Singlestick play at Liverpool HEMA. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2018.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 …
How to begin working with a HEMA source
Folio 29rfrom the Goliath manuscript. Image from the Wiktenauer.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 …
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 wrote …
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 …
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 …
When can we question the masters?
An interesting discussion that arises from time to time in the HEMA community is how much we can trust what the authors of our source material wrote, when we may in fact have better ideas and can improve upon these methods, and generally: when can we …
Fencing with mixed weapons
Keith Farrell and Yvain Rit fencing with longswords at TaurHEMAchia 2017. Photo by Andrea Boschetti, 2017.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 …
What is HEMA to me?
Codex icon. 394a, folio 113v. Image from the Wiktenauer website.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 …
Curved Swords and “Polish Sabre”
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 24th June 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here.I have a curved sword. When I fence with it, am I practising Polish sabre?The reconstruction of 17th century Polish …
Ethical considerations with antique swords, part 1: sparring
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 29th January 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here.This is going to be a short article, presenting an ethical consideration. Some HEMA groups who study sabre have collected …
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Review of the Carnage Claymores “technical” sabre
Carnage Claymores is a relatively 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 …
Review of “Art of the Borderland”
Art of the Borderland: Saber Fencing of Hungary is a hardback book that was self-published in November 2015, with assistance by Regenyei Armory. The authorial team includes Schunder László, Papp Norbert, and Ferenczi Attila. …