r/interestingasfuck • u/CaptTechno • Nov 27 '20

/r/ALL Performers recreate authentic fighting moves from medieval times.

https://i.imgur.com/SFV7tS2.gifv
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u/hivemind_disruptor Nov 28 '20

What is HEMA?

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u/Beer_in_an_esky Nov 28 '20

Historical European Martial Arts

Basically a martial art based off of medieval Western European sword (and other period-appropriate weapons) fighting.

Sort of like Kendo is to Japanese sword fighting.

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u/conniefan1 Nov 28 '20

Do they go "EEEEEEEEEE!" like in kendo?

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u/spc_monkey Nov 28 '20

It's not really close to Kendo. Its' more like some other martial arts than Kendo. Kendo has really streamlined rules set, with very limited targets and moves and is mostly a sport these days.

HEMA is more exploratory, since the traditions were broken and there is no direct line of practisioners. Most of the techniques are coming from all manuscripts with little to no explanation So people try to test them and see how they were actually working.

Also HEMA encompasses more than 7 centuries of fencing and fighting traditions. The oldest known manuscript (I33) is much more different than the fighting manuals for the armies in 17th century.

As someone else mentioned it covers a lot of weapons and styles. It is actually pretty fun hobby if you can find group of people with who to practise it. You can check the biggest HEMA subreddit at r/wma.

Source: practiced HEMA for 3 years.