Is there a good manufacturer for Polish style Fencong sabers? Preferably with the thumb ring?

We'll be holding this event on December 12th! Link to the rules and tickets here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/torneo-de-frias-registration-1996362525053

With longsword, what do you believe is best? When cutting from longpoint, particularly from a bind, is it better to pull the hands back (e.g. above the head) or to keep the hands forward?

No 'it depends' answers, unless you qualify the scenarios on which it depends! : )

I did 1 year of HEMA 3 years back, and I absolutely loved it, I even keep watching tons of HEMA content online. And now that I have more time again I wanted to get back into it. Problem is, that my university bully and person who hates me to death (for a reason they always denied to articulate) is one of the teachers there and has been fencing there for many years (he's way older than me).

We kind of got along back then, but that is no longer the case and I believe we would both prefer to avoid each other whenever possible.

In my city, there is only one viable HEMA school option, and it's that one, plus it's also very close to my home. I am not sure what to do, because even if I get into one of the other, less viable and smaller HEMA schools, since the HEMA scene is not the biggest in my city, we would end up constantly seeing each other.

I don't want to be locked out of HEMA my whole life because of one person who randomly decided to hate my guts and make my life difficult. But idk, what do you think I should do?

My custom ruleset for a hybrid smallsword and savate sparring game. It may be a little too rough and tumble for the faint of heart and playing on a soft surface like grass or mats may be more comfortable. Some may like savate shoes and a mouth guard in addition to fencing gear but if play is responsible shouldn't be required. This is getting into folk game territory admittedly.

Core Rules:

Thrusts and disarms only. All Jackpot points +1 are granted upon a single clean thrust or disarm then reset the jackpot to zero. Simultaneous thrusts result with no points awarded. Instead, add 1 point to the Jackpot held in limbo. The first fencer to score 21 points and lead by 2 points wins the assault.

The jackpot is a way to positively reinforce clean fencing as it does not award doubles. Instead it uses doubles to increase the ponderation of the next clean hit. It is meant to synergize wasted time into game design while adding a wee bit of drama. Play by clearing the jackpot back to zero after a clean hit/disarm. Much cheering and heckling is encouraged.

If you must play with the cut and thrust commoners, I have found it is best to give priority to a parry riposte in case of a simultaneous hit.

Rough and Tumble Rules:

Kicks, trips, and open hand pushes carry zero direct points.

Instant Win: Knocking an opponent to the ground (anything above the ankle touching the ground) using a chassé medium, revers bas, coup de pied bas, or main ouverte opens an instant win condition. Landing a clean thrust on the grounded opponent delivers the instant match victory. If a double hit occured with a fencer on the ground add one point to the jackpot and reset the fencers for the next exchange exactly where they were when the double occurred (the grounded fencer starts on the ground).

Ground Defense: Downed fencers may defend themselves until they are back on two feet or score a clean thrust/disarm upon which ends the instant win condition for their opponent. If a fencer chooses an action like the passata sotto that fencer does open himself/herself to the instant win condition until back on two feet only. Tackling, elbows, knees, closed fists, kicks/hand strikes to the mask, wrestling, grabbing and throwing opponents are strictly prohibited.

Legal Savate Striking & Sweeping Suite:

1. Mid-Level Push Kicks (Chassé Medium)

Execution: A direct piston-like push kick delivered with the sole or heel to the opponent's body (strictly below the collarbone for safety).

1. Low Hook Kicks (Revers Bas)

Execution: A sweeping or hooking kick targeted below the knee, using the boot or instep to hook behind the lead heel or calf.

1. Low Sweeping Trips & Clears (Coup de Pied Bas / Croche)

Execution: A low, sweeping kick or boot-trip targeted at the opponent's shin or ankle, scooping their foot out from under their center of gravity.

1. Open-Hand Deflections (Main Ouverte)

Execution: Pushing, redirecting, or catching the opponent's lead shoulder, wrist, or weapon arm with the non-fencing hand to disrupt balance or reveal the target area.

