Many HEMA clubs have a very tight budget when starting out. This can make it quite difficult to get a club off the ground if you don’t have the spare money to invest in equipment, or if you aren’t sure that enough people will join for it to make …
Does HEMA have a place in historical re-enactment?
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 12th August 2011. It has been edited and improved for posting here. I used to be involved with a historical re-enactment group before I began to practise HEMA. More recently, I have taught …
Review of the Superior Fencing padded shin guards
I recently had the opportunity to test and review the Superior Fencing padded shin guards. They are very protective, although the standard size were a bit too large for me. …
Review of the Superior Fencing forearm & padded elbow guards
I recently had the opportunity to test and review the Superior Fencing forearm and padded elbow guards. They are very protective, and are not as bulky as some other forearm guards, although the standard size is perhaps a little too large for smaller …
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Review of the Superior Fencing leather mask overlay pro
I have been using the Superior Fencing leather mask overlay pro for a while for both drilling and sparring. I like it a lot, and it has already protected my head from a few quite heavy hits. …
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Review of the Superior Fencing gorget
I have had the opportunity to look at and test the gorget by Superior Fencing. In short, I think it is a pretty good piece of equipment, and worth the investment. …
Review of the Superior Fencing leather padded fencing gloves
I have been using the Superior Fencing leather padded fencing gloves in drilling for a while now, and I find them to be very comfortable and good for the purpose. …
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Review of the Superior Fencing padded knee protectors
I recently had the opportunity to test and review the Superior Fencing padded knee protectors. They are protective, comfortable, and sit well on the Superior Fencing padded trousers. …
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Review of the Superior Fencing 800N HEMA trousers
The Superior Fencing 800N HEMA trousers[1] are a comfortable set of protections for your legs, groin and abdomen. They look good while being very functional. …
Review of the Superior Fencing HEMA bag
The Superior Fencing HEMA bag is a well-designed piece of equipment. I have seen and handled several attempts at sword bags over the years, and I think this is the best thought-through design I have seen so far. …
Attacking the hands in sparring
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 28th August 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. Every so often, I find a discussion (online and in person, in roughly equal quantities) where people debate the merits …
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 …
Review: Stryker singlestick from Purpleheart Armoury
The Stryker singlestick is a rattan stick with a plastic basket for fencers who want to train with singlesticks. Leather baskets, although traditional, can be prohibitively expensive, and don't always provide enough protection against impacts to the …
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Responsibility to our training partners
Marc and Alex performing an exercise during a lesson at Liverpool HEMA. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2017. This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 27th February 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. We often take …
Sparring is not always the best training method to become better at sparring
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 11th October 2013. It has been edited and improved for posting here. I have often come into contact with the idea that the best way to become good at sparring is to practise lots of …
Sparring is not always the best training method to become better at sparringRead More
Review of the Destroyer Modz “Roughneck” gorget
I have used a Destroyer Modz "Roughneck" gorget for protection in sparring for a few months now, and I find it offers me a combination of protection with mobility that I haven’t experienced with any other gorget. …
Review of the PBT gorget
I have used a PBT gorget for protection in sparring for a couple of years, and I am quite satisfied with it. It is reasonably comfortable, it offers sufficient protection, and it has saved me from some quite nasty thrusts. …
Washing a SPES Jacket
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 15th November 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here. How do you wash your SPES jacket? There are some brief washing guidelines on the SPES website, but I feel that more …
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?
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 mask, there are a huge variety of makes and models, and they all come with some numbers to …
What is the difference between a “350N” fencing mask and a “1600N” fencing mask?Read More