Hierarchical Sword Press: News for June 2015

by Wes von Papineäu

“…In fact he marshalled such an host of many different nations that it was a world's wonder.” [1]

Medieval Combat World Championships.

Swordfish.

Longpoint.

Battle of the Nations.

… and many, many others.

We have an embarrassment of riches in HEMA in that we have a number of national and international competitions during which we may try our skill at arms with another scholar -- with whom we may or may not be able to speak. (We will, however, be able to "communicate" just fine!)

But just who decides that a competition at whatever level is the "authorized" or correct venue for determining a national or international champion within any swordplay discipline?

And who gets to determine what a pinnacle or keystone HEMA event is?

What are the qualifications needed within the organisers and referees of a national (or international) "accredited" event? What is an appropriate venue within which to conduct such an event?

Or, given the camaraderie and spirit of mutual support that we share, do we even need common standards across HEMA? Are we, as a community, better off allowing for regional "idiosyncrasies" and differing interpretations of our art and attending the events that best suit our individual tastes?

La belle beating

CBC (Ottawa, Ontario). 07 May 15. Sword-wielding Quebecer takes gold in medieval combat.

Bénédicte Robitaille picked up her gold for her longsword skills and silver for sword and shield during the 2015 Medieval Combat World Championships at Malbork Castle in Poland.

"The Polish (competitor) was pretty good, but some of the other girls were pretty timid on the field," Robitaille said. "I gave them a hard time, I think."

And … she’s recruiting!

Beatings for everyone until morale improves

POLSKIE RADIO (Warsaw, Poland). 01 May 15. Poland victorious in Medieval Combat World Championships.

500 fighters from 26 nations met in the Teutonic Knight castle of Malbork, Poland for the 2nd Medieval Combat World Championships, with the hosts fighting their way to top honours with ten medals. Quebec came out with two. (Question: does this mean that both of Quebec’s medals were won by Ms Robitaille?)

Interested in attending next year? Check out these photos and this video and see what you'd be getting into!

20 Years a Knight in the Making

GAZETA (Poland). 02 May 15. XVIII Turniej Rycerski w Iłży.

And if slogging it out on foot is too pedestrian for your tastes, you could have spent an intense weekend with the XVIIIth Knights Tournament in Ilza. A combination tournament, both re-creation and demonstration event, the ‘Knights Tournament’ is one of Poland’s premiere mounted HEMA events -- and is apparently a crowd-pleaser as well.

“Natheless he marshalled his forces and mustered his people ….”

BAY POST/MORUYA EXAMINER (Australia). 03 June 15. Master of medieval arms.

40,000 spectators enjoyed two days of watching eight medieval ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) compete in a chivalric tournament, along with a great unwashed, unnamed ‘host’ participating in various HEMA ‘feats of arms’.

Forty thousand spectators!

“But then I took an arrow to the knee ….”

PRO ГОРОД (Syktyvkar, Russia). 08 February 15. Ухтинец носит доспехи за 50 000 рублей.

Alex Maslakov of the fight group ‘Citadel’ discusses a few of the technical aspects of HEMA … including something he terms ‘dislocations of the knee’!

Tradition two decades in the making

TLT TIMES (Togliatti, Russia). 01 May 15. В Тольятти прошëл «Ежегодный Княжеский.

70 combatants from more than a dozen groups met for the annual "Prince's Historical Fencing Tournament" at Togliatti State University.

This event differs from other Russian events previously discussed as this one gives us some insights into the Russian history of HEMA in modern times -- some of their better known competitors have been attending tournaments for more than twenty years!

We’re also intrigued by the recent innovation of their judges marking select fights according to ‘artistic merit’!

Make your own toys

AIRDRIE ECHO (Alberta). 05 May 15. Local finds passion in blacksmithing.

Garth Thompson of SGT Blades has been visiting museums and perfecting functional and decorative, replica HEMA blades for thirty years.

“He spends time brushing up on his history and learning how to use the products he creates to ensure they’re top notch. ‘Making sure I know how to use them is just a part of it.’”
More importantly, he’s passing on this skill set to two apprentices.

Snippets:

1. Jones, Charles W. >Medieval Literature in Translation. Toronto: Longmans, Green & Co., Inc., 1950. 630.