HEMA

Measuring Fencing?

Measuring Fencing?

It’s hard to improve something if you have no idea how to measure it. “Being a better fencer” is a worthy goal, but it is difficult to know if you’re achieving it. We all want to be better fencers. If you don’t then you can stop reading here - but leave a comment at the bottom because I’m curious why you’re on this site. We train,  drill, spar, compete, pore over old books and read modern fencing handbooks on the sly. All to be better fencers. How do we know if our training is working? Continue reading →

What’s Your Game?

What’s Your Game?

Varying motivations bring people to HEMA. Understanding these can help you attract and retain training partners by by ensuring that everyone’s needs are met. Continue reading →

HEMA Outliers and Halfway Options

HEMA Outliers and Halfway Options

HEMA stands, of course, for Historical European Martial Arts This name provides a nice definition of what is, and is not, HEMA - an art (systematic and complex) that’s martial...

Leagues of HEMA

Leagues of HEMA

HEMA tournaments are now forming into leagues. What benefits and what risks might we expect to come with this development? One of my students just grabbed silver in the Nordic Historical Fencing League Women’s Longsword. As well as bragging, I mention this because it’s the result of four tournaments’ worth of fighting which culminated this last weekend. Like a team in a football league, there was some certainty of how places will look after the league’s final event but there was still everything to fight for if she wanted to lift the cup. Still, silver is quite an achievement in the murderer's row of Nordic Women's HEMA. Continue reading →

What You Should Read to Help Your HEMA (That’s Not HEMA) - Part 1

What You Should Read to Help Your HEMA (That’s Not HEMA) - Part 1

Can I become a better fencer simply by reading? Not really. Read these anyway. In lieu of an insightful, technical, enlightening and motivational article this week, here’s a list of books that can deliver all that instead. None of them are HEMA books, instead they’re from other martial arts (or none), but I believe each and every one of them can benefit your HEMA practice. This week, we'll look at a pair of insightful works, and a pair of more technical ones. Next week, it'll be enlightenment and motivation! The works in question are my personal favourites, so it’s an incredibly subjective set of reviews. The links are to Google Books. Continue reading →

Big sword hits fencing mask in slow motion!

Big sword hits fencing mask in slow motion!

Now that I have your attention I wanted to talk to you about testing mask mesh quality for fencing and for the sport of HEMA. My name is Jacek Bujko. I have been helping Leon Paul develop a HEMA range of fencing equipment. I started fencing at a local sports club when I was twenty and then studied Historical European Martial Arts in Poland for a couple of years before eventually settling down with my own recreational fencing club. I am a huge fencing and HEMA fan I even got married in my fencing suit as it just felt right! One of my first projects with Leon Paul was to develop a HEMA mask. I feel we have made some great updates and improvements to the HEMA mask. One of the things I have experienced and wanted to talk about was the D word…. DENTS! [caption id="attachment_576" align="alignleft" width="212"]crushed-mask This mask was run over by a car but......[/caption] "My mask just got dented!" Then the inevitable: "Was that blow really that strong?" "I didn't even feel that!" are very common in our heads when we come to realize, that the precious new mask that we've just recently got is not so pristine anymore.   Continue reading →

The Beginner-Coach

The Beginner-Coach

HEMA, in it's modern revival, is a new and blooming hobby. This article talks a bit about the strengths and weaknesses this creates, and then gives some guidance for the...

Judging HEMA

Judging HEMA

Competitive HEMA is a young sport, and we’re going to need to build skills and experience in officiating as well as competing and coaching. Here’s my totally unofficial and borderline uninformed guide to being a better judge. All too often, my reaction when asked about about any particular tournament match I’ve just fought is something like “decent fencing but judges suck”. It is, I freely admit, sometimes a defense mechanism for my ego when I’ve fenced badly and lost. Yet even when I win, I usually find myself conceding points by pointing out mistakes in judges’ calls - or, in the case of those tournaments where you cannot concede points, perhaps pulling an Ingulf Kohlweiss and leaving my sword in the corner so the opponent can get a catch-up hit to make things fair. I’ve judged at events from local tournaments with a dozen fencers in a field up to SwordFish. I know I’m not the best judge, and I’ve had to self-train more than anything, but I’d like to think I’m far from the worst out there. So, here are my tips. Continue reading →

What You Should Read to Help Your HEMA (That’s Not HEMA) - Part 2

What You Should Read to Help Your HEMA (That’s Not HEMA) - Part 2

Continuing from last week, here are another four books that might just help your HEMA training. This week we’re getting all the enlightenment and motivation we can handle. Not the Age of Enlightenment (I prefer to deal in earlier systems) and not the “yoga, kale, smiles!” kind of motivation. Not that there’s anything wrong with yoga, kale or smiling. In moderation. Instead, I hope these readings will promote critical, informed reflection, and affirm your genuine motivation and sense of purpose in training. Continue reading →

HEMA Is A Risky Business

HEMA Is A Risky Business

Risk management means judging both probability and severity of incidents - and checking your safety measures are followed and your club culture encourages people to point out safety risks! Continue reading →

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Page
Measuring Fencing?

