/r/wma

Photograph via snooOG

A subreddit for discussing historical fencing and martial arts, specifically European (HEMA/WMA).

Our Discord - https://discord.gg/qstdj6a

For Western Martial Arts, Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) / Swordplay stories, videos and discussion.

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/r/wma

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1

Looking to buy Specific Halberd head for training

Alot of styles deviant from the more boxy look and thats exactly what I'm looking for i was just looking for any HEMA appropriate Halberd head in this specific style. Any help is appreciated thanks!

7 Comments
2025/02/03
10:18 UTC

2

what kind of a feder is suited the best for binds ? I have some negative experience with a flexy and light feder so the opposite of that must be better ?

What kind of characteristics should it have ? I am thinking : wide blade profile, weight at least 1,5 kg, standard lenght (135 cm).

7 Comments
2025/02/02
16:17 UTC

2

Can anyone point me towards a manuscript I can't find?

There's a certain manuscript in translation I found once, I think linked on this subreddit, which I can't find since. It was a typical Italian fencing manuscript, starting with the one-handed rapier but bringing in other weapons later, etc. The main notable factor was that at the end it has illustrated colour plates of "duels", with lead-up and the actions of the duel described below. They were of course designed to demonstrate various pedagogical themes in the text, but also gave a decent idea of what the actions in a duel could be. The only other significant factor is I remember it had been translated, but only into French, not English, so the pdf linked was the Italian with the French beside it.

3 Comments
2025/02/02
15:07 UTC

18

Does anyone know of complete PDF manuals for the "English Longsword School" and "Historical Fencing in Scotland"? I would really like to have access to these specific fencing techniques.

9 Comments
2025/02/02
02:27 UTC

2

Best active communities in los angeles

Me and my friend are wanting to get into medieval weapon combat and this seems like the place to do it. What is a fun place in los angeles, preferably santa clarita or burbank? Thanks!

7 Comments
2025/02/02
00:24 UTC

0

Assessing used training sword for viking combat 🤔

I'm looking to get a blunt steel sword mostly for acclimation and strength purposes. The club instructor is selling an old one of his, but I need an idea on what would be a reasonable price-range for these kinds of items (preferably in euros). On one hand, they get a lot of use bashing into shields and armor (eastern style viking combat), but the blade is also very rigid – I'm thinking the tang and cross-guard area are more likely to get worn than the blade itself.

The sword in question is ~1100g IIRC, nicely balanced towards the hilt, don't remember the make or model off the top of my head (bronze cg and pommel, golden stitch on black grip). There is a worn spots on the grip, the crossguard has a jangle to it and apparently the blade has gotten a bend from time to time, which the PO says he has "adjusted" with a hammer and wood (feel free to comment on good alternative ways to fix!)

Thanks in advance!

14 Comments
2025/02/01
07:39 UTC

129

New sword day!

Got my vb gymnasium I'm suprised how small the hilt is compared to most gymnasium sabers still beautiful

9 Comments
2025/01/31
19:02 UTC

76

Hi, I made a video on the history of (sport) fencing. Was told some of you HEMA guys might be interested

31 Comments
2025/01/31
14:28 UTC

0

Best Bastard Sword Technique

Okay. So, I am relatively new to swordsmanship, I have practiced "swordsmanship" and LARPing for a couple of years now (I use the term swordsmanship lightly), but I am to the point where I want to learn a proper discipline or style in the art. That having been said, my weapon of choice is the Bastard sword, I've looked into the style of German longsword, however it focuses mainly on two handed manipulations of the sword, but I also want to use my sword one handed. Is there any particular style that trains this, or do I need to learn a Longsword and Arming Sword fighting style and swap accordingly?

Edit: If I were to use the sword predominantly in one hand, I would use a shield in the other, otherwise it would get used like a regular Longsword.

22 Comments
2025/01/31
02:20 UTC

9

Want to buy a steel longsword for HEMA - Any recs?

I live in the USA, and my budget is $500. If I could also get links to sellers/products please lmk!

33 Comments
2025/01/30
19:11 UTC

12

Javelin in the shield hand

Troops like the peltast carried multiple javelins into combat holding one in their throwing hand and the rest in their shield hand. They also have been equipped with swords or other melee weapons when the fighting gets up close. My question is what to do with the javelins in your shield hand when you get engaged in melee before you would have thrown them all.

Possible ideas I could think of include:

  • drop them so your shield is more nimble
  • ignore them as they change nothing about how you fight
  • use them to block like an extension of your shield
  • use them to stab at the opponent

Since javelins have been used to the late medieval period I hope that someone mentions a scenario like this in their treatises.

