Trainer Line-Up

Two major projects will be launched in 2025: a new codicological database of German fight books, and a collaboration with the Germanisches Nationalmuseum (Nuremberg) to produce video interpretations of the famous manuscript 3227a as part of a crowd-sourced ‘Interpretathon’.

Trust me, I am THAT kind of doctor…

Dealing with left handed individuals in HEMA both in sparring and in teaching. 

Not often seen, not often trained and a bit underestimated. Messer from the Codex Wallerstein

Medieval wrestling doesn’t get any easier than this.

Not so common greatsword sources

Johannes Liechtenauer’s legacy consists of nothing more than some obscure verses, the so-called Zedel. Serious gibberish. And yet, HEMA would be inconceivable without them. They differ from source to source, so let’s have a look at them, shall we?

Close range combat with the dagger

Lookinhmg at reconstructing mountey febcing requires us to look at what the horse should be doing, this in turn gives us insights in how medieval art was used to conveigh the techniques, this might help us decifer sources also when assessing art showing techniques on foot

When Neutrality isn’t enough : Fencing Swiss style. Some insights on Hugo Wittenwiler.

When neutrality isn’t enough: Fencing Swiss style

Disarming the opponent and giving her/him the chance to surrender is one of the universal techniques of La Verdadera Destreza, and one of the most complex techniques, which can be executed in different ways and tactical situations.

Learn how to deal with disadvantage and frustration

The art of the Verdadera Destreza is strongly linked to the Spanish rapier but this relation is rather to be considered as a 1:n relation. According to this, we will have a look at an exaple when Destreza principleas are applied to the sabre. Main authors who allow this outlook are the Merelo brothers and De Frías.

One position to rule them all. One position to bind them.

Harvest people – not herbs

“It’s like ballet with violence.”

Taking our study of medieval battlefield tactics beyond the reenactor’s shield wall

Hands-on experimentation with formations and tactics from medieval classics of military strategy and tactics.

Dumbing down an ancient art as much as possible

“Excellent! I cried. “Elementary,” said he.

Can armor nowadays be made from bloomery steel? – Experiments and results

According to the Bolognese tradition masters, the narrow measure where swords are crossed from the middle – the stretta di mezza spada – is the most important fighting measure. It is the measure a Bolognese fencer tries to enter to deliver strikes that are meant to hit their opponent and it is the measure where the fencer’s virtú is proven. Despite the fact that the…

Sword and Dagger from ‘The Book of Lessons’

“We will take advantage of self—organization and direct feedback and apply the Constrains Led Approach to rapier fencing to help you eliminate your nagging, persistent mistakes.”

Filipino methods for the use of the staff – striking power, angulation, tactics

We’ll have a look at some fundamentals of Scottish Broadsword as practiced in the early and mid 18th century, and see how it compares to other comtemporary styles and weapons.

How to gain advantage when your blade is subjected from above

The civilized art of using a wooden club in the 19th century.

A groundwork oriented workshop for developing your binding and Zufechten skills – knowledge that will easily translate to different weapons as well. Weapon: Longsword Source: Liechtenauer and related Over the course of numerous different HEMA workshops in the past years I realized a certain lack of understanding the basic rules of creating good Vor (and […]

The fundamental differences between tournament fencing and source based fencing in HEMA. Lecture What are we adapting for in the last twenty years? The requirements of the historical combat systems or the systems we are training in? A look at HEMA and some of its core problems through the systemic lense. About the lecturer – […]

Using an exemplary sequence of techniques, we will show the common features of fencing between Rast and Liechtenauer in bloßfechten. Selected techniques from Rast’s harnischfechten show thrusts to the face or in the visor. Weapon: Longsword Source: Rast The widley unknown fencing treatise by Anthony Rast (d. 1549) belongs to the so-called “Nuremberg group” of […]

The duel for justice and honour – besides war and sport, another reason to be good at fencing in the Middle Ages! Lecture In the illustrated fencing books, the judgement of God is often depicted as a duel in court, typically with sword or baston and a special “stechschild” (a big pointed shield). The wooden […]

 “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” Theodore Roosevelt Weapon: Staff Fencing with the staff is the basis for the handling of all pole weapons in Joachim Meyer`s system. But apart from that it is also a great exercise to develop body mechanics. In this workshop we will start with guards […]

Learn to defend yourself without a weapon and get a good attitude. Weapon: Your Fists Source: Pugilism manuals of the 19th century The old pugilism is practically sword fencingwithout a sword, and follows in all its movements, or rather, should follow, the same principles. This boxing style was used for hard bare-knuckle contests and for […]

