Glasgow. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2015.This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 22nd April 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here.When looking to buy a fencing …
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Cleaning your fencing mask
Cleaning your fencing mask is an important thing to do from time to time, to prevent it from smelling bad, and to keep the insides a little healthier for when you wear it. With enough use, a fencing mask accumulates a lot of sweat. If it has been in …
Buying gear on a tight budget
I was brought up as a stereotypical Scotsman, making many purchasing decisions with my wallet-brain. This meant I almost always went for the cheapest option, and didn't even consider more expensive options. However, this also meant that I ended up …
The importance of wearing a fencing mask during training
Every modern fencing group in the world demands that members wear their fencing masks while working with swords in hand. Most HEMA clubs demand similar behaviour for the purpose of safety of participants. However, there are some groups that, for …
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