Is this sport also for me if I’m not a man?
Absolutely! While many of our members currently identify as men, we have a growing and active group of fencers who do not—including women and non-binary individuals—training across various disciplines such as longsword, rapier, and sabre.
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We believe that historical martial arts are for everyone, regardless of identity. Whether you're picking up a sword for the first time or already have experience, you're welcome here! We encourage anyone with an interest to explore the rich and elaborate tradition of the historical European martial arts.
What do classes look like?
A typical class at the Historisch Schermgilde Limburg lasts 2 hours. We start with warming-up exercises to stretch and engage the muscles. After this, the first part of longsword and rapier starts, in which different exercises and drills from the historical manuscripts are executed and repeated.
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At the end of the 1st hour we will take a short break, after which the second part will commence. On Wednesdays this is longsword and rapier once again, while on Saturdays this is Ringen (medieval wrestling). As in the first block, more exercises are executed in this second block. At the end of the 2nd hour, and thus the end of the class, we will close with important announcements and then clean up the used materials.
Do you use real swords?
We exclusively use blunt weapons meant for training purposes during our classes, such as nylon beginner's swords and steel Federschwerter (historical training swords).
Is it safe?
HEMA is usually a safe activity, but like with any other martial art or contact sport, accidents can always happen. For this reason we try to ensure that our classes are conducted as safely as possible, and create a space in which everyone can train as safely as possible with each other. All of our instructors are First Aid-certified, along with a sizeable portion of our members.
How fit do I have to be?
A certain degree of fitness will always be useful, but this is not a requirement. We try to raise everyone's fitness to a level that works best for historical fencing, but it's certainly not the only aspect that counts. Swordfighting also relies on your wits and psychological capacity in order to outsmart and defeat an opponent.
Are there competitions?
Yes, competitions are organised inside and outside of our club, but these are on a voluntary basis and you are not required to participate. We do however want to encourage you to check these out! Examples are the NHK (Nederlands HEMA-Kampioenschap) in the Netherlands and the SBSN Koningstoernooi in Belgium.
I don't live in the Netherlands. Can I still become a member?
Yes, absolutely! The Historisch Schermgilde Limburg serves the entire Meuse-Rhine Euregion and place of residence is not a requirement in order to become a member. Our members live in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
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(Note: when you become a member of the Historisch Schermgilde Limburg, you will be registered with the Dutch HEMA federation due to insurance policies)
Frequently asked questions
Do you give demos/workshops?
Currently we only give demos and workshops in a limited capacity. We advise you to contact us for more information about possibilities.