These are my current thoughts on the absurdity of trying to create a governing body for HEMA and attempting to gain recognition for HEMA as a single activity.
Firstly, HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) is not a purely physical activity, and does not exist for the sole purpose of performing that activity. HEMA involves a very significant amount of study and interpretation – academic rather than physical activity – which can include translation of historical texts as well as interpretation of the material contained therein. Some practitioners do take part in HEMA activities for solely physical reasons but for others the goal is more academic – seeking to understand an aspect of history through experimentation rather than ‘playing a game of HEMA and seeing who wins’.
The reduction of HEMA to some sort of competitive sport denies its very essence and part of its attractiveness to a diverse audience. Some practitioners lack the physical capability or the inclination to take part in a purely physical activity, but find involvement in the historical aspects of HEMA very satisfying. In short, HEMA simply does not fit the conventional model of a sport and cannot be governed as one.
Secondly, HEMA is not a single activity. It is an extremely diverse group of activities, not all of which are related by any factors other than their martial origins in Europe. A single governing body could not contain the expertise and knowledge to cover all activities contained within the HEMA group, and would inevitably be biased towards one segment or another. Nor could a single rules set be created to cover all forms of HEMA competition (how many points are scored for a headlock in a smallsword bout where grappling is not permitted?) nor even all forms of competition within a single style or system.
Take for example some of the Japanese martial arts as recognised by Sport UK.
Aikido is a throwing and locking martial art which has its origins in Japan. It has a governing body.
Judo is also a throwing and locking martial art which has its origins in Japan. It, too has a governing body.
Jiu-Jitsu is a Japanese martial art containing throwing, locking and striking techniques. It has a recognised governing body.
Karate is a martial art originating in Japan containing striking techniques but no throwing or locking. It has no recognised governing body.
All of these arts actually have multiple styles and subsets, but the most important point here is that although they are all of similar origin and all are unarmed martial arts, they are not and cannot be governed by a single body – they are simply too diverse. This takes no account of Japanese armed martial arts, nor of the many armed and unarmed arts originating elsewhere in the Far East.
A body intending to govern HEMA would have to cover the whole spectrum of Historical European Martial Arts – that is, all combat-related arts originating on an entire continent over a roughly 700-year period. The earliest known source for historical European martial arts is the I.33 manuscript dating from around 1300. First and Second World War Combatives and early 20th Century duelling systems are also part of the HEMA group.
To give some idea of the vast scope of activities a HEMA governing body would have to represent, I present a selection of arts contained within the HEMA area of interest. Note that all of these activities also include a scholastic and academic aspect, requiring study and interpretation as well as physical performance.
Longsword is a medieval weapon used in two hands. German and Italian styles predominate though there are English and other systems. Each style differs as much from another as do two styles of karate – this comment applies to most other arts below.
Smallsword is a one-handed thrusting sword used for duelling from the late 1600s onwards. It is at least as different to longsword as Judo is to Boxing. Indeed, some smallsword systems vary very considerably from one to another. There are Italian, Spanish and German systems using similar swords but which are not smallsword fencing. The German thrust-fencing system, for example, uses a similar weapon but very strict rules similar to the more widely known mensur (’academic fencing’) and is an entirely separate art. Late 19th Century and early 20th Century epee duelling is also similar to smallsword fencing but different to it (and also quite different to modern epee fencing).
Rapier is a one-handed cut and thrust sword dating from the Renaissance. It is quite different to other weapons, requiring specialist body mechanics. Rapier systems vary considerably; for example the Spanish Destreza style is sufficiently different to the Italian school that it might as well be a different martial art – perhaps in the same way that an Olympic wrestler and an Aikido practitioner both engage in grappling but are training in two very different arts. Rapier systems also include off-hand weapons including a buckler, dagger or cloak. The sidesword, or ‘military rapier’, is sometimes considered to be a rapier-type weapon and sometimes a separate discipline.
