HEMA club members sparring with steel swords.Photo: Hannah Dillon
The student-founded club HEMA — Historical European Martial Arts — meets every Tuesday from approximately 1:15 pm to approximately 3:30 pm in Room 116 of the Fine Arts Building.
The HEMA club is fairly new, with active membership starting a little over a month ago and interested students continuing to join slowly.
Passionate club members President Alexander Weaver and Treasurer Mark Foldenauer spoke to Northern Light about the club's activities and goals.
Weaver pointed out that the club studies sword fighting techniques developed 500,000 years ago.
Stretching before your team members start practicing and actually sparring is an important and fun way to increase swordfighting energy.
Once everyone has finished preparing for the duel, a training sword will appear.
The training begins with the long sword, and students learn how to hold the sword and the techniques of the match. Swords are made of synthetic rubber or plastic, but club members may soon get padded synthetic swords for even softer blows for new students in training.
In actual battles between members, extremely dull steel swords with blunted tips are used. Weaver said the type of metal used to make the sword cannot hold the blade and is not dangerous.
Although it does not pose any danger to the students, the clash of steel swords as they swing down for victory is more realistic and exciting than expected.
Members often use the Myers Square (a kind of guide to the four orifices of the body) written on a whiteboard in the background as a framework for technique drills. Wrestling techniques are also incorporated and used frequently. Such as when you drop your sword or when you get close enough to your opponent.
“Historical European Martial Arts covers all historical European martial arts, from Roman gladius fighting to bayonet fighting in the late 18th century,” Weaver said.
When holding a long sword, the user should leave a small space between the thumb and the sword handle to allow for a better range of motion in a wide and strong stance.
Fordenard demonstrated to the new members the nearly impossible stances used by famous swordsmen.
The way the sword is swung usually has a name. In the practice for beginners, “Mugen-kiri'' involves swinging the sword as if drawing an infinity symbol, and “Chuka-kiri'' involves swinging the sword down from the center of the body.
One of the most notable features of this club is its armor. Club members wear two-tone, thick, puffy pants called plunderhosen that protect their legs during training. The texture of the pants is similar to jeans, a look perfect for medieval sword duels.
Anyone interested in joining the club will need armor, but Weaver said current members are collectors of a variety of equipment, so if a student who joins doesn't have armor or a sword, , they are used to sharing armor and swords.
Most of the swords collected by the members have names and have interesting histories hidden behind them. Weaver and Foldenauer demonstrated a sword named Messer, which means “knife” in German.
The Messer was originally a product of rebellious sword ownership, as Germany sought to make what was classified as a sword compulsory.
The Messer's handle is reminiscent of a standard kitchen knife. According to club members, rebellious sword owners had attached extra-long blades to their knives to claim they were for kitchen use only.
Messer is one of the members of the Sword Club with whom he frequently spars.
Weaver also said anyone can join the club and there are no restrictions on their ability to learn the art of fencing. Even if the interested student has a disability or is not particularly athletic, many can swing a sword.
“That said, the ultimate goal is for the UAA club to host a tournament between all the schools in the city and include our own students competing there,” Weaver said.
HEMA Club is a unique and fun student organization that everyone is encouraged to join. Whether it's to blow off steam after a stressful exam or just want to chat with new friends while watching a fencing session, students can have fun in the exciting new HEMA Club.
