What is HEMA and why should you do it?

Combatcon has posted a nice article about what HEMA is and why it should be done.

For whatever reason, “martial arts” in America became synonymous with traditional Eastern styles like “kung fu” (as we frequently describe a group of over 30 individual Chinese styles), Karate, Judo, Muay Thai, and others. These are all incredible arts with a long-standing traditional pedigree and a host of fluent practitioners – but wait. We know that combat and warfare existed outside of Asia, right? What happened to those styles? Those arts?

Check it out!

Some of the masters have quite the sense of humor.

In Lecküchner's messer treatise, two plate caught my eye: 

 ... grab him as it is stated before, and as you have grabbed him, fall “simultaneously” close to him on your arse, and as you fall, turn your back on his right side and hold him firmly. You can also play board games, eat and drink, so that he cannot stand up unless you let him cordially up, otherwise he has to rot under you.

And another:

Then, if you want to throw him into a bag with the element announced before, so secretly appoint some men who have a hidden bag with them at the swordsmanship competitions and stand behind the people. Then, grab him as it is depicted before, and as you have brought him in the scale, tell the two to raise the bag and lead him with force to these who stand with the bag and press him firmly and make him crawl to it. If he does not want to do it voluntarily, when they hold the bag open, grab with your right hand at his right leg...and throw him into the bag in the name of God...

Not only do you get a workout, you get a chuckle. 

Contact us about classes.

Longbows vs Harness (plate mail).

Regarding yesterday's admittedly silly post. Some fine folks have, quite understandably, wondered how bows would have dealt with harness (aka plate mail). Well, here is a test. There are others, but you will see a theme.

You will see that any penetration is pretty minor, less than an inch, and this is at point-blank range with a completely solid hit. Considering that there was likely mail and an arming doublet underneath, it shows that bows are not much use against harness. In the battles of Agincourt and Crecy, where bows were historically used to great effect, it was not because bows could penetrate harness. It was mostly injuries to horses or more lightly armored troops, as most troops did not have harness. Harness was extremely expensive.