page3
Acta Periodica Duellatorum, Conference Proceedings
117
modern gear, mostly for reasons of safety, and also the previously referenced necessity
for
affordability
and
marketability
regarding
modern
audiences.
Practitioners
acknowledge and are aware that historical clothing and shoes can and do inform the
interpretation of the historical sources. Early experiences with such historical clothing
and shoes led the community to search out similar functioning modern equipment; e.g.
modern HEMA fencing jackets tend to use medieval tailoring tricks for greater shoulder
mobility, and the need for flexible soles has caused many fencers to take up boxing or
wrestling shoes to mimic soft leather soles.
HEMA is a young discipline, but over the last decade, a number of suppliers have
begun
to
produce
equipment
specifically
intended
for
HEMA,
especially
gloves,
gambesons (fencing jackets) and miscellaneous protective gear.
2
Organisers of high-
profile tournaments are at pains to specify the minimum protective gear required, and
the adequacy of the gear is inspected before a fighter is admitted to a tournament.
3
III.
FIGHTING FIT
III.1.
Physical Fitness
Physical fitness focuses on boosting the individual’s strength, stamina, speed, and agility.
It is most likely in this area that modern practitioners greatly differ from their period
counterparts. It is clear from many pictorial and literary accounts that physical training
was integral to training for fencing, with great emphasis on the throwing of stones as
well as wrestling and gymnastics.
4
Modern practitioners tend to either ignore the issue
or favour modern training methods such as Olympic weights or calisthenics.
The rise in tournaments however has driven competitors towards greater fitness.
Opinions within the community are divided as to whether this is a good thing; some
consider it a “sportification”, some view it as positive considering the emphasis on
physical fitness in medieval literature.
2
Other than the mask and shoes, Olympic fencing gear is not adequate for HEMA. Olympic
fencing blades are very light and cannot impart a strong blow; the key risk is a stab from a broken
blade, which is a minor risk in longsword. Due to the weight of the blade and the techniques
used, a longsword blow – even with a blunt blade – can easily cause concussion to an unprotected
head or break minor bones such as the fingers, or joints such as knees or elbow.
3
See e.g. <http://swordfish.ghfs.se/equipment-requirements/> [queried 15 May 2017].
4
Georg von Ehingen: “… springen, ringen, werfen, fechten, rennen der pferd und genetten…”
(p. 19).