Asrsenal Swords
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What do we do?
Our focus for now is on introducing the fundamentals of sword play, so that anyone interested in pursuing a deeper study will have a solid grounding in basics that they can take into other HEMA schools.
For the time being we are focused on some taster workshops... watch this space!
Over time, if there's interest in the community, we'll look toward regular scheduled sessions and 1:1 coaching.
Who are we?
The organisers have trained for over a decade with David Rawlings of the London Longsword Academy. Prior to that they have years of experience in sword-based arts and recreation in Australia, and have participated in numerous HEMA gatherings internationally and in the UK. As local residents, they are keen to share what they have learned with their local community.
How to contact us?
Reach out to us at arsenalswords@icloud.com for more information.
You can find out more about how we operate on our policies and guidelines page.
What is HEMA?
Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is the study of martial traditions of Europe that have passed out of common practice or evolved into other forms. The general period of interest stretches from the Medieval period up to the modern period, roughly 1300 to 1800. Practitioners aim to rediscover and recreate these lost arts through translation and interpretation of historical documents.
The interests of HEMA practitioners stretch from academic study, through to drilling techniques and friendly safe sparring, and on to tournament competition and public demonstration. As a hobby it's accessible to people of all levels of fitness, and encourages body awareness and free movement, in a friendly and supportive environment.
Different groups may focus on particular styles and periods of history. Across the community it's common to see people practicing with rapiers, small swords, longswords, sabres, polearms, and even wrestling.
Interest in these lost arts has grown rapidly over the last two decades, and the community around the world continues to grow rapidly. Recent years have also seen a growing interest in the arts of Africa and its global diaspora, and the HAMA Association is doing tremendous work in this area.