Military Sabre is a one-handed cutting weapon dating mainly from the late 1700s and onwards. Styles vary considerably – for example Polish and English military sabre systems are significantly different from one another.
Duelling Sabre is a light cut and thrust weapon, the progenitor of the modern Olympic style of sabre play. It is superficially similar to military sabre in some ways but the technique and fencing style are significantly different.
Backsword/Broadsword is a heavy-bladed cutting sword that was in use for a long period. Some systems have similarities with the military sabre but others are quite different. The traditional Scottish highland broadsword is used differently and has different traditions to the Regimental Broadsword, for example. Some systems use the weapon with a shield or a dirk in the off hand.
Arming Sword is a one-handed medieval weapon often used with a shield or buckler. It is typically taught by medieval groups and is quite different to other one-handed swords of a later period.
Messer is a one-handed cutting weapon dating from the medieval period and later. It is quite different to the arming sword, sabre, backsword and other apparently similar weapons.
Pollaxe is a medieval two-handed weapon sometimes taught alongside longsword and other systems from the middle ages.
Medieval Wrestling is often included in longsword training as the two were historically combined. Many medieval wrestling systems use body mechanics geared to someone wearing armour, and are thus not the same as an unarmoured wrestling system. This is an example of a situation where the loss of historical authenticity would not only mean the knowledge might be lost forever, but the art being practiced would no longer be HEMA – EMA, perhaps, but not Historical any more.
Combatives is the term for First and Second World War military unarmed combat training of a particular lineage. Whilst it contains some techniques similar to other unarmed systems it is quite specific and must be considered a separate fighting art. Combatives is often taught alongside commando-style knife fighting and use of improvised weapons as these make up the body of technique taught at the time by instructors to the Allied armed forces.
Bartitsu is a Victorian combat system taught as ‘scientific self-defence’. It includes some use of canes and other weapons.
Cane/Stick systems range from nautical use of belaying pins and other improvised weapons to canes and walking sticks.
Traditional Self-Defence (e.g. Defense dans la Rue) is a loose term for a variety of self-defence and armed combat systems which form part of the HEMA group. Exponents taught the use of a variety of weaponry including lamps, bolt-cutters, revolvers, umbrellas, barbed wire and candles.
Traditional Wrestling includes a variety of styles including Scottish Backhold, Cumberland, Lancashire Catch and so forth. Each is at least as different from one another as Judo and Aikido.
Purring is a traditional English kicking sport/art often taught alongside traditional wrestling and some stick fighting systems.
Pugilism/Pag is the distant fore-runner of boxing, though it has a much greater variety of technique and is not limited to strikes with the hands.
Boxe Francaise/Savaux/Chausson are traditional French unarmed combat systems which resemble kickboxing in many ways.
Staff Fighting includes various forms of combat with the long staff, often taught alongside medieval sword and wrestling systems, or later unarmed and armed systems.
Singlestick/Country Backsword is a stick fighting system which evolved over a great many years into a competitive sport. It is often taught alongside wrestling of one sort or another.
Bloodless Duelling was invented at the end of the 19th Century, simulating a pistol duel using compressed-air pistols.
Axe systems include the boarding axe used in the Age of Sail and other small axes including the tomahawk. This is sometimes taught alongside the longknife or the smallsword, following the martial traditions of the early settlers in the New World.
Cutlass is a naval weapon which varies in form from a large knife to something very similar to a sabre. It is sometimes taught as part of a body of technique covering a variety of nautical weapons including boarding pikes, belaying pins and the like.
Bayonet Fencing typically covers the late 19th Century rifle-and-bayonet systems but might include systems going all the way back to the 1670s.
Pike or Spear systems cover the whole era from the Middle Ages to the Invasion Pike drill of the early 1940s. These are all quite different systems.
Other traditional martial arts kept alive by the study and practice of the HEMA community include various knife, stick and club systems, straight-edge razor fighting, a variety of specialist medieval weapons, knife and axe throwing, use of whips, improvised weapons and specialist fighting systems that are no longer taught elsewhere.
