We are one of the oldest HEMA clubs in the UK, internationally renowned, with a popular YouTube channel and fantastic competition track record that spans the last two decades. We are founding members of the Historical European Martial Arts Coalition and certified by the British Combat Association. We have been featured in various publications and TV shows.

We host the UK's biggest annual HEMA event, FightCamp, as well as the smaller event Skirmish, and our members compete in, and help run, the Wessex League tournaments, as well as competing around the world. You can see our rankings on HEMA Ratings.

We are martial artists, practicing traditional and documented fighting skills with a variety of historical weaponry (HEMA)

• Our fighting systems are historical, but can have many modern world benefits
• We are social, welcoming, inclusive and friendly
• HEMA is a fast growing hobby, with clubs and events worldwide. It has been featured on TV, film, radio and in the national press

Equipment at our classes is provided for beginners and there is no annual membership or joining fee. All you need to bring to your first class are some comfortable exercise clothes (a pair of gloves can be useful, but not at all essential). We always welcome beginners at any time of year and always have a number of new people in the class, so you won't be alone! All over-18 adults at any level of fitness are welcome. Over 16s are welcome with a signed letter from a parent or guardian. 

We welcome all genders, nationalities, orientations and ethnicities, and we are signed up to the 'Fighters Against Racism' initiative. Couples and groups are also welcome.

The end result are HEMA martial arts systems that can stand up against any other, and many HEMA people cross-train/compete with other styles, such as MMA, BJJ, kendo, kenjutsu, Olympic/FIE style fencing, escrima, shastar vidiya and gatka.

HEMA is currently growing fast, especially in the UK. Large HEMA events can attract 200 or 300 people and there are now dozens of clubs all over the UK, with hundreds Worldwide.

HEMA brings a lot to the world of martial arts and offers students a very broad range of weapons and styles that have distinct regional differences, from Portugese staff to Spanish rapier, Italian sword and buckler, French smallsword, German longsword, Scottish broadsword, American knife and English pugilism.

Most people come into HEMA with little or no relevant experience, but we do also get a lot of people with some background in modern fencing, reenactment, Asian martial arts and so on. It is also fairly common for people practicing other martial arts, such as BJJ, kendo or modern fencing, to train HEMA as well, at the same time. Experience from other martial arts and cross-training can always be useful, but is not required to enjoy HEMA. Most beginners start with no prior skills, and our beginner classes are structured for that.