How to Get Into Practicing Historical Martial Arts

Whether you want to start the practice because swordsmanship fascinates you, or you're looking for fun exercise, or you enjoy the community, here are some tips on how to start if there is no club / school near you. Everything from the equipment you need to where to find resources, as well as a few words about important safety measures.

The club finder:

Where to get practice swords and protective gear:

My book recommendations (swordsmanship & history) and other interesting stuff on Amazon:

Online library of historical manuals:

My review of the SPES heavy gloves (currently the best option IMO):

My previous sparring gloves:

Review of the full kit from Superior Fencing:

The protective motorcycle jacket I show in the video:

To support the channel:

Get in contact or see a list of my video uploads:

My favorite online store for buying swords (worldwide shipping):

Channel-related shirts and other merch:

Best-selling knives on Gearbest:

#Skallagrim #HEMA #Practice

[williama]

“If you can afford nothing else get a mask”. Now I’m just standing in my yard with a fencing mask on because I can’t afford a sword. But at least my face is safe!

[CheeseFromTheBacon]

Well, I got the mask, the training weapons, the jacket, the gloves and I did some research on the manuals. Stil got the feeling I'm missing that's right! I don't have any friends to actually train with!

[lastdefenderofxhotl]

In the words of my MMA coach and several martial arts instructors don't break your training partner cause you won't get a new one.

[Lovelessvalentine]

Not only is there a local HEMA club theres also local singles in my area! Todays a win win!

[yerbadeldiablo]

Person who doesn't do sparring because "it's not fun and not necessary" is some kind of an alien.

[boboltongleason]

"As soon as you speed up, even just a little bit, put protection on" wise words form a wise man.

[LucaCavaletto]

"You don't have to be better than everybody else, you just have to be better than your past self". This is some motivating life goal.
Skall would be a great life coach.

[redneckgamer]

The fact that there are lots of Hema clubs in Florida leads me to believe that Florida Man is training in hand to hand combat for the war against the alligators.

[corjoth]

Remember, in the end you are practicing a lost art, and everyone takes slightly different ideas away from the source material. The most important part is to be safe.

[joseignaciohileradorna]

Before even buying any gear READ make sure you know exactly what you're getting into and what you're gonna do before you buy $500+ of equipment.

[joshgrabinski]

"Protect your soft and squishy parts" "makesure to lubricate with maple syrup" - life advice from skall

[afsdsdhsgjf]

There isn't too many in Poland yet the people still do it for ages. It is part of a culture by now to reconstruct medieval battles. Around my town you have knight tournaments all the time and that is exactly as they are known. Knight Tournaments. I never knew i like to be hit in my helmet with glave so much!

[kaidrescher]

i'm at 2 hours, 20 mins away from the only HEMA school in my country by car, it'd be fine if it wasn't that i don't have a car

[Archontasil]

Here in indonesia, kendo/kenjutsu is really popular. But no hema.. although there are similar stances and moves beteeen hema and kenjutsu, i found hema to be more interesting since they use double edged sword and there's the doyble edge feint that japanese swordstyle don't have..

Also no pommel

[archibaldc.]

"Practice makes permanent" my Chemistry teacher would always say that.

[siamsasean]

Thank you, this is great.
I've played music for 51 years, semi-professionally for 45 (I get paid, but not enough to live on), and it's axiomatic in music that you Will perform the way you practice. So. You Practice the Way You Want to Perform. :-)

[tuomopoika]

So what you are saying is start with untrained friend, buy sharp swords, get the protective gear later and have fun sparring? Got it!

[mauriciokenway]

Skal recommends a lot of really good stuff and here i am "practicing" with star wars toy swords xd

[christopherrhodes]

This is the video I truly needed. My only viable option is to start on my own, and this video provides me with all the information I need to proceed with confidence. Thank you very much, Skall! Keep on doing as you do!

[jaykerzp]

I’m a HEMA master. HEMA, short for “hemoglobin.” Just make it work. Anyway, I’ve been manufacturing blood using my own body for decades and am willing to teach those who are willing to learn.