The Historical European Martial Arts Coalition (HEMAC) is a collection of martial artists and researchers in Europe.  We are dedicated to the study, reconstruction, practice and promotion of traditional European fighting arts, based on the study of surviving technical sources (treatises and manuals).

The available sources for these arts date from around 1300AD onwards (we may yet discover earlier ones), covering both armed and unarmed combat.  They cover the techniques of dueling, self-defence and combat skills for war, with a wide variety of weapons, in armour or civilian clothes. 

With the gathering pace of the revival of European martial arts, researchers have uncovered many previously un-documented historical sources - sometimes lost or overlooked in national archives for centuries.  HEMAC members have discovered many of these, and are now engaged in unlocking their secrets.

The practice of European martial arts have grown rapidly in the last decade, with many new groups establishing themselves, more and bigger events, more competitions and an increasing number of students.  HEMA has featured on national TV networks, in national newspapers and in academic publications.

HEMAC was established in 2001 and is a non-hierarchical, round-table organisation, consisting of individual researchers and martial artists from many groups across Europe. It exists primarily to:

• To encourage close working relationships between the various members and create a sense of HEMA community in Europe,

• To help each other and share information,

• To act as a banner under which to promote HEMA in Europe and beyond,

• To organise at least one annual HEMAC event (in Dijon, France).

HEMAC does not seek to impose rules or regulations on any member or member group. It exists primarily to facilitate the 4 goals above, in a friendly and relaxed environment.

The main method of communication is through a private members' email list.  Members are admitted into HEMAC by consensus after being proposed by an existing member.  If you are interested in joining HEMAC, then contact one of the members.

Feel free to follow HEMAC on Facebook. 

HEMAC membership list (24 May 2010), by country and group:

 

Austria Ars Gladii: Herbert Schmidt   Dreynschlag: Martin Enzi Christoph Kaindel Oliver Walter Harald Winter   Klingenspiel: Peter Zillinger Belgium Dragon Preservation Society: Eli Steenput   Independent: Matt Galas SwArta: Alwin Goethals Denmark Laurentiusguildet: Claus Frederik Sorensen France Arts d’Armes: Philippe Errard Didier de Grenier Michael Huber Clair de Lame: Thomas Schmuziger De Taille et d’Estoc: Fabrice Cognot Fecht Klub: Damien Dyon Guerriers d’Avalon: Olivier Dupuis   Independent: Lionel Lauvernay Lugdunenses: Franck Cinato   Germany Arts of Mars: Colin Richards Stefan Roth Blossfechter: Alexander Neppl Hammaborg: Dierk Hagedorn Marcus Hampel Roland Warzecha Tobias Wenzel Lungenfuchser: Claus Drexler Alex Kiermayer Andi Meier Ochs: Joerg Bellinghausen Hans Heim Alex Kiermayer Andi Meier Zornhau: Predrag Nikolic Torsten Schneyer Wolfgang Ritter

Great Britain Academie Glorianna: Mark Hillyard Academy of Historical Fencing: Michael Thomas Nick Thomas Boar’s Tooth: David Rawlings Peter Samworth English Martial Arts Academy: Martin Austwick Independent: Chris Webb Mike Stillwell John Dodd Peter Harding James Roberts Linacre School of Defence: Jonathan Miller Rachel Miller Dr.Milo Thurston Schola Gladiatoria: Paul Bennett Ross Dean Matt Easton James Marwood Frances Perry Nigel Plum School of the Sword: Phil Marshall Caroline Stewart STMF: Philippe Willaume The Exiles: Mark Lancaster Rob Lovett Hungary Ars Ensis: Zoltán Berkes Szabolcs Waldmann   Independent: Berki András SAGA: Gábor Erényi Italy Independent: Carlo Parisi Luca Porzio Netherlands AMEK: Mishael Lopes Cardozo   Independent: Federico Bonelli School voor Historische Schermkunsten: Reinier van Noort Poland ARMA-PL Warsaw: Bart Walczak ARMA-PL Wroclaw: Tomasz Dolinski   Independent: Marek Helman Sylwek Tyra   SF Vectir: Marcin Surdel Ringschule Wroclaw: Monika Maziarz Tomasz Maziarz

Slovenia Academia artis dimicatoriae: Roman Vučajnk Spain AryAr: Javier Ramos FESA: Eugenio Garcia-Salmones Ton Puey Sala Johannes Liechtenauer: Eduardo J. Leon Ruiz Sweden GHFS: Andreas Engstrom Anders Linnard Axel Pettersson MHFS: David Lindholm Switzerland Freywild: Bachmann, Dieter GAGS: Daniel Jacquet