Measuring Fencing?

It’s hard to improve something if you have no idea how to measure it. “Being a better fencer” is a worthy goal, but it is difficult to know if you’re achieving it. We all want to be better fencers. If you don’t then you can stop reading here - but leave a comment at the bottom because I’m curious why you’re on this site. We train,  drill, spar, compete, pore over old books and read modern fencing handbooks on the sly. All to be better fencers. How do we know if our training is working? Continue reading →

Big sword hits fencing mask in slow motion!

Big sword hits fencing mask in slow motion!

Now that I have your attention I wanted to talk to you about testing mask mesh quality for fencing and for the sport of HEMA. My name is Jacek Bujko. I have been helping Leon Paul develop a HEMA range of fencing equipment. I started fencing at a local sports club when I was twenty and then studied Historical European Martial Arts in Poland for a couple of years before eventually settling down with my own recreational fencing club. I am a huge fencing and HEMA fan I even got married in my fencing suit as it just felt right! One of my first projects with Leon Paul was to develop a HEMA mask. I feel we have made some great updates and improvements to the HEMA mask. One of the things I have experienced and wanted to talk about was the D word…. DENTS! [caption id="attachment_576" align="alignleft" width="212"]crushed-mask This mask was run over by a car but......[/caption] "My mask just got dented!" Then the inevitable: "Was that blow really that strong?" "I didn't even feel that!" are very common in our heads when we come to realize, that the precious new mask that we've just recently got is not so pristine anymore.   Continue reading →

What’s Your Game?

What’s Your Game?

Varying motivations bring people to HEMA. Understanding these can help you attract and retain training partners by by ensuring that everyone’s needs are met. Continue reading →

The Beginner-Coach

The Beginner-Coach

HEMA, in it's modern revival, is a new and blooming hobby. This article talks a bit about the strengths and weaknesses this creates, and then gives some guidance for the...

HEMA Outliers and Halfway Options

HEMA Outliers and Halfway Options

HEMA stands, of course, for Historical European Martial Arts This name provides a nice definition of what is, and is not, HEMA - an art (systematic and complex) that’s martial...

Judging HEMA

Judging HEMA

Competitive HEMA is a young sport, and we’re going to need to build skills and experience in officiating as well as competing and coaching. Here’s my totally unofficial and borderline uninformed guide to being a better judge. All too often, my reaction when asked about about any particular tournament match I’ve just fought is something like “decent fencing but judges suck”. It is, I freely admit, sometimes a defense mechanism for my ego when I’ve fenced badly and lost. Yet even when I win, I usually find myself conceding points by pointing out mistakes in judges’ calls - or, in the case of those tournaments where you cannot concede points, perhaps pulling an Ingulf Kohlweiss and leaving my sword in the corner so the opponent can get a catch-up hit to make things fair. I’ve judged at events from local tournaments with a dozen fencers in a field up to SwordFish. I know I’m not the best judge, and I’ve had to self-train more than anything, but I’d like to think I’m far from the worst out there. So, here are my tips. Continue reading →

Leagues of HEMA

Leagues of HEMA

HEMA tournaments are now forming into leagues. What benefits and what risks might we expect to come with this development? One of my students just grabbed silver in the Nordic Historical Fencing League Women’s Longsword. As well as bragging, I mention this because it’s the result of four tournaments’ worth of fighting which culminated this last weekend. Like a team in a football league, there was some certainty of how places will look after the league’s final event but there was still everything to fight for if she wanted to lift the cup. Still, silver is quite an achievement in the murderer's row of Nordic Women's HEMA. Continue reading →

What You Should Read to Help Your HEMA (That’s Not HEMA) - Part 2

What You Should Read to Help Your HEMA (That’s Not HEMA) - Part 2

Continuing from last week, here are another four books that might just help your HEMA training. This week we’re getting all the enlightenment and motivation we can handle. Not the Age of Enlightenment (I prefer to deal in earlier systems) and not the “yoga, kale, smiles!” kind of motivation. Not that there’s anything wrong with yoga, kale or smiling. In moderation. Instead, I hope these readings will promote critical, informed reflection, and affirm your genuine motivation and sense of purpose in training. Continue reading →

What You Should Read to Help Your HEMA (That’s Not HEMA) - Part 1

What You Should Read to Help Your HEMA (That’s Not HEMA) - Part 1

Can I become a better fencer simply by reading? Not really. Read these anyway. In lieu of an insightful, technical, enlightening and motivational article this week, here’s a list of books that can deliver all that instead. None of them are HEMA books, instead they’re from other martial arts (or none), but I believe each and every one of them can benefit your HEMA practice. This week, we'll look at a pair of insightful works, and a pair of more technical ones. Next week, it'll be enlightenment and motivation! The works in question are my personal favourites, so it’s an incredibly subjective set of reviews. The links are to Google Books. Continue reading →

HEMA Is A Risky Business

HEMA Is A Risky Business

Risk management means judging both probability and severity of incidents - and checking your safety measures are followed and your club culture encourages people to point out safety risks! Continue reading →

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