Part of the goal of the Sword Fighters Discuss Game Combat Panel may have been to inspire you to get into real world sword fighting. We hope it did. Here’s a handy guide for where to find a friendly sword club in whichever type of sword fighting you most appeals to you (though practising multiple approaches to sword fighting is super fun as well, so don’t feel limited to one).
Places to find different types of sword fighting:
HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts)
The practice of reconstructing historical martial arts, mostly swordplay, from Europe and its colonies through research of historical sources and competitive sparring. HEMA focusses on a variety of weapons including longsword, rapier, sabre, dagger, and frankly too many to list here, mostly in the context of a duel and one on one sparring.
For a list of Australian based HEMA clubs go to: https://www.aushistoricalfencing.com/schools
LARP (Live Action Role Play)
Acting out rpg stories in real life, often using simulated combat for fight scenes. Combat is done primarily through the use of foam swords designed to look like real swords while still being safe to spar with, and features everything for one on one duels, to mass battles, to eccentric sword games (depending on the story and setting).
For a list of LARP groups and events check out: https://ofscienceandswords.com.au/australian-larp-directory
Buhurt/HMB (Historical Medieval Battle)
A modern combat sport recreating medieval armoured tournaments using metal, mostly focused on group combat, known for its brutality. HMB has formal competitions with group combats ranging from 5v5 to 150v150, as well as individual competitions in Longsword, Sword and Shield, Sword and Buckler, Pole Arm, and MMA in armour with weapons.
For a list of places that do Buhurt/HMB go to https://www.australianmedievalcombat.com/affiliated-clubs/all-clubs
Metal weapons re-enactment
Historical re-enactment involving mock combat wearing historical armour and using blunt versions of historical weapons while placing limitations on technique to render it safe.
For a list of metal weapons re-enactment groups check out: https://www.alhf.org.au/mem_grps.html
Modern Fencing
The modern sport of fencing that you see in the Olympics and other places. Modern fencing has three different weapon divisions: foil (a light thrusting swords, sabre (using a much lighter faster version of a historical cut and thrust sword), and epee (a thrusting sword played with a more versatile rule-set), and places a strong emphasis on competitive play, athleticism and sophisticated tactical thinking.
To get involved in modern fencing check out: https://www.ausfencing.org/
Getting involved with The Old Sword Club:
To join in the (very queer) fun at The Old Sword Club we train Tuesday nights in Alexandria Town Hall from 7.00pm and have a sparring night on Wednesdays from 7.00pm in Redfern Town Hall. We’ll be training in rapier, sabre, epee and knife fencing in a friendly, student centred, learning environment. To book in go to the classes page and book a class, or several.
For more events, and also memes, follow our socials at: