Much of practice does not require protective gear. You can learn basic movements with no gear at all really. Even some light sparring can occur without it. At some point though you will need gear. Without sparring gear, you won't be able to fight at speed and your sense of timing and distance will suffer. In practice the gear allows you to experiment and to take some chances. It also allows you to spar. Sparring is fun. Sparring is the laboratory that you can do those experiments in. Using gear and sparring with blunt swords. like any form of sparring really, is not the same as a fight. Its a tool that simulates fa real fight. It keeps you safe.
Its an exciting time to practice western martial arts. Everything is in development. We are studying the old and reconstructing something new right here right now. Bureaucracies have not yet solidified and the methods themselves are being rediscovered and are not yet codified. Likewise with gear. Until recently most gear has been made by users or handcrafted by makers. There are a few companies that are just now starting to mass market specific pieces but there is still no "one right way". The search for the safest, most cost effective, most well made gear continues.
Nevertheless I have some preferences for gear. I like the SPES jackets. I like several helmet brands. Gauntlets continue to be problematic. It is hard to make a glove that provides sufficient protection while also maintaining mobility and lightness.
There are three levels of protection that I use for my hands. The lightest level of protection is a light leather glove. I came across some deer hide motorcycle gauntlets that protect me from minor bumps and abrasions. For light sparring I like to use Red Dragon gloves which are reminiscent of lacrosse gloves. For heavy sparring I use Ensifer's Sparring Glove and there are several similar products out there. St. Mark's Koning Glove is new on the market and holds great promise. I look forward to checking these out.
Basic Gear requirements for Swordfighters
Beginners practice
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Swords are provided
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Scuff free indoor shoes
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Personal protection (cups or breast protection)
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Clothing suitable for working out, specifically, long sleeve T-shirt, shorts or workout pants that cover the knees
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Hard shell elbow and knee pads.
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A gorget (neck protection) or hockey neck guard.
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Light Sparring
In addition to the above:
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Synthetic or steel sparring sword (some synthetic loaners are available)
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A HEMA helmet or Three weapon fencing mask augmented with protection for the back of the head.
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A HEMA jacket or an inexpensive alternative such as an old leather jacket, motocross gear, or several thick sweatshirts worn over top one another. Motocross gear is cool to wear and provides stiff protection over your most important bits and pieces. You can often find it used at the Consignment Shop here in Vernon.
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Heavy or Tournament Sparring
In addition to the basic requirements above:
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A steel sword
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Helmet or three weapon mask with occipital protection (a metal helmet is fine for practices though some tournaments will require HEMA gear)
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A HEMA specific jacket (heavy armour that performs the same function is also fine for practice with a similar restriction for tournaments)
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Gear Reviews
HRoARR has been maintaining a review of gear lately. Check it out:
Sword Suppliers
Wooden Practice Swords
Purpleheart Armory wooden wasters Good for inexpensive practice up to sparring.
Synthetic Swords
The synthetic swords that we are presently using in class are the Purpleheart Armory Type III synthetic sword. I am interested in the Blackfencer line as well, particularly the sharp simulator below. The sharp simulators have a significant sawtooth pattern on the edges which makes the blade act more like a sharp sword when in the bind. It's a cool idea. Watch them in action!
Purpleheart Armory Type III synthetic sword (Beginning sparring).
Steel Swords
I use an Albion Meyer steel sword. It is light and agile an I generally like it though it is less substantial than some of the other swords. Angus Trim makes a really nice "I-Beam" longsword that several of my colleagues use. Here are links to several sword suppliers that I like.
Helms
The minimum standard for helms is a good quality, no nonsense, three weapon mask. All of the HEMA masks that you can buy are derivations on this. If you don't buy a HEMA mask then you will have to augment the Three weapon mask with occipital protection to do heavy sparring. Considering that the helm is protecting a pretty important piece of real estate they are actually not very expensive and ought to be the very first thing that you buy. For most HEMA activities it is all that you need. If you become interested in fighting in armour you will need a full armour kit which is expensive and/or time consuming to acquire or build.
Purpleheart Armory PBT Mask plus mask cover or back of head protector below
Zen Warrior Mask (You will need a mask cover with this)
You may need to add additional leather to the back of this mask.
Neck Protection
This is to protect mainly from accidental thrusts to the neck. Its one of the pieces of gear that seems unnecessary until you get hit in the neck.
In Vernon, check out the consignment store, Sport Chek, or Sun Valley Sports for hockey neck protection.
Gloves
Red Dragon gloves from Purpleheart Armory suitable for light sparring
Red Dragon direct : https://www.thehemashop.com/index.php/protection/red-dragon-gloves
Ensifer Sparring Gloves suitable for heavy sparring
Other gauntlets are constantly being developed. Some people prefer metal gauntlets though these may not be allowed in some tournaments. The above Koning glove may be the answer that everyone has been waiting for.
Jackets
I really like having a sparring jacket. In many respects it is the equivalent of a medieval gambeson except that it has zippers!
Sparring Pants
There are several companies that produce sparring pants. They are not essential. Both of these companies make solid gear and you can find several reviews of them online. The trousers are based on fencing knickers. I have always found them to be somewhat restrictive. I am waiting for an updated version of trousers that are built with more room in the legs and hips and I do not really need thigh protection. I do like the SPES concept of attaching knee protection right to the trouser knees and I would like that in a looser fitting garment. I also like belts. Both of the trousers use suspenders and to me they are in the "seems like a good idea at the time" category. When you use them the trousers ride up and crowd the boys. Until then, I like to use ¾ length shorts since they cover the knee and knee pads will fit under them.
Swords are provided
Scuff free indoor shoes
Personal protection (cups or breast protection)
Clothing suitable for working out, specifically, long sleeve T-shirt, shorts or workout pants that cover the knees
Hard shell elbow and knee pads.
A gorget (neck protection) or hockey neck guard.
Synthetic or steel sparring sword (some synthetic loaners are available)
A HEMA helmet or Three weapon fencing mask augmented with protection for the back of the head.
A HEMA jacket or an inexpensive alternative such as an old leather jacket, motocross gear, or several thick sweatshirts worn over top one another. Motocross gear is cool to wear and provides stiff protection over your most important bits and pieces. You can often find it used at the Consignment Shop here in Vernon.
A steel sword
Helmet or three weapon mask with occipital protection (a metal helmet is fine for practices though some tournaments will require HEMA gear)
A HEMA specific jacket (heavy armour that performs the same function is also fine for practice with a similar restriction for tournaments)
