Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, I respond to Scholagladiatoria and Shadiversity's videos on how we define Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) and historical martial arts more broadly. I believe that historical martial arts should reference texts, but those texts do not necessarily need to be fencing treatises or manuals. Additionally, I am not completely convinced by Shad's Historical Experimentation Swordsmanship Theory, and I question the assertion that biomechanical principles inevitably lead to similar martial practices.
The original videos can be found here:
youtube.com/watch?v=-YjFubZJJcs
youtube.com/watch?v=ZAzUSeV5NIA&t=1805s
My thoughts on practicing HEMA vs Chinese martial arts can be found here:
youtube.com/watch?v=oMubSmyx1-M&t=4s
Also, shoutout to Federico Malagutti's channel for the excellent sparring footage and breakdown of the Bicorno technique!
youtube.com/channel/UCLXMAklNtGbJQTfgP0KMTJg
Sources:
Video:
Sparring Footage: youtube.com/watch?v=o-dNsnPxdVg&t=317s
Bicorno: youtube.com/watch?v=6uKQQ-hIPUA
Images:
HEMA Manual = pinterest.com/tanukidomo/adventures-in-armour-hemamedieval-swordsmanship
Han Dynasty Jian = lkchensword.com/flying-phoenix
Spanish Circle = blackbirdsandblades.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-spanish-circle-through-years.html
Smallsword Technique = http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHl5aReSgh8/VcOHn3NjQEI/AAAAAAAAGXs/G406CDR5Ano/s1600/Girard-smallsword-1.jpg
Huang Bonian = http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZfSAuZ5DE0/VTNQKEnuwaI/AAAAAAAABaY/DP0rFmwf1KI/s1600/swordhuangbonienarmyrepublic.jpg
In this video, I respond to Scholagladiatoria and Shadiversity's videos on how we define Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) and historical martial arts more broadly. I believe that historical martial arts should reference texts, but those texts do not necessarily need to be fencing treatises or manuals. Additionally, I am not completely convinced by Shad's Historical Experimentation Swordsmanship Theory, and I question the assertion that biomechanical principles inevitably lead to similar martial practices.
The original videos can be found here:
youtube.com/watch?v=-YjFubZJJcs
youtube.com/watch?v=ZAzUSeV5NIA&t=1805s
My thoughts on practicing HEMA vs Chinese martial arts can be found here:
youtube.com/watch?v=oMubSmyx1-M&t=4s
Also, shoutout to Federico Malagutti's channel for the excellent sparring footage and breakdown of the Bicorno technique!
youtube.com/channel/UCLXMAklNtGbJQTfgP0KMTJg
Sources:
Video:
Sparring Footage: youtube.com/watch?v=o-dNsnPxdVg&t=317s
Bicorno: youtube.com/watch?v=6uKQQ-hIPUA
Images:
HEMA Manual = pinterest.com/tanukidomo/adventures-in-armour-hemamedieval-swordsmanship
Han Dynasty Jian = lkchensword.com/flying-phoenix
Spanish Circle = blackbirdsandblades.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-spanish-circle-through-years.html
Smallsword Technique = http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHl5aReSgh8/VcOHn3NjQEI/AAAAAAAAGXs/G406CDR5Ano/s1600/Girard-smallsword-1.jpg
Huang Bonian = http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZfSAuZ5DE0/VTNQKEnuwaI/AAAAAAAABaY/DP0rFmwf1KI/s1600/swordhuangbonienarmyrepublic.jpg
