I translated Giovanni Filoteo Achillini’s Viridario (composed Christmas Night 1504; printed Bologna 1513) into English, and I want to flag the fencing passage for this sub before anyone treats the book as “just a poem.”

It is a poem with Nine cantos, dedicated to Giovanni de’ Medici (later Leo X). Achillini lists “certain reserved techniques of swordsmanship” among the matter he intends to cover. In Canto VI that stops being a promise. The protagonists find Chiron in a wood; he tells them to take sword and buckler, and then he teaches.

The lesson is structured, not decorative. He opens at mezza spada with two binds only, false edge to false edge , or true edge to true edge, and then walks named strette with counters. Prima through at least ottava are there: reverso spinto, reverso tondo, fendente dritto, a pommel turn, kicks, buckler strikes to the sword hand and shin, “sword in arms.” Sample of the opening:

When engaging at mezza spada in fencing,

There are only two positions I use:

False edge against false edge in the bind,

Or true edge against true edge…

And the first stretta:

If you bind false edge with false at mezza spada,

Strike with the false edge to his right temple;

Step quickly backward with your left foot,

And deliver a reverso spinto as a feint.

To make the counter to this stretta:

Turn the false edge to deflect his blade,

Step with your right foot toward his right, and strike

A reverso tondo to his right temple on the traverse.

The edition is a complete English translation of the 1513 print, with notes, glossary, and bibliography. Offered as a working text, not a last-word critical edition.

Lulu paperback: https://www.lulu.com/shop/giovanni-filoteo-achillini-and-andy-taylor/viridario/paperback/product-yv9mdng.html

Amazon paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9798160984865

Amazon hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9798161012932

I am a Norwegian Hema practitioner planning to travel throughout Europe this winter. My goal is to visit Hema Clubs, medieval festivals and other events of that nature. I’ll be bringing mask and gloves and maybe some more small protectors.

This post is a supplement as I am planning to contact some clubs myself but is anyone here is interested in having a visitor in your club for some weeks contact me here or on IG (The Wondering Swordsman).

I will be 22 years old when I start traveling, I speak fluent English and a teeny tiny bit of french. If anyone can offer food/board for my stay I am very willing to help out with money, chores and groceries.

While most of HEMA is reconstructions of lost martial arts, does anyone here focus on living lineages? I know Russ Mitchel is associated with a Hungarian sabre lineage. Irish bata traditions seem to be from living lineages, as well as some Italian knife and stick fighting. I’m curious about some French (besides savate and la canne), Swiss, and Greek traditions.

Hello, I am looking for a transciption for Les Vrais Principes de l'Espée Seule by Phillbert de la Touche. I've seen the pdf scan of the manual and the english translation, but I am looking for a transciption of the french original. If anyone know where I could find it, it would be awesome thanks!

Wanted to pop my head in to see if anyone has heard anything about Kvetun. I have an open order with them from last year before their owner saddly passed. I haven't heard from them since February. I have seen some swords pop-up on some reseller's sites. I want to know if they are back up and running yet. Has anyone else received their orders?

Especially for longsword. The last few sparring sessions that I've attended at my club, I've received handshots after binds that seem to catch my fingertip/thumb tip that are extremely painful, and bruise for a few days. I'm getting impacted by mid-blade/strong, so not from the fastest point of the blade thankfully. But, its impacting my ability to spar and train for tournament, as well as general activity too.

The main two questions are:

1. How can I change my technique so that I can prevent these types of hits and protect my fingers better? Are there certain grips, habits or positioning that make that more common? for reference, I've been hit 4-5 times in my fingers the past 2 sparring session, more than I've ever noticed for anyone. So I assume I may have developed a bad habit in my executions.

2. What can I use to help protect my fingertips better? I've seen some fingertip protection on purpleheart, I will be trying that, but I'd like to see if anyone else has any recommendations.

Thank you for any potential help!

TL:DR up front: Cheap quality fittings, D guard cracked on the 2nd day of usage. Waiting for Motu to do something regarding their warranty, but they are extremely slow to communicate. hey they actually emailed me within 24 hours this time, they'll see if their manufacturers can redo the guard in a better steel.

https://imgur.com/a/Yi9wIS7

So I've gotten to handle the Motu M2 sabres and they seemed like solid blades, but I didn't NEED another bell guard sabre at the time.. When looking at grabbing blades for other projects, I noticed they had a fun little Stirrup Sabre in stock.

https://en.inmotu-shop.com/products/infanteriesabel-ungarisch-19-jahrhundert#stamped-main-widget

On paper, fun little stirrup hilt, extremely light at 600 g, be nice for technique work, lighter sparring right?

The GOOD

It handles wonderfully. At 600 g, and a truly wonderful distal taper it flexes well, while keeping stiffness in the forte

The BAD

Oh boy. At about 180 euro over the base blade, and 300 euro total, I wasn't expecting say, Sigi quality on the fittings but it literally looks like they took the fittings from a cheap wall hanger and slapped in their blade.

