Gorgets, suspension systems inside masks. The irony being all of the solutions were invented 100s of years ago. It's frustrating to watch companies trying to reinvent products.
Jacek Bujko we've talked before. Wouldn't be difficult. If LP were willing to move away from their traditional methods it would be easy. Maybe you should hire a product Designer. ;)
Armor remains an interesting topic. Up until quite recently, HEMA gear is pretty much beefed up sports fencing gear dyed black. If you had to design HEMA specific armor from scratch, how would you go about it? Would you go the same route and adapt modern fencing equipment/ Look at the past and emulate (parts of) historical armor? Go the opposite way, and look at the best modern options (riot armor, motorcycle gear, etc.) What kind of aesthetic would you prefer for HEMA armor? I personally would like it if the HEMA community stepped away from the all-black outfits and allow for some more color variation. The H stands for Historical, so why not incorporate some period aesthetics.. I mean.. I can't be the only guy who wants to go full on Landsknecht, right?
akumabito2008 I've spoken to LP about it a couple of years back. They aren't prepared at the moment to use any manufacturing process other than their normal ones. It would be a piece of cake to put a suspension system into a mask and fit an American football style chin strap. They don't really have the resource or a designer on board. The chap running the HEMA program is a nice fellow but at the moment they are reliant on a relationship with SPES for design resource.
Haven't had any issues with what people want to wear... there are no rules how to dress or uniforms.. there are lot of options on the market in terms of fencing masks or colours for gambesons or fencing jackets... if you want to wear landsknecht Hosen do it. I don't think that anyone would say something against it. Who needs amour anyway :D
High Hill Pants sells Landsknecht inspired breeches and a fencing jacket. Neyman does their share but I've seen some bad reviews on their jackets. I should point out that this is based on reviews and I have not tried those products myself.
I absolutely love low-impact fencing, it really looks like they are trying to cut each others with sharp pieces of steel, without getting cutted. Even though I prefer sideswords, actually longsword combats, where technique is more used, looks beautiful.
Great post. Some very relevant notes made and significant pointers for those building protective equipment. The one about the "triangle of death" on the neck is one which I have been harping on about for ages.
I agree that HEMA practitioners hit a lot harder that they need to. At the school I study at, Academie Duello (Vancouver), we focus more on good form and proper technique instead of just running in to get the first point.
I personally enjoy fighting in lower armor then what my club demands with certain people I trust to have control and I think that is a key thing for any study of martial arts is not only being able to do the techniques with lethal intent but also do them safely in any situation.
this was really helpful, ib just recently gotten into Hema and know what ill keep you safe should be your first priority and this really helps to point out what that might imply . thank you again and im looking forward to watching the rest of your vids
I hadn't even thought of the zip vulnerability before. It's especially relevant to me since I'm left handed and practice rapier. That gap will be facing my opponents MOST of the time...
Just stuff some pillows in there, no drawbacks whatsoever :v JK, it's an awful thing, I lace up my jacket because replacing a broken zip was too much of a hassle (heavy duty materials are a bitch to work with, poking some holes and pulling cord through was easier. I also added a second flapon the other side that laces to another set of holes to prevent blade going through a gap. It's really not that hard, no idea why manufacturers don't do it themselves with a zip, very simple thing to design)
That bit about the end of wrist vulnerability was one of the selling points for me on the koning glove. I have the challenge jacket for the back zipper and overall awesomeness. The triangle of death gap between back of the head and the mask is vulnerability is a problem. Even most overlays don't solve the problem having the same weak spot. Back of the head protection seems to be an afterthought in most cases. It is nice when the mask comes with it like my gajordoni ancient air mask but it still has that gap. In the states with purpleheart there is a nice but expensive gelcap to help with concussive hits to the head that I have thought about getting.
In my opinion heavy and very protective gear gives the fencer a feel of security to the point he doesn't care for the enemy blade at all, and making him hit as hard as he can. i personally don't like fencing this way, it's too much aggressive and maybe it's not even the real feeling that ancient people had when they stood one against each other barely dressed in wool and with a sharp sword in hand. instead of focusing on heavy protection i prefer fencing with a light gear that grants agility and pose no restriction to your senses and focus on the fear of enemy blade as primary defence. Also, this style of fencing is much less physical than what i see in today hema
It seems a great deal of HEMA practitioners are in the whack the heck out each other school rather than the art of self DEFENCE. I see lots of sparring where there is little thought of parrying, when, looking at the treatises, most of the focus is on NOT being hit.
I recently got the fancy sparring jacket from Bloss Armory in Poland. It's got a sword-catching collar, 350N rated padded cloth, back zipper, very comfortable (and stylish!) but it highlights a few problems you point out. I absolutely have to wear a gorget with it and am thinking of putting a plate or an extra strip of cloth or leather behind the collar on top of that. They really should've reinforced the collar more to begin with. Also, the shoulders and arms in general don't seem to have as much padding as the torso. For the arms and elbows it's not a problem since I'm using the SPES forearm and elbow guard anyway, but I have to figure out a shoulder solution. And of course since it's 350N cloth, it's perfectly fine for light longsword sparring and some other types of sword, but I'm going to have to get added chest protection to it as well.
thank you for video well done . just getting into H.E.M.A. with my son trying to figure out gear on a budget. just a thought would raised pauldrons protect triangle. anyway thank you for info
Two questions, do you use the Leon Paul mask with the specifc hema padding? If so do you think, as Matt mentioned in a video, that you might want to order a size bigger than usual to compensate for the added padding? Also that shirt looks awesome, what is it? :D
Many thanks, interesting points - interesting to understand whether, as experience is gained, intensity is a "thing" that later grows into fencing finesse and strategy?
I have a question, regarding these hard hitters. How do you reign in the types of people who treat swords like maces and try to swing as hard as they can? Considering the fact that most are trained swordsmen who are now used to giving heavy swings all day long, I find that even when you directly tell them they're even being suicidal at times and just trying to hit you the hardest in yet another double, they still seem to act pretty much the same way. Have you found effective strategies to deal with such people and scenarios?
Go to the gym, lift a ton, learn to hit harder to the point you fuck up their 1200N masks, zornhau all day. Or use a mordschlag and say it wasn't banned in the rules.
Agree with you! However heavier helmets are better at taking impact because think about jousting helmts tend to bigger and heavier than combat helmets because of the reason that a lighter helmet does less protecting but obviously its more lighter as in campaign you have carry that helmet not just fight in it, so hence heavier helmets are usually a thing for tournaments because the only thing you are worrieng in a tournament is hits
The really big thing which makes jousting helmets better at taking hits is that they're typically physically bolted to the cuirass, which means most of the force is actually carried to the body.
I have the situation of living in a tropical country, and fencing jackets are gonna be a horrible, horrible hell on esrth for us, what alternatives do we have? I was thinking in a sort of PVC breast plate, or maybe from those heavy plastic barrels. For the arm, I was thinking in motorcycle gear...
What is your thought on the Black Armoury style collar which rides over the bib with a blade catcher and fairly heavy stand collar going higher than that of the SPES under bid style?
Ben engledow i use the leon paul jacket, for for the most part its great, it has a collar with a lip that can catch blades, but still use a gorget, and the padding on the torso is fine for a majority of weapons, however i would recommend you use forearm and elbow protection
