So here I am at the beginning of a new blog having been a qualified teacher in HMF and FE for over 25 years and a HEMA instructor since 2010 and also a qualified Sports Therapist and Level 3 Personal Trainer, I also hold level 4 in sports development management and Diplomas in psychology (inc. sports). I’ve been doing reenactment and living history since 2003 and have an interest in making LARP/ Reenactment combat as realistic as possible while taking safety into account.
I started teaching myself German Longsword prior to 2003 and I got invited to train with Academy Gloriana nr. Preston Lanc’s under Mark Hillyard (recently and overdue granted Master) to Study George Silver which I have continued to do ever since as well as train with other clubs and systems as my locations around the country have changed. More recently I train with School of Medieval European Fencing (studying Liechtenauer and Ringeck under Chris Stride) and the last two years running Aylesbury Academy of Arms (https://www.facebook.com/AylesburyAcademyOfArms?ref=hl) studying and teaching anything (i33/ dagger/ longsword/ backsword/ staff) between the 13th & 18th centuries along with Simon McGrory who specialises in the later periods particularly rapier & small sword From Mid 16th C. I also practice traditional longbow archery.
This blog will introduce my thoughts on teaching, concepts and technique in HEMA and where these overlap with the heavier combat LARP systems.
garethpr.org 