Historical fencing is a material-intensive interest that requires a varying amount of investment on the part of the practitioner, depending on what your goals are with your training. Basic training equipment required initially are training shoes for indoor use and training clothes.
Recommended sword simulators
– Sword & buckler
– Longsword
– Saber
– Jogo do Pau
Protective equipment
Below is a simple guide to what level a practitioner can expect to train at based on their protective equipment. This also gives an indication of what you should prioritize buying first.
- Solo drills – sword simulator
- Low-intensity partner drills – sword simulator and possibly a mask
- Partner drills medium intensity – sword simulator, mask and gloves
- Partner drills high intensity – sword simulator (steel only), mask, gloves and jacket
- Sparring – sword simulator (steel only) and depending on the intensity a more or less complete set of protective equipment
- Training for competition – sword simulator (steel only) and a full set of protective equipment
Recommended sword simulators
We can provide steel and plastic sword simulators to those interested in trying out the activity. Once you’ve decided to continue and paid the membership fee, you can initially borrow a sword simulator by filling out the loan form. However, the clubswords for lending are limited and primarily go to beginners. To ensure that all new members have a sword simulator to train with, we see that if possible everyone starts looking at ordering their own as soon as they decide to continue – it can take time from order to delivery!
We recommend all that regardless of the type of weapon, you talk to your coach before ordering your own sword simulator. This is to ensure that you invest your money in something that suits you and that is approved for use in both technique training and sparring.
Here is a list of recommended manufacturers for different types of weapons.
Sword & buckler
Medieval one-handed swords come in many different forms. We recommend a sword with a simple cross and a blade that doesn’t cut too hard and has enough flexibility to be safe in thrusts.
A good sword simulator can be ordered from one of these manufacturers:
Bucklers come in slightly different sizes, shapes and materials. Historically, they could be constructed entirely of steel, have a wooden shield with a steel dent, or even be made entirely of hardened leather. Modern variants also come in hard, molded plastic. The buckler we use for I.33 are round and measure approximately 30 cm in diameter and are made of steel, wood or plastic.
A good buckler can be ordered from one of these manufacturers:
Longsword
A federschwert or feder is a specially designed longsword that, with the help of the shape of the blade, reduces its striking power and increases its flexibility for hard blows. The swords maintain proper weight and balance while improving safety.
A good sword simulator can be ordered from one of these manufacturers:
Saber
There are different types of sabers for different types of manuals. We train according to a Swedish manual for military sabers from 1893 and therefore use as straight sabers as possible. An overly bent saber makes it difficult to perform the techniques.
A good sword simulator can be ordered from one of these manufacturers:
Jogo do Pau
For the acquisition of the appropriate staff, speak directly to the trainers in Jogo do Pau.
Protective equipment
When it comes to protective equipment, we only have a few masks to lend for specific exercises. Practitioners who wish to perform partner drills at an intermediate level and above must therefore acquire suitable equipment themselves.
Here follows a list of recommended protective equipment in order of priority. The price of protective equipment rises the more intensively you aim to train. It may therefore be a good idea to start simply and then upgrade as needed. Talk to your coach about what you need and you can get closer help to find the right products.
1. Fencing mask with neck protection
To practice historical fencing, a mask similar to that used in sport fencing is required. There are several suppliers of masks that all have good reputations. It is also important to arrange extra protection for the back of the head and neck, which is otherwise not found on sports masks. Also make sure the mask has an endurance factor of 1600N, this is a requirement for intensive sparring and competition. Masks can for example be bought from PBT, Leon Paul, Allstar, Black Armoury or Gajardoni and most of these also have protection for the back of the head.
2. Throat protection
Thrusts to the throat can be very dangerous without adequate protection. Therefore, it is important to have a stable protection. We recommend that you order from, for example, PBT or Black Armoury.
3. Gloves
The hands are among the most exposed parts of the body when practicing historical fencing, especially with the longsword. For the best possible protection available on the market today, we recommend gloves made from either Sparring Gloves, Spes or ProGauntlet, which can be ordered via Faits D’armes or Black Armoury, for example. For lower intensity and other weapons than longsword, you can also use gloves from Red Dragon or other similar protection. Inner gloves must be used with all open palm gloves.
4. Fencing jacket
A well-fitting jacket is necessary to be able to practice historical fencing. It is important that the jacket is full coverage so that no part is exposed. The jacket must be marked with at least 350N to be approved to spar and compete in. The manufacturers we recommend are Spes or Black Armoury. Chest plate is not mandatory in sparring but may be in competition so it is highly recommended. Chest plate can be purchased from for example PBT or Black Armoury.
5. Fencing pants
The most common variant of fencing pants ends just below the knees and needs to be supplemented with a pair of high socks as no bare skin should be visible. The pants must also be marked with at least 350N to be approved for sparring and competition in. The manufacturers we recommend are PBT, Spes or Black Armoury.
6. Jockstrap
Can be bought at the nearest budo or sports shop. A jockstrap is recommended for all training that does not follow a fixed pattern, and is a requirement for intensive sparring and competition. Jockstrap is mandatory if you have a penis, recommended for everyone else.
7. Elbow, knee and shin protection
It is important to use hard protection over exposed points on the body. Leg protection for the shins can either sit together with the knee protection, which should also cover the outside of the knee, or be two separate protections. Similarly, arm protection for the forearms can either be combined with the elbow protection or be two separate protections. Arm protection is recommended while elbow protection, knee protection and shin protection is mandatory. Motocross protection or similar is recommended to begin with, but more sport-specific protection can be ordered from, for example, Spes, Black Armoury or Kvetun Armoury.