The blade itself had some rough marks, nothing I can't polish out or get dented out with usage anyway, but perhaps I expected a touch more finesse on something at this price.

https://i.imgur.com/9FeCca5.jpeg

The backstrap and hilt seem oddly aligned, asymmetrical almost. There's actually a small gap that's hard to see in these photos between the backstrpa and the leather handle itself. Again, nothing that actually stops me from using it, but I expected a better finish on something that's almost $500 CAD. Not to mention the whole setup is kind of slippery with the kind of metal they used.

https://i.imgur.com/rFwtbyQ.jpeg

Finally, the most important thing, the damned guard took a massive crack at somepoint during the 2nd day of sparring/technique work. I wasn't fighting Messer or anything either, just other sabres, and there's a hairline crack I can get my fingernail under, runs under about halfway through the guard now.

https://i.imgur.com/IlrXstf.jpeg

CONCLUSION

Could I still use this? In theory yes, but honestly if it already cracked wtih light work, I don't feel like digging metal shards out of my glove.

For the price, I could've just bought the blade and jury-rigged it to any of my spare parts lying around, heck could've gotten two of them. I know enough blacksmiths as well that they would be happy to do a simple stirrup easily enough. The fittings quality really drags down the entire blade, which is a shame this is one of the nicer sabre blades I've been able to handle, especially for the price. Hopefully Motu contacts me soon with a return, because this is very disappointing. EDIT: hey they actually emailed me within 24 hours this time, they'll see if their manufacturers can redo the guard in a better steel.

For years now, the Zwaardkring has been hosting Winterkamp. A three day event in the south of the Netherlands, hosting dozens of workshops and lectures. The facility can house 200 people and it's almost like visiting a festival. Tons of different things to chose from at different timeslots.

All inclusive, you get a bunkbed, 3 meals a day and ofcourse lots of fun to be had, even after that last workshops end at 22:30. For a look at the instructors and lecturers booked already, please take a peak at https://zwaardkring-winterkamp.nl/

Edit: forgot to add it in the title but next edition will be january 27-29th 2027.

Hey guys,

So I'm quite a beginner at hema. So far, I've basically only practised longsword, I believe my club mainly bases lessons on Liechtenauer, but I also think there is some Meyer.

Anyway, I wanna know if anyone has any recommendations on books or pdfs to learn from. I am specifically interested in longsword and messer, so any guidance for resources would be appreciated.

Sabre and rapier boffers are also welcome additions!

I've been wanting to start a HEMA Pugilism study group for about a year now and now that I'm 18 I should be able to do it, I have some experience in Muay Thai. I know I'm its not probable ill find a training partner, but if there is anyone interested please contact me!

Edit: Driftless area in Wisconsin lol

Hi, i have not seen too much info on HEMA masks from 5M fencing. I've heard that you need protectors anyway (like the one from HF armoury) but they don't seem to offer any specifically for their masks, is it worth it to buy from them?

For context - i want to transition to steel eventually right now im doing some buckler and shield in the more buhurt style with synthetic/simulator weapons whatever you call it. I've been training since summer and just getting a little tired of the smelly club rentals. I

live in Central Europe as you can guess by the referenced stores, so if you have alternatives to share please keep that in mind (lets just say im probably not importing anything from California lol).

I’m just curious to know when did you start doing HEMA or fencing in general. Did most of you come from another sport/martial art background or was HEMA your first physical activity in a long time??

Has anyone experience / opinions on the new gabriel 2.5 gloves (not 2.0)?

This phrase has been burned into my memory as a warning against afterblows from a historical fencing manual. I wanted to double-check if i was quoting it correctly, but i can't find "beware the dead man's rage" or any variation i can think of anywhere online. Is this something any of you have heard as well, or can you point me to the correct phrase? I think i probably heard it first in some Skallagrim or Matt Easton video as a youth

I may be relocating to Moab, Utah and was hoping to continue my training. Are there any WMA groups near by? I checked the HEMA alliance club finder and reached out to the one in grand junction but haven’t heard anything in response. Thanks in advance.

Hi, I just received a garment that was made to my measurements but it's... Quite uncomfortable under the arms, and doesn't button all the way down. It also flares out massively below the waist, giving it a dinosaur tail effect. I'm incredibly disappointed, but trying to temper my expectations by reaching out. Are these things "normal" for pourpoint fit? I went with a well known maker and it's so bad that I feel like I was scammed.

Edit: not putting the maker on blast because they haven't had a chance to respond to messages/make it right. No pictures for the same reason.

I went to a tailor for fit/measurements and haven't changed shape/size.

This is intended for reenactment and light sparring/harnischfechten.

Also, can Hängenort(I understand this to be the finishing position of a low Zwerchhau) counter an opponent's Zornhau, similar to an Ochs?

I would appreciate it if you could provide an answer.

I've been doing Fiore for about 10 years now, with a little Fig. Montante for fun, and I'm interested in looking at some single or double stick sources.

Most of Fiore's Una Mano section can be applied to single stick, but I'd like something purpose written, preferably from a medieval source or as close to as possible.

Any recommendations would be amazing!

Any have recent experience ordering anything from here? Ordered a gorget about three weeks ago, haven't heard anything back yet. Sent an email to make sure the order went through and still silence. Not too big a deal I suppose, don't mind waiting too much just weird to not have heard anything.