This is by no means a comprehensive listing, but already it has become excessively long. However, it should serve to indicate the absurdity of trying to create a single governing body for HEMA. Such a body would have to serve the interests of a group teaching medieval two-handed weapon fighting, one attempting to keep alive the military systems of the early 20th Century (which by definition have no competitive form) and another pondering the complexities of using a 19th Century umbrella against a burglar armed with bolt-cutters.
It should be obvious that the activities contained within the HEMA area of interest are even more diverse than those that could be described as ‘Oriental Martial Arts’ – which has multiple governing bodies – and that the diversity in period adds a whole extra dimension to this complexity.
Given that arts as ostensibly similar as Judo and Aikido, both of modern Japanese origin and dealing with the same subject matter – unarmed combat using throwing and joint locking techniques – require separate governing bodies, it is clear that a governing body for HEMA – and indeed recognition of HEMA as a single sport – would require a remit so general as to be meaningless.
In addition, it should be noted that HEMA instructors working from the same treatise often cannot agree on what is to be considered the correct interpretation. Even quite basic concepts can vary considerably – a tournament-oriented group will more than likely draw different inferences from the same text to one that has a mainly scholastic outlook. A governing body might try to impose its ideas of a ‘correct’ interpretation on all practitioners, which would be wholly inappropriate.
A consensus on the interpretation of a particular treatise might possibly be achieved through a major academic effort, but this is not something that a sport governing body could or should be attempting. There is a real risk that those controlling a governing body might use it to force their interpretation on others, and in any case HEMA is sufficiently diverse that a balanced viewpoint is unlikely on any given subject.
Overall, then, it seems to me that a governing body for HEMA would be no more feasible than one for ‘all ball sports’ or ‘all oriental martial arts’ even if HEMA were a suitable activity. As noted above, it is not. HEMA sits somewhere between a sport and an academic pursuit, with elements of both. If the academic aspect is ignored then HEMA loses its H and its unique identity.
Firstly, HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) is not a purely physical activity, and does not exist for the sole purpose of performing that activity. HEMA involves a very significant amount of study and interpretation – academic rather than physical activity – which can include translation of historical texts as well as interpretation of the material contained therein. Some practitioners do take part in HEMA activities for solely physical reasons but for others the goal is more academic – seeking to understand an aspect of history through experimentation rather than ‘playing a game of HEMA and seeing who wins’.
The reduction of HEMA to some sort of competitive sport denies its very essence and part of its attractiveness to a diverse audience. Some practitioners lack the physical capability or the inclination to take part in a purely physical activity, but find involvement in the historical aspects of HEMA very satisfying. In short, HEMA simply does not fit the conventional model of a sport and cannot be governed as one.
Secondly, HEMA is not a single activity. It is an extremely diverse group of activities, not all of which are related by any factors other than their martial origins in Europe. A single governing body could not contain the expertise and knowledge to cover all activities contained within the HEMA group, and would inevitably be biased towards one segment or another. Nor could a single rules set be created to cover all forms of HEMA competition (how many points are scored for a headlock in a smallsword bout where grappling is not permitted?) nor even all forms of competition within a single style or system.
Take for example some of the Japanese martial arts as recognised by Sport UK.
Aikido is a throwing and locking martial art which has its origins in Japan. It has a governing body.
Judo is also a throwing and locking martial art which has its origins in Japan. It, too has a governing body.
Jiu-Jitsu is a Japanese martial art containing throwing, locking and striking techniques. It has a recognised governing body.
Karate is a martial art originating in Japan containing striking techniques but no throwing or locking. It has no recognised governing body.
All of these arts actually have multiple styles and subsets, but the most important point here is that although they are all of similar origin and all are unarmed martial arts, they are not and cannot be governed by a single body – they are simply too diverse. This takes no account of Japanese armed martial arts, nor of the many armed and unarmed arts originating elsewhere in the Far East.