Everything you didn’t know about the buckler. What is there to know about the buckler? Lecture An overview of the buckler in regards of construction, usage and typology. About the lecturer – Herbert Schmidt Herbert Schmidt founded the Austrian Club Ars Gladii in 1999 and has been its trainer since.He began to reconstruct the art […]

Understanding Indes through the epicentre concept, a way to systematically train one of the hardest parts of combat. How can you train Indes techniques and how do you prepare your subconscious mind to act in chaos of sparring and free fights? In this workshop, I will show you a possible way. Weapon: Any weapon (Longsword, […]

Presenting the tools for bringing techniques from the pages into your grappling repertoire. Weapon: unarmed Source: Talhoffer I will present the tools for bringing techniques from the pages into your grappling repertoire. This involves a progression of exercises aimed at building the ability to attack and defend with realistic timing and intention for setting up […]

How to pretend to fence like Liutger Weapon: Sword & Buckler Source: I.33 The class is aimed at Sword & Buckler newcomers. The basic idea is to develop the stance, footwork and the most essential bind after the „zufechten“. At the end of the class, the participants should be able to have an idea on […]

Get a Messer, join and have fun, whilst learning how and where to cut. Weapon: Messer Source: Leckuechner and others In every manuscript there is a lot of talk about the Strike/blow or the thrust. A lot of training time is spent on doing this with various techniques and versions. But there is also one […]

Why the lance is the weapon of choice in war. Weapon: Lance/Spear and Shield Source: Interpretation of sources from 9th to 12th century using lance and shield In this Workshop you learn handling and fighting with a lance like an armed Warrior of 9th to 12th Century. Skill level of Participants: All levelsNeeded Equipment: Spear […]

 A field still relatively unknown and  somewhat underrated in the community, but with appreciation  and interest growing, I expect the  quality of training methods and hence HEMA fencing overall (especially, but not only, for women) only to further increase over the coming years. HEMA both as a martial discipline and as a sport could become […]

This lecture won’t answer all the questions you may have about Falkner’s lost manuscript, but it will try. LECTURE Peter Falkner is nowadays mostly known for his fencing treatise, unique in its own, conserved in Vienna. He apparently produced another one, probably not illustrated but much more bigger, but nowadays considered as lost. Fortunately, enough […]

Sparring with low or no protection gear enforces another way of fencing which enables the contestants to practice fencing techniques more consciously and deliberately. It teaches your all-round perception and enables reflected training Weapon: Longsword Source: German school Modern HEMA-culture tries to emphasize a high level of “realism” by setting standards for equipment for free […]

Deceiving your opponent and creating opportunities with the Dussack! Weapon: Dussack Deception is a vital component of a powerful engagement with dussack, especially when the opponent is used to managing the time and space in combat. The workshop focuses on upgrading the tactical capacities of the weapon with deception or in PC lingo: “creating opportunities”. […]

»while coming into position with the hilt high above your head, and thus complete« Meyer Weapon: Longsword Source: german fencing school »while coming into position with the hilt high above your head, and thus complete« (Meyer): The Unterhau is part of the basic training in longsword, but it is rarely used in free combat. It […]

August Fehn is part of a fencing lineage that has been around for a surprisingly long time. What defines Gedecktes Hiebfechten, i.e. “Covered-Cut Fencing”? What does Fehn in particular have to offer? Find out what makes this fencing style so Fehn-tastic! Weapon: Sabre Source: August Fehn “Die Fechtkunst mit Stoß- und Hiebwaffen” 1851 Gedecktes Hiebfechten, […]

How to incorporate technique into dagger sparring! Weapon: Dagger Dagger fighting is characterized by speed and close fighting distance, two factors which make it a difficult weapon to execute a clean technique with, in sparring. The workshop will provide a variety of exercises focusing on moving and recognizing the »opportune moment« that will help students […]

Medieval fencing is based on wrestling. Change my mind. Lecture Source: Codex Wallerstein – Cod.I.6.4º.2 Codex Wallerstein /Baumann’s Fechtbuch / Cod.I.6.4º.2is widely acknowledged to be one of the most important, if not THE most important sources on combat wrestling in 15th century Germany. The older section (1420ies/30ies) is possibly unjustly often overlooked in comparison to […]

How does the reality of medieval warfare affect the necessities and priorities of the medieval warrior? Lecture As the numerous actual campaigns of the 15th century unfold, we see a plethora of actions that define the image of what a ‘man-at-arms’ need to be prepared for. About the lecturer – Arne Koets Arne Koets has […]