Ursa Major is Western Australia's premier HEMA / Historical Fencing school, dedicated to the study and practice of historical swordsmanship.
Drawing from the fighting manuals of the 14th to 19th centuries we train in the historical combat arts of medieval and renaissance Europe, focussing on both historical fidelity and practical tournament application. We also host and compete in local, national, and international tournaments - and perform at public and private events including medieval fayres, school incursions, parties, and more.
You don't need prior martial arts or fencing experience to join in. Our Tuesday and Saturday classes are perfect for new recruits to jump in and begin their journey, and we run regular longsword intake courses as an entry pathway to our Thursday longsword classes. Whether you train for fun, fitness, or the podium, you'll have the opportunity to develop and apply your skills in a high-energy environment, training with and learning from some of the best.
To find out what we're up to right now check out our Facebook and Instagram pages, or get in touch if you want to come and take a stab at it.
Stop reading about history, and start training it.
Session details
Tuesdays 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Dagger, messer, sword & buckler
Diversity of skill and adaptability are key to becoming a formidable fighter. To this end we undertake a new weapon system each trimester. Our current timings are:
- January - April: dagger
- May - August: messer
- September - December: sword & buckler
Thursdays 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Longsword
Longsword is our primary weapon, and we study this year round. While we regularly deep-dive into some of the more advanced or particular techniques, we frequently come back to the basics in order to maintain a solid foundation.
As we train longsword year-round, these sessions are not suitable for new recruits. To make sure no-one finds themselves in over their heads, we run longsword intake courses several times a year. If you already have experience in longsword fencing, you can probably skip the intake and jump straight in – if you don’t, get in touch and we’ll let you know when our next intake kicks off. If you’re unsure, drop us a line.
Saturdays 10am - 11am
Ringen, British sabre, Polish sabre
As with our Tuesday sessions, the content of our Saturday sessions rotates each trimester, giving our members the opportunity to experience a number of weapon systems and broaden their skillset. Our current timings are:
- January - April: ringen
- May - August: British sabre
- September - December: Polish sabre
Session details
Monday 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Competitive longsword
Loan gear is available for new recruits.
Monday 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Longsword fundamentals
If you want to improve your competitive longsword performance these sessions are for you. In the competitive longsword class we will focus on analysing and deconstructing tournament rulesets and high-yield techniques, to help you take your competitive success to the next level.
These sessions are open to all, though you must have your own gear.
Tuesday 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Diversity of skill and adaptability are key to becoming a formidable fighter. To this end we undertake a new weapon system each semester. Our current focus is Italian dagger.
Thursday 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Longsword fundamentals
Loan gear is available for new recruits.
Our advanced longsword sessions are tailored toward the exploration and implementation of more the more challenging content in German longsword practice. Open to members with a bit of experience under their belts, these sessions will build on your fundamental knowledge and expand your understanding of longsword fencing.
Thursday 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Advanced longsword
Saturday 10am - 11am
As with our Tuesday sessions, the content of our Saturday sessions rotates each semester, giving our members the opportunity to experience a number of weapon systems and broaden their skillset. Our current focus is ringen.
Session details
Tuesdays, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Dagger, messer, sword & buckler
Diversity of skill and adaptability are key to becoming a formidable fighter. To this end we undertake a new weapon system each trimester. Our current roster is:
- January - April: dagger
- May - August: messer
- September - December: sword & buckler
Thursdays, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Longsword
As longsword is our primary weapon, we study this year round. While we regularly deep-dive into some of the more advanced or particular techniques, we frequently come back to the basics in order to maintain a solid foundation.
As we practice longsword year-round, the content can be quite a bit more complex than what we cover on Tuesday nights. To make sure no-one finds themselves in over their heads, we also run longsword intake courses periodically throughout the year. If you already have experience in longsword fencing, you can probably skip the intake and jump straight in – if you don’t, get in touch and we’ll let you know when our next intake kicks off. If you’re unsure, drop us a line.
Saturdays, 10am - 11am
Ringen, British sabre, Polish sabre
As with our Tuesday sessions, the content of our Saturday sessions rotates each trimester, giving our members the opportunity to experience a number of weapon systems and broaden their skillset. Our current roster is:
- January - April: ringen
- May - August: British sabre
- September - December: Polish sabre