A body intending to govern HEMA would have to cover the whole spectrum of Historical European Martial Arts – that is, all combat-related arts originating on an entire continent over a roughly 700-year period. The earliest known source for historical European martial arts is the I.33 manuscript dating from around 1300. First and Second World War Combatives and early 20th Century duelling systems are also part of the HEMA group.
To give some idea of the vast scope of activities a HEMA governing body would have to represent, I present a selection of arts contained within the HEMA area of interest. Note that all of these activities also include a scholastic and academic aspect, requiring study and interpretation as well as physical performance.
Longsword is a medieval weapon used in two hands. German and Italian styles predominate though there are English and other systems. Each style differs as much from another as do two styles of karate – this comment applies to most other arts below.
Smallsword is a one-handed thrusting sword used for duelling from the late 1600s onwards. It is at least as different to longsword as Judo is to Boxing. Indeed, some smallsword systems vary very considerably from one to another. There are Italian, Spanish and German systems using similar swords but which are not smallsword fencing. The German thrust-fencing system, for example, uses a similar weapon but very strict rules similar to the more widely known mensur (’academic fencing’) and is an entirely separate art. Late 19th Century and early 20th Century epee duelling is also similar to smallsword fencing but different to it (and also quite different to modern epee fencing).
Rapier is a one-handed cut and thrust sword dating from the Renaissance. It is quite different to other weapons, requiring specialist body mechanics. Rapier systems vary considerably; for example the Spanish Destreza style is sufficiently different to the Italian school that it might as well be a different martial art – perhaps in the same way that an Olympic wrestler and an Aikido practitioner both engage in grappling but are training in two very different arts. Rapier systems also include off-hand weapons including a buckler, dagger or cloak. The sidesword, or ‘military rapier’, is sometimes considered to be a rapier-type weapon and sometimes a separate discipline.
Military Sabre is a one-handed cutting weapon dating mainly from the late 1700s and onwards. Styles vary considerably – for example Polish and English military sabre systems are significantly different from one another.
Duelling Sabre is a light cut and thrust weapon, the progenitor of the modern Olympic style of sabre play. It is superficially similar to military sabre in some ways but the technique and fencing style are significantly different.
Backsword/Broadsword is a heavy-bladed cutting sword that was in use for a long period. Some systems have similarities with the military sabre but others are quite different. The traditional Scottish highland broadsword is used differently and has different traditions to the Regimental Broadsword, for example. Some systems use the weapon with a shield or a dirk in the off hand.
Arming Sword is a one-handed medieval weapon often used with a shield or buckler. It is typically taught by medieval groups and is quite different to other one-handed swords of a later period.
Messer is a one-handed cutting weapon dating from the medieval period and later. It is quite different to the arming sword, sabre, backsword and other apparently similar weapons.
Pollaxe is a medieval two-handed weapon sometimes taught alongside longsword and other systems from the middle ages.
Medieval Wrestling is often included in longsword training as the two were historically combined. Many medieval wrestling systems use body mechanics geared to someone wearing armour, and are thus not the same as an unarmoured wrestling system. This is an example of a situation where the loss of historical authenticity would not only mean the knowledge might be lost forever, but the art being practiced would no longer be HEMA – EMA, perhaps, but not Historical any more.
Combatives is the term for First and Second World War military unarmed combat training of a particular lineage. Whilst it contains some techniques similar to other unarmed systems it is quite specific and must be considered a separate fighting art. Combatives is often taught alongside commando-style knife fighting and use of improvised weapons as these make up the body of technique taught at the time by instructors to the Allied armed forces.
Bartitsu is a Victorian combat system taught as ‘scientific self-defence’. It includes some use of canes and other weapons.
Cane/Stick systems range from nautical use of belaying pins and other improvised weapons to canes and walking sticks.
