Welcome to the How To HEMA project, a resource on how to start, run, and grow HEMA clubs.
There are many HEMA clubs across the United States and across the world. Many of them are quite successful, helping dozens or even hundreds of people learn, train, and form the communities of fencers that make up the HEMA hobby. Most of the people in these clubs have had to learn how to cultivate their organizations the hard way, through trial and error, figuring it out themselves. The lucky ones have had guides and mentors who were able to teach them, but generally these were found through limited personal connections.
We at the HEMA Alliance saw that there aren’t many resources out there to help people found and run their clubs themselves, leaving them to reinvent the wheel over and over again. We put together this collection of resources to share the hard earned knowledge and wisdom that already exists spread out across the community, but siloed within regions, networks, and social cliques.
The articles that form the core of this project were written by experienced HEMAists who in turn consulted with club runners, senior instructors, and veterans to help make their wisdom more accessible to anyone who wants to contribute to the broader HEMA project.
Right now the focus is on the fundamentals of starting and running a HEMA club. Some of these topics are complex. Others are deep, or abstract. We have done our best to give accessible introductions to these topics, organizing the information to help you find your own club within them then and get yourself pointed in the right direction.
We believe there is no one way to run a HEMA club and this is reflected in our articles. HEMA is a diverse and broad hobby and our approach to these topics supports that diversity. Rather than try and shape everyone to do the same thing, we have tried to help clarify the questions you’ll need to ask yourself to build the club and community you want to have, as well as expanding on your options in the face of those questions with their implications, commitments, and features. In the end though, we want you to make the HEMA club that best serves you and your fellow club mates. Those are the clubs that best facilitate the passion that drives HEMA and makes for the wonderful communities which enrich it.
This project is growing as the shared knowledge of the community grows. We’d love to have your contributions! Have thoughts on one of our articles? Have an article you can write that you think would make a good addition? Feel free to email Sigmund.werndorf@hemaalliance.com. Soon we hope to expand to event running and other organizational topics related to HEMA.
Getting to the Good Stuff
These articles are written for people who already know what historical European martial arts is as a hobby, and are looking for more information on either starting their own club, or developing the club they already have. If that describes you and you’re unsure of where to start, or are starting at complete ground zero, we recommend beginning with How to Start a HEMA Club. If you’re looking for more information on what HEMA itself is, start with the HEMA Alliance’s New to HEMA resource.
For those looking to Develop a new club, check out:
What Kind of HEMA Club Do You Want?
For more established clubs looking to Grow what they have, check out:
When and How to Start Thinking About Money
For articles on more specific topics relevant to clubs of all levels:
Four Tips for a Successful HEMA Youth Program
Managing Leadership Transition
Who’s behind this Project?
How to HEMA is a HEMA Alliance funded project conceived of and spearheaded by board member Sigmund Werndorf. Copy Editing for the entire project was done by Helen Burak. Articles were written by HEMA community volunteers, some of whom are HEMA Alliance members, some of whom are not. We are incredibly grateful for their effort and contributions. Their names can be found on the articles but any thoughts, comments, criticisms, corrections, or other communications should be sent to Sigmund.werndorf@hemaalliance.com.
Want to Get Involved?
The intention is for this project to keep growing. If you have an article you think should be added to this project, or just would like to contribute, e-mail Sigmund.werndorf@hemaalliance.com.