Introduction to Battle Training | LARP and HEMA Relationship

[@milesmatheson1142]

Please, do more videos like this one. It's interesting to see how HEMA translates into LARP, and the technique and level of skill shown here is FREAKING AMAZING!

[@LarpCraft]

We shall! Thanks for the comment!

[@Viewbob_True]

Great video, I'm told too often that HEMA largely doesn't apply to LARP combat, but I've never quite understood their reasoning.

[@LarpCraft]

because the main HEMA targets aren't allowed in many larps.

[@nathanc939]

That is why I like foam weapons for hema fencing training, they do most of the job very well and you do not need any protective gear. I still think that fencing with steel feder from time to time is absolutely necessary, but for me, foam sword completely replace the so popular synthetic ones, as they still need almost as much protective gear and feders or sharp swords are still better for the drills. I mostly spare with friend and for us the head is absolutely a viable taget, even with thrust.

[@baldrickthedungspreader3107]

Nathan Carrier sparring with steel swords is much more fun though

[@LarpCraft]

Thanks for the comment!

[@Oracle_]

This was very, very interesting and helpful so kudos to you guys, but I was wondering if it could be possible to do a similar video, but with sword and shield training?

[@LarpCraft]

We thought about adding that as an online training thing to our website.

[@Midaspl]

Hi, I'm not hating, because overall the video is good, but you try to look like an experts, so I will be more critical. That "pseudo ox" at 3:16 was awful. Also I think you were trying to do strikes and not just change positions, but your arms were almost all the time bent and did not extend as they should. But the most glaring mistake was that making steps with a strike. You want to step in the last part of the strike - it's a common "3-speeds" technique present in many manuals - "weapon first, then hands, body moves last". If you just walk with a strike you'd often find yourself in the opponent's strike in the end. About HEMA techniques in LARP - I totally agree :) . I was to some LARPs and they're totally aplicable, just you rarely fight alone in LARPs TBH. Most of those were group fights and there are a lot more important things than a single person technique in that kind of scenario. About weapons - I recommend Freyhand weapons. They're the only LARP weapon producers I know that use rectangular cores, so their weapons behave much more like real swords. Also, the stats on those weapons seem very good - mine longsword is 120cm long and around 0.9 kg heavy with PoB just before crossguard, so the balancing is good as well (I have had epic armory swords for comparison - they weighted around a half of those and had terrible balance with PoB few cm from the tip).

[@LarpCraft]

Thanks for the comments. The HEMA group are experts. Here's their site www.appletonwhfa.com/ we're very thankful for the assistance of the HEMA groups in Larp to help us make better games and more realistic combat. Never heard of those weapons, never had any sent to test so until then... they are an unknown.

[@zimzimph]

Great video, I don't LARP myself, but I do HEMA in the Netherlands and I agree a large part is the same, just that the head isn't a target neither the vulnerables. I understand why stabbing is not allowed in cases where the weapon can damage someone because of the core, but stabbing is a quite a big thing in HEMA, or is that mostly replaced with slicing? If you attack from above straight from the middle, stabbing from the pflug/plough is a great response and then block the attack with a hanging and then an obenhau or zwerchhau. That would be two hits to the torso. But I could be wrong as I have only practiced for a year. Also, I can't help but notice Katie doesn't have her front foot straight when stepping. PS: Sorry if I come off too blunt, I have that sometimes. Just wondering if my knowledge is alright.

[@LarpCraft]

Head and groin shots are legal, we just have to do light touch / roleplay. Thrusting is allowed at an offset as well so all techniques should apply from HEMA. Here are the rules for it larpcraft.com/writings/chapter-6-scoring-hits.11007/ let me know what you think.

[@LarpCraft]

We used to call head and groin shots as illegal, but it doesn't matter... in combat (especially with untrained folks) you get hit in the head and groin all the time. So over the years we moved from Illegal to roleplay and encouraged head, groin and eye protection. At the end of the day, these areas are still getting hit so to protect players, we increased the safety gear recommendations and make the areas already getting hit to be legal via roleplay / light touch. We want people on the battlefield to have helms, cups and such on.

