What is it about?
HEMA reconstructs the modern practice of longsword fighting from manuscripts and early print books produced between 600 and 300 years ago. It has become popular as a martial art and sport. The article addresses three issues: - It explains to the uninitiate how HEMA is practiced today - HEMA does not use historical clothing or shoes, so it cannot rate as living archaeology, but we highlight other aspects of HEMA that are of academic value - It stresses the tactical teaching imparted by the historical Fechtbücher
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Why is it important?
While it is correct that HEMA is not an academic recreation of historical fencing, that does not diminish its relevance. Anyway, academics do not have a clear view of historical fencing, so it is not clear what would be recreated. Instead, we view HEMA as providing a reservoir of experiences which academics from different disciplines can sample and query, applying their own methods and standards. We argue that by popularising HEMA, aspects of historical fencing are being shown up that are unexpected (e.g. the tactical training element of fencing) and which a strict adherence to academic standards would likely not have revealed.
Perspectives
Academic discussion questions whether it is even possible to approach the recreation of a historical practice. We avoid this discussion; academics should not apply academic standards to HEMA, but view HEMA as providing a reservoir of data for them to sample. At the same time, HEMA needs to remain linked to the historical Fechtbücher so as to make that possible.
Dr. Jürg Gassmann
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Fighting with the Longsword: Modern-day HEMA Practices, Acta Periodica Duellatorum, December 2017, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1515/apd-2017-0011.
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