Like it said. I'm getting back into this after dabbling several years ago. Discipline is Meyer longsword.

I've noticed after a few classes and frequent solo drilling (Meyer Square and similar) that I'm getting very sore wrists, particularly in my right hand. Unfortunately this is not anything new for me. I'm also a musician, and this became a huge problem when I started playing flute. (It only ended when I switched to a flute that suited me better ergonomically.) Tendonitis located in my wrists.

What suggestions do people have for avoiding this while still fencing? I'd much rather proactively do some strength-building exercises than get injured and/or quit. TIA.

Has anyone tried it yet? It looks like it might fit kinda tight and absorb less concussion than a typical back-of-head piece. But it looks so cool, and I like the vibe.

While looking for something texts online for backsword (btw, thanks to everyone who offered recommendations in that recent thread) recently I ran across this workbook put out by AHF…

http://swordfight.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AHF-workbook-Taylors-ten-lessons-Version-4.pdf

This looks to combine several works by authors that were recommended to me, and looks to be a great starting point for broadsword/backsword. Looking thru the reproduced visual depictions and instructions of the guards I do have a question I hope someone can offer some insight to…

Both the visual depictions and the instructions imply to block and guard with your weapons edge directly against the opponents weapon edge and I have to wonder why? I’m not looking to rehash the flat vs edge argument, but it does seem strange to me since regardless this would be detrimental to your weapons edge, especially in light of the backsword thick unsharpened spine.

Was this instruction due to metallurgical advancements? Were swords seen as more disposable by the time Anglo and Roworth published their work? Was it due to the regimental process of having to train large numbers of soldiers and simply dumbing the instruction down to the masses? Or is this not something that is specifically mentioned in the original works and the authors interpretation of the guards based on the original depictions?

Thanks in advance…

Hi all,

I recently made a post about getting into singlestick as a budget-friendly way of learning sabre/broadsword, but I've found myself in a bit of a predicament.

There are three main places I've found to get Rattan singlestick blades:

-Purpleheart Armoury (out of stock and potentially expensive due to international shipping)

-SoCal Swords (Currently my best bet, but shipping will double my order cost)

-AHA (Based in Glasgow, yet has shipping costs even higher than SoCal that basically triple the order cost)

Can anyone suggest sources that might be more accessible to a UK buyer? I'm happy to pay a little extra if it means I get to avoid obscene shipping costs. Thanks :)

I already asked this question on another sub and figured I might ask you as well, since people here are more likely to have actually used the weapons in question. The gist of it is that, as a long time fan of RTS games like the Total War series, I have grown increasingly more suspicious over the portrayal of historical melee weapons in these games as I learned more about them. One example would be the rock-paper-scissors principle of Shogun 2, where swords beat spears, which beat cavalry, which in turn beats swords.

But swords were almost never the primary weapon, usually a backup, right?

Other questions would be:

What role did polearms like halberds and naginatas serve as opposed to spears and pikes?

What was the role of weapons like the Goedendag?

How were really big swords like the Nagamaki, No-Dachi and Greatsword used?

What about two handed axes? I have heard that Dane Axes were often used as part of a shield wall. You'd have a row of men with shields and probably spears and one man with a Dane Axe reaching over their heads to kill anyone who got too close. Is that true?

Under what circumstances would you chose a one handed battleaxe as a sidearm over a sword?

And since the short, one handed spear in combination with a shield seems to have been the go-to for almost everyone in history: Why would an army choose a different primary melee armament for its soldiers?

Hey, I'm a reenactor myself (not just a researcher poking in for no reason) and I'm doing a neuroscience MSc project using battle reenactors/HEMA as a participant base. I've turned to reddit for participants and I hope you can help me out: It would help me out SO much if you guys could do my study, or at least share it round to any groups you're in!

I'm also interested in knowing about your gnarliest hema head injuries, but that's for my own interest rather than use in the study :D

https://forgettingtest.org/?project=p1000_107

Thank you!!

I'm looking to start HEMA, but I'm not sure which swords to get. I'm not sure which swords are actually meant to be used for the sport and which swords are for fantasy nerds who want a cool looking sword, or even if that difference is real. Do you guys have any good sites to get swords? I'm based in Australia and am mostly interested in longswords.

Is it better to teach the double parries immediately after the parry-riposte? Or should you wait until the student also learned the feint?

I have been very interested in HEMA (and just swords/the medieval period in general) for quite some time now and have been wanting to learn longsword techniques and so would like to buy a sword that I can use to practice. Unfortunately, my budget is very, very small and even products over £100 are a sizeable stretch.

This has led to my discovery of synthetic practice weapons, particularly the Black Fencer Synthetics, as they can mimic the feel of a real sword apparently quite well. I doubt I’ll get the chance to do much sparring, but for solo drills and the possibility of sparring on a low budget these synthetics seem perfect.

Here is my big dilemma, however. I do not know whether to buy an official longsword synthetic from Black Fencer or purchase their Hand-and-a-half sword. I wouldn’t mind doing sword and shield in the future, and it could save me the money in that regard, though I’m aware that some longsword techniques may not transfer to hand-and-a-half sword, eg. using the hilt instead of the blade to parry/block on occasion. Any advice on what to purchase would be greatly appreciated!

