By Nathen Slauer
WKTV Contributing Writer
Those who visit Allendale’s Evergreen Elementary school on Wednesday nights should come prepared for battle.
Seasoned warriors enter the gymnasium with weapons drawn each week, ready to engage in combat. As duels commence, the room fills with the sound of clashing steel blades.
This band of sword-wielding enthusiasts forms the Centerline Sword School. The school teaches Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), a growing movement to revive the study of historically accurate swordcraft in West Michigan and nationwide.
Mark Maddox, a Centerline Sword School student, recalls hearing about HEMA from his niece and brother and immediately getting hooked.
“HEMA is an opportunity to do martial arts as I did long ago in a different context,” Maddox said. “It’s a little bit of childhood excitement mixed with reliving the history of medieval and renaissance times.”
In Maddox’s view, HEMA appeals to athletes and history buffs alike. The hobby involves discovering fighting techniques developed by European swordsmen and putting them into practice using modern interpretation.
Unlike eastern martial arts or fencing, HEMA does not follow an oral tradition passing down standardized methods and rules. HEMA instructors must study manuals written by influential figures such as Joachim Meyer, a 16th-century German fencing master, and analyze the moves depicted in diagrams.
When students start practicing these moves, they often discover that the motions feel different than what they imagined after seeing choreographed fight scenes in fantasy movies.
“The media gets a lot wrong,” Maddox said. “Real fights are not ‘Princess Bride’-style where you land several hits for twenty minutes. In reality, a fight could end with a single blow.”
Sessions consist of solo drills, lessons on a particular technique, and sparring. Beginners learn basic cuts, guards, and footwork before moving to dodges, counterattacks, and grappling.
Maddox’s favorite tenet of swordsmanship says that one should never be afraid of getting hit or hitting someone else. HEMA uses protective equipment to ensure participants’ safety. Still, students must brace themselves to take hits and walk away with the occasional bruise.
Yet Cameron Metcalf, a Centerline instructor, describes swordplay as an elegant art. Bouts often end when a combatant finds a strategic opening in their opponent’s position, removes their weapon, and throws them off balance.
Metcalf and Centerline students travel to tournaments across the Midwest to test their prowess. Contestants earn points by landing blows on the head, torso, and limbs during matches.
“Fencing is a game of chess, not a brutish activity,” Metcalf said.
The thrill of competition motivates some Centerline participants to keep coming back to practice. For others, HEMA offers a fun way to meet friends and get in shape with a supportive community.
“Who doesn’t want to play with swords?” said Ehren Wynder, a Centerline instructor. “It’s a great way to blow off steam.”
Newcomers can start practicing HEMA by purchasing a synthetic sword for around $100. Inexpensive equipment allows the user to get the swing of things before investing in pricey gear like a steel longsword and a complete armor kit.
West Michigan residents interested in learning more about HEMA can find a full class schedule on Centerline Sword School’s website and Facebook page.
