Historical Fencing and HEMA in Pulaski, Fayetteville, and Ardmore TN; and the North Huntsville Alabama area.
Located at: 1000 Mitchell Rd., Pulaski, TN 38478
Hundreds of years ago, one of the last teachers of an ancient German tradition of fighting arts captured his teachings in a book detailed with instructions and art. The book is a Rosetta Stone work that captures how men fought with the weapons of nobles and knights. This master’s hope was that his volume would preserve the art so that it would not fade away in the emerging gun smoke of military evolution.
Because of his book, the real martial art of nobles and knights lives again today. Let us show it to you.
Who we are:
The Circle is a private circle of historical martial artists. What we do can be referred to as Historical Fencing, Renaissance Martial Arts, and maybe even Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). We are devoted to the research, development, practice, and spread of legitimate historical martial arts of Europe as it is described in authentic historical records.
We hold regular practices where men of many different walks of life and experience levels come and train together.
- Primarily, we are students of Joachim Meyer (acclaimed German instructor of the 1500s).
- More broadly, we research and train in the fighting skills in use in Europe from the 1300s to 1700s.
- We are a private circle of practitioners. You must be invited to attend a practice, so contact us and introduce yourself to learn more.
- Our study group is affiliated with the Meyer Freifechter Guild.
- We do not want any of your money. There are no fees involved with our activities.
What we study:
- Historical use of the following:
- longsword
- cut-and-thrust sword
- dusack
- dagger
- rapier
- arming sword
- sword and buckler (I33)
- pole arms
- wrestling
- other material described in historical European texts
- We are primarily interested in Bloßfechten (unarmored combat).
- Our study involves full contact freeplay (sparing) with knightly weapons, grappling, and wrestling fully integrated together. The core of our curriculum was written in the 1500s for noble men who are both physical, mature, and disciplined. We aspire to rebuild and preserve these traditions in our training.
We are not:
- A fantasy, role-play, or dress-up group.
- A school that only practices patterns and drills in the air. We apply techniques with intent during freeplay.
- Our freeplay does not resemble non-historical modern competitive HEMA sports or what Gregory D. Mele refers to as “tournaments derived from a subset of historical techniques.” Our emphasis is historical combat in its fullness.
Participation:
You must be 18 and willing to sign a waiver to fully train with us (more).
Currently our regular practices are for men. (More information about that is here.)
To join us at a practice contact us here and introduce yourself.
Sometimes youths, authors, historians, and others are interested in learning about some of the things we study. We are happy to answer questions, give demonstrations, and educate. Contact us to learn more.
“… the exercising of weapons puts away aches, griefs, and diseases, it increases strength, and sharpens the wits. It gives a perfect judgement, it expels melancholy, choleric and evil conceits, it keeps a man in breath, perfect health, and long life.”
George Silver: Paradoxes of Defense (1599)