Traditional Self-Defence (e.g. Defense dans la Rue) is a loose term for a variety of self-defence and armed combat systems which form part of the HEMA group. Exponents taught the use of a variety of weaponry including lamps, bolt-cutters, revolvers, umbrellas, barbed wire and candles.
Traditional Wrestling includes a variety of styles including Scottish Backhold, Cumberland, Lancashire Catch and so forth. Each is at least as different from one another as Judo and Aikido.
Purring is a traditional English kicking sport/art often taught alongside traditional wrestling and some stick fighting systems.
Pugilism/Pag is the distant fore-runner of boxing, though it has a much greater variety of technique and is not limited to strikes with the hands.
Boxe Francaise/Savaux/Chausson are traditional French unarmed combat systems which resemble kickboxing in many ways.
Staff Fighting includes various forms of combat with the long staff, often taught alongside medieval sword and wrestling systems, or later unarmed and armed systems.
Singlestick/Country Backsword is a stick fighting system which evolved over a great many years into a competitive sport. It is often taught alongside wrestling of one sort or another.
Bloodless Duelling was invented at the end of the 19th Century, simulating a pistol duel using compressed-air pistols.
Axe systems include the boarding axe used in the Age of Sail and other small axes including the tomahawk. This is sometimes taught alongside the longknife or the smallsword, following the martial traditions of the early settlers in the New World.
Cutlass is a naval weapon which varies in form from a large knife to something very similar to a sabre. It is sometimes taught as part of a body of technique covering a variety of nautical weapons including boarding pikes, belaying pins and the like.
Bayonet Fencing typically covers the late 19th Century rifle-and-bayonet systems but might include systems going all the way back to the 1670s.
Pike or Spear systems cover the whole era from the Middle Ages to the Invasion Pike drill of the early 1940s. These are all quite different systems.
Other traditional martial arts kept alive by the study and practice of the HEMA community include various knife, stick and club systems, straight-edge razor fighting, a variety of specialist medieval weapons, knife and axe throwing, use of whips, improvised weapons and specialist fighting systems that are no longer taught elsewhere.
This is by no means a comprehensive listing, but already it has become excessively long. However, it should serve to indicate the absurdity of trying to create a single governing body for HEMA. Such a body would have to serve the interests of a group teaching medieval two-handed weapon fighting, one attempting to keep alive the military systems of the early 20th Century (which by definition have no competitive form) and another pondering the complexities of using a 19th Century umbrella against a burglar armed with bolt-cutters.
It should be obvious that the activities contained within the HEMA area of interest are even more diverse than those that could be described as ‘Oriental Martial Arts’ – which has multiple governing bodies – and that the diversity in period adds a whole extra dimension to this complexity.
Given that arts as ostensibly similar as Judo and Aikido, both of modern Japanese origin and dealing with the same subject matter – unarmed combat using throwing and joint locking techniques – require separate governing bodies, it is clear that a governing body for HEMA – and indeed recognition of HEMA as a single sport – would require a remit so general as to be meaningless.
In addition, it should be noted that HEMA instructors working from the same treatise often cannot agree on what is to be considered the correct interpretation. Even quite basic concepts can vary considerably – a tournament-oriented group will more than likely draw different inferences from the same text to one that has a mainly scholastic outlook. A governing body might try to impose its ideas of a ‘correct’ interpretation on all practitioners, which would be wholly inappropriate.
A consensus on the interpretation of a particular treatise might possibly be achieved through a major academic effort, but this is not something that a sport governing body could or should be attempting. There is a real risk that those controlling a governing body might use it to force their interpretation on others, and in any case HEMA is sufficiently diverse that a balanced viewpoint is unlikely on any given subject.
Overall, then, it seems to me that a governing body for HEMA would be no more feasible than one for ‘all ball sports’ or ‘all oriental martial arts’ even if HEMA were a suitable activity. As noted above, it is not. HEMA sits somewhere between a sport and an academic pursuit, with elements of both. If the academic aspect is ignored then HEMA loses its H and its unique identity.