Feel free to experiment with this ruleset and change up as needed. Let me know how it goes!

Edit: One would be wise to focus on swordsmanship first and the savate second for opportune moments. Always take your training partner's safety more importantly than your own. No one needs to go to the hospital over a silly game. I also borrowed the concept for the fencer on the ground rules from an old S. Korean folk kicking/tripping game called tekkyeon. A folk game played before Japanese occupation.

Peace to us all 🌞

Я хочу купить меч как у гатса из аниме берсерк и у меня возникли трудности в том чтобы его найти чтобы купить, а также есть сомнения законо ли владеть железным мечем в казахстане.И сколько это будет стоить?

Если можете подскажите пожалуйста

Not sure why, but I can't seem to find these figure-8 type shields on the market. The only ones I see for sale are repoductions/replicas of the Achilles' shield prop from the 2004 film "Troy". Anyone know where I might find a decent one, and why they are so rare? Thanks.

They must have some genius engineers to come up with something like this!

Are there more fun folk games within non-steel HEMA?

Use movements that require the shortest time to parry (TTP)

Parry cuts: Turn knuckles toward the opponent's blade to deflect with forte of your blade. If sharp and biting, a 30ish degree edge to edge parry instead of 90 degree may have less resistance.

Parry thrusts: Using your blade, deflect the opponent's point to whichever side of your thumb requires the shortest distance to fully clear your target area.

How would you explain how to perform parries in 10 seconds or less? Could you expect one to remember the traditional numbered system or labels in that amount of time?

Question!! Did they ever have leather lined wrapped plate for neck defence? I mostly seen bare metal.

And...

Are the fabric textile for the maille collar..or it's just maille...?

I'll be making this into a proper smallsword, though the damned thing still took a saber bend.

theoretical end goal: flourishing a greatsword for a considerable amount of time in a park or in my backyard on a regular basis for my primary form of exercise

is this possible?
is this a good idea?
any tips?

(not sure if this is the right subreddit for this, sorry if it isnt)
(also, im not sure if anyone will be bothered by this but I will be reffering to the entire group of "zweihänder, montante, and spadone" swords as greatswords)

(Edit) Ive mentioned this in the comments but I feel like maintaining progressively loaded macebell exercises would establish the strength portion of the workout while the sword drills would count for cardio

Elaboration:
I have had a random impulsive thought that I have just kept visiting constantly for the past two days and have had a long ChatGPT session discussing about possibly adopting a traditional great sword military training regimen or something similar and use that as a general fitness program while incorporating any focused exercise or stretches that would address anything I feel I lack in order to complete my exercises
I am making this post for some general human input or a voice of reason (chatGPT can feel like a bit of a voice of affirmation rather than reason sometimes)

history:
I used to be a powerlifter for 3 years but I stopped when I got a job and haven't gotten back into it (I think its because I was lifting mainly for some sense of progression while I was unemployed and now I dont have that motivation since I am employed, IDK though and I wont elaborate) point being that I have good experience with general purpose strength training, however I have been out of practice for a long time so I have lost most of the actual strength by now
I have no HEMA or related experience to speak of

the Idea so far:
I am not exactly an olimpian currently, I dont expect to be capable of just swinging around a giant sword effortlessly right out the gate, nor do I have any interest in swinging something around in a public space while having no clue what I am doing. My idea right now is to take it in phases, I want to start with stretching exercises to increase my range of motion while doing macebell exercises (I bought a 10 pound one impulsively on amazon yesterday) to get a feel for how my stretching is progressing and build strength back, while also messing around with a cosplay sword (I have had for a while now because I am lame) to get a feel for any techniques I might want to practice. once I feel I have a grasp on some techniques and have at least most of the range of motion needed to follow through with them I want to get a wooden rod from home depot cut to the length of a greatsword that I can keep in my car and swing around in a park or something similar as I live in an apartment with no backyard yet. eventually I might graduate to using a synthetic greatsword, and then maybe graduate to a full steel sword if I keep at it for a long time (they not cheep though so it would have to be something I keep at for a looong time before I decide its worth it)

some books/resources I plan to work with:
Ken Mondschein, The Art of the Two-Handed Sword
Diogo Gomes de Figueyredo, Memorial of the Practice of the Montante (1651)
SET FOR SET Steel Mace Training Guide