19 Comments
2025/01/30
17:26 UTC

4

Mixing chappon & timmlich

Sorry for the ramble but trying to understand what im doing haha.

been trying to read more of prime based Hungarian sources and, while ive been focusing on timmlich and chappon, I was wondering if they both compliment each other? One idea i was thinking was to use timmlichs lean cuts to make a cut that's just a bit too far to invite a cut back, then to step back as chappon describes to counter and reposte. Again still new to chappon so curious in how to use his and timmlichs to abuse distance especially with being new to tournaments and lighter sabers

0 Comments
2025/01/30
06:51 UTC

13

Sword and Buckler Exercises

Hi there, I'm going to be instructing some of our club in sword and Buckler in a few months (Bolognese school if that helps), would accept any recommendations of good exercises/resources :-)

5 Comments
2025/01/29
13:57 UTC

6

SPES cavalary trousers

Does anyone have experience with them? How they feel, look, what protectors that can be used under it? I want to get the Attila jacket and the cavalry trousers look great but very few use them.

16 Comments
2025/01/29
08:18 UTC

23

Chappon help

Heya I'm prepping for my fencing tournament coming up and was curious if anyone knows why Louis chappon in saber fencers slips the leg or passive steps it back? Just was suprised it isn't just lunge and recover

2 Comments
2025/01/29
06:21 UTC

6

Gear for saber sparring

I only got into HEMA about a year ago, and am finally starting to get my kit assembled. I have been reading some military saber manuals, and was wondering how much gear I would need for full steel sparring. I have a chest protector, jacket, and pants at the moment, and am working on getting clamshells or something similar.

12 Comments
2025/01/29
05:25 UTC

3

HF Armoury production time?

So, I've got an upcoming saber tounament in the next couple months and I'm looking to get a pair of the black prince gloves from HF. My last saber tounament had a few painful hand hits that kinda set my mind on getting some more protective gloves but I'm wondering how long they usually take to produce them. Normally I order what's in stock from US retailers but they seem to be out at the moment so I plan on ordering directly from HF.

Any input would be a great help

5 Comments
2025/01/29
03:42 UTC

4

Looking for HEMA practitioners in San Miguel de Allende 🇲🇽

1 Comment
2025/01/28
22:46 UTC

6

Modifying saber

Heya! Getting my gymnasium saber this week(I hope) and wanting to add langets to the inside of the grip I mostly use popsicle sticks and glue guns for my synthetics but wonder if that'd be enough for my vb gymnasium any advice is welcome!

4 Comments
2025/01/28
20:45 UTC

76

Guess what made it through the inclement weather

7 Comments
2025/01/27
21:34 UTC

5

Where to aim?

A while back I was watching a movie, and there was a fight scene. As Hollywood does it was a dramatic fight with the two swinging all over the place, but it had me thinking. Where do you normally aim in a sword fight.

I'd assume it would change based on if it was armored vs unarmored, and depending on the weapon, but at the same time generally would be the same.

The torso with the head and neck would be the kill spots, with the stomach being next in line and possibly the arms to try and disable to reach those spots, with hits outside those areas being more attacks of opportunity or used to weaken the opponent.

Though that feels very top heavy to me

Am I correct on that?

38 Comments
2025/01/27
19:56 UTC

14

Spanish Stick fighting with Juan Omar Avalos Antillanca

0 Comments
2025/01/27
17:26 UTC

11

Small sword blades

I haven't fenced in years but I've been really liking the smallsword class at my local school. Enough to want to bite the bullet and get one. And eventually maybe play with a spadroon and a colichemarde in the smallsword circles as well, but that's a later problem

I'm confused as to blade types. I've finally figured out the sizing for epee blades 2 and 5 and the like. But what makes a musketeer blade different from a standard af/bg epee blade?

If this question has already been addressed, does anyone have a link?

Thank you in advance

10 Comments
2025/01/27
17:19 UTC

5

The Art of The Modern Longsword

60 Comments
2025/01/27
15:28 UTC

42

Do you guys think all HEMA practitioners must compete in tournaments?

Disclaimer: I don't mind people who dont or does HEMA for the competition aspect.

So lately my club has been concentrating in mainly doing competitions and mostly competition training. Personally I'm not a big fan of competitions, in all my hobbies once I compete it always turns me off, doesn't matter if I get first place or last. I personally just dont like competition atmosphere. Personally it makes me felt kinda left out since I felt like people don't take me as seriously anymore, since Im always more attracted in the tradition/historical part of HEMA.

72 Comments
2025/01/27
09:33 UTC

5

Do you guys know if the HF armory Black knight arms protections can be used on the Arcem jacket ?

I ordered my jacket (Acrcem as I said) and I'm waiting for it, I'm hesitating to order those protections because I don't know if it will fit on it...

2 Comments
2025/01/26
17:47 UTC

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