[@zimzimph]

Seeing that all techniques are allowed and are viable brings me joy. I guess as long as people hit vulnerable/important areas such as our reproductive organs and head too hard, it should be fine. I've heard about the allowed impact force from a friend and it seems very low and people are being silly how hard it actually hit, assuming it really is possible to get bruises when being struck with a foam weapon. You don't really want to get questions why you got hurt if they won't understand. But I think most people get bruises because they fall or they get a wound because of a scratching branch or something, not because of a weapon as they are really safe. A manufacturer can't survive a successful claim, certainly not in America.

[@dazeen9591]

Larp often used too soft weapons to properly parry or deflect with but whatever, HEMA is still useful.

[@LarpCraft]

Indeed, that's why our videos do the core test in many of them. We even came up with an ultracore for our weapons to address this as some others have as well. But foam is still foam, it'll never respond like metal will.

[@ZdzichuRaczka]

6:00 Damn it, his quick as the witcher, on which monsters do he have to trained?

[@LarpCraft]

None.

[@7dayspking]

A much better video, very nice.

[@LarpCraft]

We're learning... always a work in progress.

[@thorwaldhrodgerson6220]

Fantastic video!

[@LarpCraft]

Thank you!

[@hunterfindon1018]

HEMA techniques never cease to amaze me! It bothers me that I can't like this video...

[@LarpCraft]

We're designing a new system call Kingdoms which allows HEMA to be used.

[@halo-rd1sv]

is their like a full out war or is it all quest and stuff

[@LarpCraft]

Kingdoms, factions, guilds, colonies, homelands... chapters band together and claim territory and yes, there are wars and tournaments for melee, archery, magic etc. all the time.

[@elf-lordsfriarofthemeadowl2039]

I don't understand why he keeps saying that they're the same thing. LARP uses the large theatrical swings that they are doing, which tires the user and leaves them open to strikes. HEMA is about the most efficient and deadly strikes possible, while LARPers promote fun rather than winning. If you can't even swing near the head, the main target in HEMA, then you can't really be using most HEMA techniques. I'm not aware of it, but in LARPing it seems you can't get your opponent on the ground by tripping, grappling, and throwing or hitting them with a pommel. The working out is good and fun, though.

[@LarpCraft]

It largely depends on the Larp you'd attend and what their style of gameplay is. As we mentioned, we can use modified HEMA moves and many of them work, or at least work enough to make it more real. As you said, some larps are all about the theatrics of the weapons and movements. Other larps are tap or light touch and we've seen some pretty sad sword use in this fashion BUT what they all have in common is people having fun while larping. Thanks for the comment!

[@MadMan0312]

This is why I took up HEMA for my LARP, just wipe the floor of my slain foes haha.

[@LarpCraft]

Yes, it makes a huge difference with formal training.

[@pandacommanda1]

The only redeeming quality I find in larping is the willingness to have large group fights and enthusiasm for sparring and running around which I think could be put to good use in more hema groups. Also a very light foam wand is not a sword, a sword is slightly heavier and can't be flailed like most larpers do it also hurts a bit which i think is important, it helps you realize there are consequences to losing or just getting a double hit. Also the best larpers i've met have very little technique their modus operandi seems to be a very simple "be faster" which is quite easy with the featherweight foam swords . This makes sparring develop into a game of tag where very little realism is presented, as a summary I find larpers are great at playing tag, having fun ( most importantly) and running around (aka level of fitness) but lack in just about everything else that has to do with the combative realm.

[@LarpCraft]

Thanks for your comment. True, many larpers have no idea what it's like to wield a real weapon in a battle. Hence, why we're trying to do more things like this to teach folks. To roleplay the weight, we touch on that too a bunch.