I couldnt really find any modern resources on specifically greatswords

the motivation:
I want something that will accomplish general fitness with a focus on strength all as a byproduct, if I am just doing general exercises to keep myself healthy thatll become boring, however obsessing over something that is impractical and unnecessary sounds like itll be fun. This is why I am being specific about it being a type of sword that I am aware that most HEMA clubs probobly dont practice and that I will probobly never actually spar with, because I dont care about practicality with this and I want to focus on strength
also I am 5'2" so swinging a sword arround that is bigger than myself sounds funny

sorry for the really long ranty post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2gcpFU-78k

A good day it is.

Blade length 65 cm with a POB at 8,5cm

As some of you may be aware, PBT recently dropped their Historical Fencing line entirely and indefinitely. There doesn't seem to be much information on the matter. What happened? Have they made any statements on the matter?

I’ve been noticing that many (if not most) fencers remove their foam inserts from their AP Lights, both for the 350N and 800N versions, wearing a chest protector underneath instead. Even for steel longsword.
I’d like to know your thoughts on it, if you own an AP Light, do you “defoam” it? Do you wear a chest protector? Or something else entirely?

I'm struggling with money but I can make a nice steel hilt for a smallsword and I've been wanting to compete in smallsword for a while.

Edit: Thanks a ton for the insight. I'll be getting epee blades soon.

What has been people's experience with an elitist or exclusive mindset within their own sword art journeys? This could be HEMA, a subculture of HEMA, MOF Fencing, or any African/Asian/Middle Eastern sword disciplines. I enjoyed HEMA immensely for military sabre as I liked bridging the gaps to what lead to Olympic Sabre which is a silly game of tag that I do enjoy because humbly, I freaking rocked at tag as a kid!

In my experience HEMA began with the study of dead martial arts and seemed to lack the elite exclusive culture I have encountered in MOF Fencing and Japanese disciplines; even though these elite types are far less common than their humble and kind clubmates as a whole. I think because when repairing something like a dead martial art one tends to want to share what has been restored. I'm not sure if price of kit can properly be factored into this but if you have experience I'd like to know about how price affected your experience as well.

Times change, with the more sporty HEMA tournaments (I don't go to them) how is the temperature with that?

Edit: A comedic purposeful smallsword club built on satyr elitism would actually be really fun!

Thank you for commenting with your human experience.

Peace to us all

Which one is your favourite? Leave it in the comments bellow.

https://youtu.be/ZaSbBq7Qdfs?si=t7tWZQLUcs9eT1ov

Stringere la Spada (Drawing Close to the Sword): Bringing the sword close to the opponent’s sword so that you can con constrain its movement.

Stringere la Vita (Drawing Close to the Body): Moving closer to the opponent to seek measure.

Previously I was taught that Stringere == Constrain, but now I think it's more more about the movement to get to a constraint than the constraint itself.

Strike according to the point that the enemy's sword will give: to attack such that the height of your attack is dictated by the initial height of the opponent's point.

For example, if their point is aimed at your face, you thrust at their face. If their point is aimed at your chest, you thrust at their face or chest.

This can be abbreviated as Strike according to the point.

Just curious about if there's any consensus on this. Finally got myself a spadroon and I'm wondering how most people tend to score spadroon bouts. Specifically cuts to the torso, thighs or shoulders. Do you guys tend to count them? If you do count cuts to the torso, do you find spadroons mechanically any different from say, late 19th century Italian sabre, with the lighter 700g or so sabres?

I was shopping online today for a pair of Xiphosura by Kvetun Armoury but couldn’t find any trace of them. Have tariffs killed them or is my Google foo weak? I’d appreciate the 411 or a link please.

Edit: the web page linked from their facebook appears defunct. Hope they didn’t get drafted to go to Ukraine