T L D R: Does anyone have experience with the Black Fencer Synthetic Hand-and-a-half sword and should I get it, or should I pay the extra money for a synthetic longsword from the same company? Am I still able to do most/all longsword techniques?

I bought a Longsword and in some months of using it, the guard became loose. I tried a bunch of stuff unsuccessfully, since I tried superglue about a year ago, using it for sparring once a week, the guard is still perfect

Greetings all,

Basically a total newb here. I did MOF foil and saber in college at the club level; that was three decades ago. Since then I dabbled in SCA rapier fencing but couldn't foot the time commitment to go to larger events, then Covid hit.

So anyway, I've rediscovered the local Meyer club and I'm trying to incorporate training sessions at least once every week or two. My goal isn't to reach any high level - just have fun sparring and possible some friendly tournaments.

Here's the question: What are the pros and cons of training longsword as a lefty? During my SCA days, I found myself really enjoying off-hand rapier quite a lot. I'm naturally a righty for sports but a lefty for precision tasks such as writing or drawing, and it felt like that definitely helped out a lot for sinister rapier work.

im noticing that both ribbon cuts and half ribbon cuts make up most defensive moves such as parries and blocks whether its half ribon or full. also if you block lets say a dritto tondo it is then easier and quicker to cut a roverso sgualembrado half cut than it is doing a dritto. also possible could solve this with a tremmazone but it feels more natural to me to attack the left side of his body after a right side block is this correct? i was sitting here doing an imaginary duel when i notced that when doing the blocking motion

TL,DR: looking for exercises I can do so I stop getting so winded in matches. My club is a trek to get to and so I usually only get to train 4-5 times per year. To compensate for that, I do some basic flow drills and other HEMA specific training to keep up. That being said, I went to a competition this weekend and got my ass kicked because I got winded so quick. I normally do body weight workouts to stay active during the winter, and cycling in the summer for my cardio. I'm looking to increase my endurance so I don't get winded as easily and what I've read points to HIIT workouts. So what I'm curious, does anyone have any workout plans that are more HEMA directed that help improve my anaerobic endurance? Just some details: I have some basic equipment (dumbells/kettlebells) and space to train. I don't have any history of injuries or health issues that could cause problems, I just want to get in better shape.

Is there anyway to make a practice sword myself that mirrors the weight and balance of the metal counterpart? Low on funds but want to get to practicing asap. Any help appreciated.

I’m starting to find a spark of interest in branching off from Medieval period weapons and maybe look more into some of the later period sword systems… Primarily the backsword, but also the rapier and maybe smallsword as well. However, I am a complete newb in this area and really have no idea where to begin. Can someone recommend some good sources for someone starting out in these disciplines, and also some more advanced sources to look at once I’ve progressed beyond the basics?

Thanks in advance!

So, there was this guy in kendo, takamiya, who despite having lost one arm at 1 years of age became good at sparring. Wondering if there was anything like that for hema. (Historically or in the modern world.) I mean it would be pretty cool if there was a one handed Zweihander or halberd person who was good at it.)

Hello there,

i want to buy a real sword for practising cutting with Victorian British Millitary Saber system.

I do have 1796 by Windlass, but want something better used on foot.

There's currently no good replicas/reproductions of any Infantry Officers Sword and i look into either buying an antique sword for around 500-600 bucks or an LK Chen 1860 LC Saber.

Does anyone know how this 1860 light cavalry saber handles comparatively to an infantry saber(i look into pattern 1845 blade).

Should i buy this LK Chen repro or go for an antique?

p.s. included images of LK Chen saber and a random Infantry Officers Sword

https://preview.redd.it/9kz8xc30r6xc1.jpg?width=1240&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c4f599381dfc3afb987f7501e7dea6445403a8a

https://preview.redd.it/x5r16oi1r6xc1.jpg?width=1800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9cea9f52a19bf75e8843a61859b97330b4ecb129

Hello, I'm not an adept of HEMA but I was wondering where on the body would soldiers be wounded in medieval time. So i figured out that you guys might have some clues. From your experience, what is the most common target when you fight with a sword or a spear, considering that armor might be quite heavy depending of the exact period.

Sorry for my english and thanks for your answers

Hi guys

Wanted a little(big) advice with this

I was planning on a budget between 150 to 250 euros to spend in weapons and I'm not sure what to do since I'm split on my decision

I want to start practicing again polearms and messer/one handed sword, was searching and found:

• Messers with a "messer blade" are about 300€ or more (blackfencer and regenyei, over my budget)
• Steel polearms at 200€ but seems dangerous at 2.5kg (buhurttech, maybe i'm wrong)
• Synthetic polearms x2 at 200€ but is not steel (blackarmory)
• Simple steel dussack at 110€ (fabriarmorum, doesnt have guard, only the ring that covers the hand from the bottom to where the guard would be)

Is there any steel messer with a messerlike blade in my budget that's good enough? Should I buy the dussack and also use it for messer practice?

Should I go for polearms in that budget? is 2.5kg normal and safe for blade+shaft in steel polearms for hema sparring? are blackarmory synthetics polearms good enough to simulate the imbalance of a polearm not only their morphology?

Thanks and sorry for the complex post, but it is costly and also will directly influate what I will practice aside from longsword/rapier