Bergen · Since 2014
Historical martial arts, trained the modern way
We are one of Norway’s leading historical European martial arts clubs, training the German longsword of the late medieval period and the Renaissance.
HEMA in brief
Real fighting systems, lifted back out of old books
HEMA stands for Historical European Martial Arts, a fast-growing combat sport dedicated to reconstructing European fighting systems from the medieval period through to the late nineteenth century.
Most practitioners focus on some form of swordsmanship, but people also train wrestling, dagger, boxing and staff fighting, among other things.
At Bergen HEMA our main focus is fencing with the German longsword of the late medieval period and the Renaissance. We run training for beginners and experienced fencers alike.
Is HEMA for me?
Almost certainly yes
HEMA suits anyone who wants to train with a sword, have fun, get fitter, make new friends and connect with Europe’s martial and cultural heritage.
No experience needed
Everyone starts somewhere. The instructors take you through what you need from your very first session, and you train alongside people at your own level.
No equipment needed
The club provides swords, masks and enough protective gear to train safely. Bring sportswear, indoor shoes with a non-marking sole and a water bottle.
No need to be in great shape
Fitness comes from training. Fencing is technical before it is physical, and you decide how hard you go.
Everyone over 18 is welcome
From 16 to 18 you can train with written consent from a parent or guardian. We have members of all ages, and women and men train together.
European martial arts
Six hundred years of tradition
Europe has a long and rich martial tradition, documented in manuscripts and manuals describing fencing with various swords, wrestling, staff fighting and more — produced and published from the early fourteenth century right through to the late nineteenth.
The HEMA movement works to bring these fighting systems out of obscurity and off the page into the present day. We often say that we train historical European fencing in a modern wrapper, with modern protective equipment and modern training methods.
German longsword
The Liechtenauer tradition
At Bergen HEMA we focus on what is usually called the German longsword tradition, or Liechtenauer longsword.
Liechtenauer was a fencing master who lived in Germany in the fourteenth century. He inspired a fencing tradition that lasted more than two hundred years, and over a dozen later masters wrote their own manuscripts claiming a direct line back to Liechtenauer himself.
Getting started
Three steps to your first session
We take in new members in September and from January to mid-February. The whole intake period is free.
Sign up on Spond
The club uses Spond — a free app for sports teams — for attendance and payments. Register for a session there so we know you are coming and can set gear aside for you.
Come along on Thursday
Bring sportswear, indoor shoes with a non-marking sole and a water bottle. Arriving ten minutes early for your first session gives us time to say hello and find kit that fits.
Borrow gear and join in
The club lends you a sword, a mask and protective equipment. The whole intake period is free — if you are still keen afterwards, you sign up as a member.
Frequently asked
What people want to know
When can I start?
We take in new members twice a year, at the start of each semester: in September, and from January to mid-February. That whole period is free, and you only pay if you want to carry on afterwards. If you already train HEMA, you can start at any time of year.
Is it dangerous?
We train with blunt steel training swords and wear fencing masks, gloves and padding as the intensity goes up. Bruises happen; serious injuries very rarely do. Instructors control the intensity, and you decide how hard you want to go.
Do I need to be fit?
No. Fencing is technical before it is physical, and you train at your own pace. Most people find the fitness arrives on its own after a few weeks.
Do I need my own equipment?
No. The club lends out swords, masks and the protective gear you need. Bring sportswear, indoor shoes with a non-marking sole and a water bottle. Most people gradually buy their own kit, a piece at a time.
Can I just turn up?
During an intake period, yes — we prefer that you register on Spond first, but you are welcome to simply drop by on a Thursday. Outside those periods, wait for the next intake, unless you already train HEMA. In that case get in touch and we will sort something out.
Is this the same as LARP or a knight show?
No. HEMA is a combat sport based on historical fencing manuals, not role-play or performance. There are no costumes and no choreography — the point is to get good at fencing.
Do I need to speak Norwegian?
No. Training is often run in Norwegian, but everyone in the club speaks English and we switch happily. Several of our members do not speak Norwegian.
How old do I have to be?
You must be 18. From 16 to 18 you can train with written consent from a parent or guardian.
See you on Thursday
The intake period is free, and you need nothing but sportswear, indoor shoes and a water bottle.