Some advice on starting HEMA / Historical Fencing

[@eloujtimereaver4504]

I find it funny how most eastern styles believe that if you learn more than one your style is sullied and terrible, whereas european styles encourage as much cross disciplinary learning as possible.

[@Subutai_Khan]

It wasn't always the case, it is a shame that they have developed that mindset. The samurai for example learned bow, sword, and spear (later gun) among other things and were well educated individuals some even went on to learn ninjitsu (all ninja are samurai after all) other ninjas may not be skilled in combat but my point is even the top daimyo and such would have been expected to learn several weapons along with other things.

[@1964TP]

I would love to have some videos on Drills to do as a group, and actually show fundamentals: Sword positions, drills, footwork, etc.

[@Rikitocker]

@ Edi - The biggest thing I have noticed with many HEMA videos is poor footwork and distance/measure. When observing various bouts, the single greatest reason why most people are hit is because they have not observed proper distance from their opponent and they have poor footwork. Anyone in HEMA who has already spent a couple of years in sport fencing at an established club has a huge advantage as good instructors will absolutely drill timing, distance and footwork into your brain so that it becomes second nature. I don't think enough time is likely spent on this in most HEMA schools and it really should be.

[@miroslavm2503]

You’re absolutely right Riki, bad footwork is one of the things that I constantly criticize people making videos about fencing with this or that weapon, In my school, Saint George society of fencers in Serbia Belgrade, we spend the first year learning sport fencing and the first two months are dedicated just to footwork and maintaining good distance. Then in the second year when we start with combat sword fighting we first learn the small sword but again the first two months are dedicated just to footwork and the next couple of months we constantly practice movement, maintaining distance, executing a proper lunge and pass and all in between. It’s only after the second year that we can start doing any king of sparing but as a result we get far better at the basics which is of course the most important thing. After all sword fighting comes down to good footwork.

[@Tomartyr]

miroslav m How many students are patient enough to wait two years to get to the fun bit?

[@CoffeeSnep]

At the St Louis School Of Arms, where I train, we put a strong emphasis on distancing, and even more so on footwork. The Italian Bolognese material that we study puts an equally high emphasis on it. If you see people having a problem with it in videos, it's a lack of skill, or something went wrong. I usually see that in beginner videos, personally. You can train in it, and then when sparring you might panic and lose your good footwork and distance. This is why it is important to train it a lot, and why sparring is good practice do reduce your panicking.

[@cyhuang_fencing]

I found that it's difficult to build a club in Asia(Taiwan), maybe the reason is the culture difference. I also feel that Asia erea is lack of HEMA equipment and introduction about HEMA.

[@gror24]

For those wanting to learn in the southern United States, specifically in Mississippi, the Southern Academy of Swordsmanship is located in Laurel, MS. The instructor, Scott Wilson, primarily teaches Fiore dei Liberi.

[@stevendepauw3742]

If any Belgians are watching, there are MULTIPLE Hema groups in Flanders and Wallonia. If you are looking for a group in Belgium, Google Heffac Belgie-Belgique-Belgien. :D

[@usel1500]

very useful for me, thank you.

[@stevecullen9536]

I've recently started getting into HEMA and you're videos are really helpful! I took your advice from this video and found a club but I don't live very close to one although there is one in a neighbouring city and Im gunna make the effort to go as much as possible cause I want to take this seriously. My only issue is the manuals and treatises I'm finding online are kinda hard to read and disipher... Do you know if there are any that are a bit easier to grip? Or of any tricks on how to understand them easier? I'm mostly interested in the longsword but I wouldd also like to learn single hand sword too.

[@KnightedDawn]

Meyer's fairly easy to understand. Fiore's got decent pictures and text, which helps. Of course, this is all relatively speaking-none of them are written like modern manuals, and if you don't have any HEMA background to start with, the very first step can be very difficult.

[@lordspamify]

omg why are there none in central kent :(

[@bloodangel7731]

I've recently got really interested in hema and fencing and rapiers in particular and I want to find a club or a school where i can learn more about it and try it out, but I'm worried if my age will be a problem, I'm 19 by the way.

[@GelatinousShark]

I am in Asia (Taiwan, to be specific). I don't think there are any HEMA groups near me...

[@IstoSipila]

There is a branch of Guy Windsor's school in Singapore. Not very close but it's the one and only in Asia at least to my knowledge. swordschool.com/

[@cyhuang_fencing]

We have same interest !! I'm also in Taiwan,I have studied some sources.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Isto The Singapore group is certainly not the only HEMA club in Asia - there is at least one group in Hong Kong and one somewhere in Japan (can't remember which city).

[@cyhuang_fencing]

scholagladiatoria Japan's group is in Tokyo.

[@IstoSipila]

Nice to hear there is more than I thought :)

[@SrGundisalvus]

i'm from La Plata, Argentina and here is practically impossible to find anything about hema :(

[@sarcastichamsandwich5413]

Does your physical stature have to be of major importance in regards to weapon choice? For example, I'm a pretty small person but I'm most interested in the longsword. Would my stature of shortness and petite-ness hinder my ability in any massive way?

[@pmurphy5948]

one of the best longsword practitioners I know, who fights in a natural, instinctive level in the Lichtenaur style, is 5'2" tall, and only 125lbs and a mother of a five year old

[@dr.jpdixon6299]

Great video. Does anyone knows where can I get cheap and good steel blunt swords? Thanks

[@scholagladiatoria]

Cheap and good don't usually go together unfortunately. Google Hanwei.

[@dr.jpdixon6299]

well, steel blunt swords that are about 40 dollars?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Johny J. Potter No sword worth buying is that cheap unfortunately.

[@dr.jpdixon6299]

okay, thanks for the tip, anyway

[@dr.jpdixon6299]

anyway, where do you buy most of your swords?

[@cmac5858552]

is bayonet fencing something that is taught in HEMA clubs, or is that too modern for historical fencing?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Yes there are some clubs doing it. We plan to add it to the syllabus.

[@edi9892]

Most sources do not reveal or explain proper footwork. I wonder why.

[@gror24]

They assume you know it already.

[@edi9892]

Garrison Morton The old sources yes, but in modern video material they are often zooming in so that you see only the upper body. It appears to me that some even do not graps the importance of proper footwork for beginners.

[@gror24]

edi True, footwork and proper body mechanics should be the first things you learn when you're starting.

[@CoffeeSnep]

It depends on the source. Much of the material assumes you already know a lot of the basic stuff, as they were written as reference guides for instructors so they wouldn't forget the finer details their masters taught them. In our Italian Bolognese tradition, it is explained on the sources quite explicitly, even going as far as stating how many finger widths your feet should be apart, and where they should point, as well as the shoulder.

[@benjohsmi1]

Well said.

[@DanPFS]

As somebody who practices jujutsu I can't recommend it for use during historical fencing matches, because it is a very dangerous art and it will take you a long time to learn how to use it without injuring your opponent. It most definitely will teach you the mechanics of grappling, but for the purposes of historical fencing doing something like submission wrestling (or as you say, judo) is much more likely to be directly applicable. That said, there are a few actions in jujutsu which are identical to actions I've learned in Fiore (not simple ones either!), which is really cool.