T
RAINING
All content copyright Birmingham HEMA Club
We
primarily
study
the
techniques
of
Italian
fight
master
Fiore
dei
Liberi,
focusing
on
longsword,
dagger
and
abrazare
(unarmed),
but
also
study
sword
and
buckler
techniques
found
in
the
Walpurgis
manuscript
(I.33),
as
well as the combat-styles of German masters such as Joachim Meyer.
We
draw
our
methodology
from
both
primary
and
secondary
sources
and
enjoy
exploring,
as
a
group,
the
range
of
interpretations
that
come
with
the rediscovery of a medieval and renaissance fighting techniques.
For further information: info@birminghamhemaclub.co.uk
W
HAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A HEMA SESSION WITH BHC?
At
Birmingham
HEMA
Club,
our
training
sessions
are
pretty
varied,
and
we
cover
a
wide
variety
of
techniques
and
combat
styles,
but
each
training
session tends to follow a similar format.
To
begin
with
we
make
sure
we
do
a
comprehensive
warm-up.
Nothing
Olympian,
but
enough
to
make
sure
the
muscles
we’re
going
to
use
are
warmed
up
and
stretched
well.
We’ll
usually
follow
this
up
with
a
simple
game
that
teaches
a
technique
or
principle,
whilst
getting
everyone
into
the mindset for the session.
Next
we
go
through
some
fundamentals;
a
few
cutting
drills
and
footwork
exercises
to
keep
the
essentials
sharp
and
on
point.
As
with
many
martial
arts, keeping the fundamentals solid is the key to development.
After
that
we’ll
address
the
new
technique
or
skills
we’re
focusing
on
for
the
session.
This
will
be
led
by
one
of
our
instructors,
and
will
cover
an
exploration
of
a
technique
taken
directly
from
one
of
out
source
manuscripts,
which
we
interpret
and
develop
into
a
teaching
exercise.
This
is
when
our
instructors
will
work
closely
with
you
to
refine
and
hone
your
technique.
Techniques
normally
build
into
technical
or
tactical
drills
which encompass all the techniques covered during the session.
Finally
for
those
who
have
enough
kit
to
meet
our
safety
standards,
we
finish
with
some
contact
sparring,
where
the
techniques
and
drills
studied
can
be
built
into
a
practical
combat
experience.
Those
without
full
kit
will
work
on
slow
and
controlled
sparring
exercises,
which
builds
precision
and technique into combat experience.
We
find
this
structure
is
ideal
for
continued
teaching
and
development
of
students’
techniques,
whilst
making
sure
everyone
has
a
great
experience
of HEMA and enjoys themselves.
W
HAT KIT SHOULD I BRING?
HEMA
can
be
practised
as
a
full
contact
martial
art
or
a
non-contact
exploration of historical medieval and renaissance manuscripts.
To
compete
at
competition
level
there
is
a
fair
bit
of
gear
and
kit
required
to
meet
safety
standards.
We’re
not
talking
about
dressing
up
in
full
maile
or
plate
armour,
and
for
the
most
part
HEMA
practitioners
don’t
wear
historically
accurate
clothing
in
the
way
that
reenactors
do.
HEMA
has
specially
designed
sporting
gear
that
honours
its
roots
whilst
bringing
in
modern
materials,
movement
requirements
and
safety
standards.
However,
we
don’t
expect
newcomers
to
arrive
fully
kitted
and
ready
to
compete,
and
we
completely
understand
that
people
may
want
to
amass
their kit over a longer period of time, to spread out the costs.
For
your
first
training
sessions
come
with
comfortable
clothes
that
you
can
move
around
in
and
exercise
in
easily
(jeans
and
heeled
shoes
are
not
recommended).
We
can
lend
sparring
swords,
masks,
and
basic
body-
armour
for
your
first
session,
though
if
you
have
a
sturdy
pair
of
gloves,
such
as
leather
gardening
gloves,
full-finger
paintball
gloves,
goalie
gloves
or hockey gloves we recommend that you bring those along.
As
you
progress
in
the
sport,
and
you’re
certain
its
for
you,
our
instructors
will
be
on
hand
to
suggest
what
gear
you
may
want
to
start
getting
hold
of, and where best to get hold of what you need.
W
HAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A HEMA SESSION WITH BHC?
W
HAT KIT SHOULD I BRING?
Nightlife Outreach
24-32 Princip Street
Birmingham
B4 6LN
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
7.30 - 9.30pm
Minimum age for all training is 18+ years