Looking to get my first feder. It’ll be mostly a beater with little sparring. This is the “Techniques Longsword Feder, Medium Flex” from Purpleheart. I would like some community input both positive and negative to help me decide on if it’s a good fit. I want to make sure before dropping $245 us on this guy.

I've seen there are many versions of the Gabriel's gloves: classic, 2.0 and 2.0.3.

I'd like to know which of the 3 can offer me great protection without losing too much dexterity.

I know a lot of people like the Thokk but I'm kinda infatuated with the Gabriel's, I can always get the Tokk if I'm not convinced though.

I dont do anything out of the norm just drills and sparring so it is just kind of weird.

I have been busy writing a new guide on i33 to replace my old one. This new interpretation takes a more sensible approach to i33 and supposes that i33 is really a teaching manual and so the actions, and order they are made in, are not indicative of some special method of fencing but rather how the actions are taught. It also supposes that attacks in i33 are codified as binds or even as positions we believe are counter wards. This approach has proven to be extremely fruitful and has allowed me to describe i33 as a more or less complete system (even if i33 itself doesn't contain all techniques, they can be derived from the system). In short, i33 contains 7 wards, which generate 7 cuts and 4 thrusts (attacks). These same attacks create (or inform) the parries (made in response to an attack) and counter wards (made pre-emptively). Attacks and parries combine to create binds. From the bind you perform handworks and grapples.

https://preview.redd.it/buwc3q74epge1.png?width=654&format=png&auto=webp&s=125eea87a2fd491c87b468e9d79472f9293f0370

While the guide is not 100% complete (I still want to write more about thrusts, and I will recreate most of the i33 plays from the ground up), most of the guide is written and available for review. The guide is organised around each box (and some of the arrows) in the diagram. While I'm confident the guide shows a practical method of fencing, it is somewhat academic still - i.e. armchair fencing - but mostly based on actions I have performed or seen performed. It does challenge the status quo of i33 interpretations - so I'm expecting push back from those who believe i33 represents some sort of exotic style of fencing rather than some fairly straightforward and fairly basic - but I believe my interpretation matches the text and image of i33 quite closely.

Here are the 9 parts already written, plus some annexes showing some of the background work I did in preparation for this.

Part 1: Introduction to this new interpretation:

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-1-introduction

Part 2: Wards

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-2-wards

Part 3: Attacks and footwork

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-3-attacks-and-footwork

Part 4: Parries and counter wards

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-4-defence

Part 5: Counter wards vs wards

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-5-counter-wards-vs-wards

Part 6: Sieges

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-6-sieges

Part 7: Counter-sieges and what they tell us about timing

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-7-counter-sieges-and-what-they-tell-us-about-timing

Part 8: Binds

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-8-binds

Part 9: Handworks and grapples

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i33-part-9-handworks-and-grapples

Part 10: Thrusts (coming soon)

Part 11: The plays of i33 (coming soon)

Annexes

What's the correct interpretation of i33?

https://www.hema101.com/post/sword-and-buckler-102-i-m-updating-my-interpretation-of-i33

The lessons of i33 - my notes

https://www.hema101.com/post/the-lessons-of-i33-my-notes

I've written this from the goodness of my heart, and because I personally want to understand i33. I don't want anything in return.

Any (constructive) feedback would be most welcome.

As the title suggests I've been doing hema for a while and I would really appreciate UK recommendations for the best hema gear (armour wise not weapons) that money could buy while not being metal as I have a large budget but not that big. I use longsword so nothing special needed. thanks guys

I have a good quality HEMA jacket that no longer fits me well, but have also been saving to begin working on an armor kit. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendation for a piece (or maker) that is effective at serving double duty without breaking the bank. Comfort>practicality>historical accuracy in this case

How much flex should a sparring sword have to make it relatively safe but hold up to the abuse they take? I am sending back the sparring swords I ordered because when I push them into the ground they stay relatively straight and it seems like it would be excessively dangerous to use them. Pretty much, I don’t want to thrust or take a thrust that will cause unnecessary damage. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Today in my rapier class I argued with my friend and coach if it is possible to parry a montante with a rapier, I argued that by using the cup like a buckler, or using the strong of the blade it was possible. What do you guys think? Do you know of anyone testing this?

Hi, I went to the Hema club and there was an instructor that told me to test the fit of the helmet before letting me spar. It was a loaner, a standard fencing mask with straps from their small supply.

I stood still and he swung three times from the side, with increasing intensity, with a long sword. The last one hurt. It seemed like he swung as hard as he could on the last one. I had a headache afterward but it went away the next day.

I’m mad at myself for being so stupid, he presented as an authority so I just accepted it. I’ve been careful to not have any head injury in my life so far. None of the other instructors ever did this test and I’ve never heard of it. Is this a common test? Is it safe?

I'm proud of announce I officially started collecting swords 🤩 Yeah, I know this is just some cheap crap, but I'm proud anyway.

They've got some cool and badass hilt designs that resembel half or full baskets. Most of them made of thick brass and would offer great hand protection.

Hello! I’ve been doing HEMA during 3 months. I’ve came from Karate and one thing I really love from it, it was the discipline rules etc, it was something really cool to learn. Useful for your day by day and all. Do you think there’s a discipline code or something for HEMA too like in other martial arts?

Really looking forward to learn anything about it :)

Thanks a Lot!

Hey, so I recently got a mask and it's a little bit big on the sides. I've been looking at padding, mainly the Leon paul but wondering if they're compatible with all masks.

I have a 350N from swordshop.ca

If they aren't compatible, anyone has any recommendation? I'm a little bit lost haha. Thanks!

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.

Was looking for some equipment for my job, Stumbled on a random link for a Warhammer from Tractor supply, turns out they have a whole range of new Equipment... for some reason.

(https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/cold-steel-italian-dagger-cs-88itd)

I'm mostly looking for the shortest blade length that you'd still consider to be a true messer.

I've come to realize the flaw in my range calculus.

I estimate how far my opponent can step by how long their weapon is. Taller opponents tend to use longer weapons, so the ratio of blade length to stride is surprisingly consistent.

Rapier blades are longer, but fencers holding a rapier tend to take longer, more committed steps.

So what I think I'm doing is looking at the rear foot, adding the arm length and twice the sword, to determine the 'safe line' I can approach without fear.

This falls apart for the dusack. The weapon is short, but the steps are the same as sidesword. So I'm constantly underestimating my opponent's measure.

I can't say for certain this is what's happening, but it makes the most sense to me right now.