WHAT WE DO

The Three “Tracks” in Historical European Martial Arts

By Provost Aaron Pynenberg

There are many reasons why an individual may take up the sword. Certainly, an object with such a long involvement in human history will be of some interest to just about anyone. For many, the object conjures images of swashbuckling adventurers facing incredible odds and defeating nefarious foes on distant battlefields. For others, it is a scholarly journey of rediscovering the past and connecting with a simpler time. 

Wherever you fall on this spectrum will dictate how you approach your learning experience in the WHFA. Instructors and students in the WHFA are actively involved in the resurrection of these lost martial arts. Incredible progress has been made throughout the HEMA community in developing a common curriculum and standards of excellence in deciphering these ancient teachings--knowledge that was once such a part of the European warrior’s vernacular.

The WHFA-Appleton is one such group working to re-imagine the skills of these warriors and reinvent them for application in the modern world. While you won’t think to use the sword as an everyday object of self-defense, certainly the skills derived from learning the sword are useful in many areas of life. These three areas, what I refer to as the “three tracks” in HEMA, help to more readily identify your immediate purpose in the club. 

These areas can also help your instructor cadre, satisfy your needs and propel you into areas of study you hadn’t initially thought would excite you. 

As you read these designations pay particular attention to the way in which they can naturally overlap. They are not meant to be rigid; simply understand that your interests may cover a number of them simultaneously.

The Three Tracks

The Enthusiast

The Enthusiast is an individual who seeks some understanding of European sword arts. They may be simply interested in sword combat in general and be unaware of the full martial history of the European masters or the remaining sources of our HEMA. They could also be seeking uncommon forms of exercise and show a passing interest in the following tracks.  An emphasis on exercise and general study will be most important for these individuals.

The Traditionalist

Traditionalists seek sword combat as a conduit to martial discovery. They will immediately become interested in the history of the sources and seek ways to interact with them. Traditionalists also seek awareness of the ranking structure within the HFA and will want to begin tracking their progress within it. These students will eventually become the new instructor base for the WHFA. These students will need a constant ability to check references and have access to the source works. Connection to the larger HEMA Community will occur naturally to them, which will greatly benefit their overall capabilities. Movement into the next Track will be varied depending on their need for specific competition in placing these skills into a more competitive environment. They will seek to limit their exposure to the tournament scene in order to preserve their specific passions.

The Sport Track

HEMA tournaments are fraught with their own separate and specific issues. These students will demonstrate the most competitive spirit in the club. They will most easily interact with the HEMA sources as a means to an end. Generally not concerned with the ranking structure, their competitive-minded traits may push them towards seeking Senior Free-Scholar. The tournament scene has it’s own built-in goal: winning the tournament. These students are generally your most modern-minded. The history of the subject is still of interest to them but always through the prism of succeeding in tournament bouts.

Each of these tracks has a specific target audience. As new students present themselves, it is paramount that an instructor identifies a general awareness and understanding of where they incline along these three tracks. These will gradually change as the student becomes more aware of the richness of the sources or the depth of the competitive tournament scene. All efforts to encourage a reassessment of the student’s passions should be encouraged.

From the student’s perspective, it is important that each track is perceived as accessible regardless of the relative physical abilities that student currently possesses. The entire point of learning any martial art is to improve both physically and emotionally along a path of success. The path, however, can and should change over time. These three tracks are in fact just that: paths to be explored and deciphered.

My expectation of the WHFA cadre is that each student’s path will be identified and respected. The class should not be physically separated by these tracks, except perhaps the sports track. There may be preparations that will be too specific for general consumption but this is rare in my experience.