Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) , or Historical Fencing is the practice of the martial arts of Europe from the 1300s to the 1900s. It's not LARPing, it's not Olympic fencing, it's not re-enactment or SCA - it's in a realm of its own, with a more combative or martial focus than its counterparts. We train with real (although blunt) swords, with the goal of replicating the type of combat that would have been prevalent in battle and duels across medieval and renaissance Europe. You can see some footage of us in action here.

A typical class includes a warm-up / HIIT session focussed on improving fitness and resilience specific to our goals, followed by a series of drills focussing on a particular technique or concept.

After this we open the floor to general sparring and drilling practice - this time is yours to use as you wish. Our training style lends itself to the practical (tournament) application of martial techniques - we don’t compromise on the quality of a technique or interpretation of a source to make things work in a tournament setting, but we do train to fight at speeds and intensities common to HEMA / HF tournaments. While some other clubs train with wooden or synthetic swords, we encourage all fighters to train with steel weapons from day one. Steel weapons look, feel, and behave more like the 'real thing' - they also help to foster a healthy respect for the weapon, your training partners, and yourself.

There is limited loan gear available (including swords and masks) for new recruits, though we encourage the acquisition and maintenance of your own kit sooner rather than later. Not only does it tend to work better for you and allow you to train outside of scheduled sessions, it also helps you avoid using the dreaded communal masks!

At the end of each content block we hold a tournament that allows our members to apply what they've learned and demonstrate their skills - testing their mettle against their colleagues. We also host and attend larger tournaments and swordplay/HEMA gatherings throughout the year, though the majority of these happen outside of WA, along the east coast or overseas. Note that involvement in these tournaments is optional - you are more than welcome to train with us but not take part in tournaments if that’s your preference.

The longsword is our primary weapon at Ursa Major, and is arguably the most popular weapon in HEMA despite its relatively brief time in the historical spotlight. Weighted and balanced to be equally devastating in one or two hands, the longsword and combat with it varied and evolved over the centuries and traditions of use. While hilt lengths, quillon shapes, pommel shapes, blade lengths, and blade cross-sections varied greatly, the basic design was a simple - a straight, double edged blade, cruciform crossguard and hilt big enough for two hands. Historical examples range from 100cm to 130cm in length, and 1100g to 1800g - far lighter than Hollywood would have us believe.

While the longsword was used in many cultures throughout Europe, the German tradition of longsword combat is one of the best documented and understood, and as such forms the majority of our curriculum at Ursa Major. Attributed to the master of combat, Johannes Liechtenauer, and glossed & expanded by a number of contemporaries and later fencing masters, the German tradition of swordplay is comprehensive and holistic, and is recorded in several manuscripts. We work primarily from early German sources, including Sigmund Ringeck, Hans Dobringer, Paulus Hector Mair, Paulus Kal and Danzig. To add context and fill some gaps, we also look at the works of Joachim Meyer, a later German fencing master and Fiore dei Liberi, an Italian master of combat.

Carried historically by most as a sidearm and tool, the medieval dagger was longer than what what we tend to think of when picturing a dagger today. Primarily made for thrusting though still capable of cutting, the dagger was often used for hooking and trapping to immobilise or injure your opponent before being used to finish them off. Dagger design varied greatly from complex and ornate to simple and utilitarian, and were sometimes used in conjunction with another weapon, such as a messer or rapier.

At Ursa Major we focus mostly on the work of Fiore dei Liberi for our dagger content, as recorded in his text Il Fior di battaglia, or "The Flower of Battle" - widely regarded as one of the most complete and effective systems under the HEMA umbrella. Fiore uses the dagger as a complimentary extension of the body, building on his grappling techniques to yield an efficient system of historical dagger combat, effective both in and out of armour. To flesh this out and add a little variety we add a smattering of historical German dagger combat and modern knife fighting.

The iconic duo of the sword and buckler was used through almost the entirety of HEMA's timeline, with the earliest known manuscript, the I.33 manuscript containing instruction on the use of the arming sword and buckler. While being more prevalent in the earlier periods, this effective pairing persisted across time and space, being prevalent in German, Italian and English systems. The buckler was a compact and versatile defensive option that could be easily carried and wielded by commoner and noble alike, and complimented all one handed swords, regardless of whether they had a simple or complex hilt construction.

We draw from a variety of sources in order to create well rounded fighters, but our syllabus consists primarily of the work of Andre Lignitzer, Hans Talhoffer and the I.33 manuscript.

Imagine a weapon that combines the finesse of a sword with the practicality of a knife. Enter the messer - a formidable blade that was the go-to choice for many in medieval Germany. This “long knife” wasn’t just for show; it was a versatile tool for both battle and daily life.

Whether you were a soldier on the battlefield or a civilian defending yourself in a duel, the messer was your reliable companion. With a blade around 70-90cm, and with a crossguard and nagel (a small, protective guard) to keep your hand safe during intense combat the messer was as practical as it was deadly. What made the messer special was its accessibility. Unlike more elaborate swords, it could be produced relatively easily, making it available to a wide range of people. Its design was so effective that it influenced later sword types and continues to captivate historical fencers today.

Our messer content is focussed on the Augsburg tradition, Glasgow fechbuch, and the works of Talhoffer, Leckuchner, and Kal.

The sabre formed an integral part of both the military and recreational fencing cultures of many European nations. Our sabre course comprises of both British and Polish sabre traditions. The British military component focusses primarily on Charles Roworth's Art of Defense on Foot - which teaches a universal system of swordsmanship that is applicable to all military swords used on foot at that time. This includes the broadsword, sabre, spadroon, and hanger. This is supplemented and expanded on by drawing on the works of Henry Angelo, Thomas Page, James Miller, John Waite, and John Taylor.

The system predominately uses linear footwork that is deeply grounded in the back, broad and sheering (spadroon) sword sources of the late 17th and early 18th century - and utilises a parry-riposte system, where a strong defence is commonly made before responding with an attack.

Known for its distinct curved blade and elegant design, the Polish sabre is not just a weapon but a symbol of nobility and skill. This fencing style, rooted in the traditions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, emphasizes fluid, dynamic movements and precise, powerful strikes. What it lacks in hand protection it make us for in brutality - with a tip-heavy blade that makes for devastating strikes.

The Polish Sabre component is based on Richard Marsden’s interpretation of Polish sabre in the 17th century. The Polish have a love of parrying, feinting, cross cutting and of course the very stylistic moulinets, which pair well with their way of explaining distance, timing, and footwork.

Our ringen course is a beginner to intermediate wrestling course focussing on the practical application of 15th century Germanic Ringen techniques as described by Andre Lignitzer and Ott Jud. This course covers practical life skills like retaining balance and how to fall safely, and impractical life skills such as throwing your friends and enemies to the ground!