Welcome! Before you come for your first training there are a couple of practical things we need to take care of 👇
- Decide what and when
Beginners should ideally join at the start of a semester where the first 4 weeks are particularly focused on basics. (September and January). Your first 4 sessions in any discipline are free! But after that you need to pay membership and course fees. For your first sessions we will have some basic loaner gear you can use until you invest in your own. - Measure your head!
We will ask for it to determine the size of a mask that we will try to have ready for you. Measure around the vertical axis of your head – from the top of your head, around under your chin and back up again. Have a look here. - Connect with us on Discord
At least two days before so we know who you are and which disciplines you are interested in and when you are coming so we can organise gear for you! - Wear ordinary gym gear and a pair of gloves
Your going to be moving around a good bit so comfy training gear and indoor gym shoes. For gloves – any kind of work or gardening gloves are good. For example these are a good start. If you have light motorcycle gloves they can also be great, like these. Also if you have a sports cup – wear it. Just in case….
* we have a finite amount of loaner gear but if we don’t have something that suits you,
don’t worry, we have ways of working around and you will be safe.
To compete in HEMA in Sweden you have to be aligned with a club 👇
- Pick a competition
Facebook and other club members are a good way of knowing what competitions or events are happening where and when. - Check with instructors if its a good one for you
This is particularly important if you haven’t competed before. Different competitions are appropriate for people at different levels. Instructors will know about the competition and will know you as a fighter and will be able to give you feedback. - Make sure you have a competition card.
If you haven’t already, register here: https://www.budokampsport.se/ansokningar/tavlingskort/
SPIFF is listed as “Stockholmspolisens Idrottsförening Fäktning”. You need to produce a card at the competition for you to be able to compete. - Get your gear checked
First thing at the start of a competition is everyone’s gear is checked to make sure you have all the necessary protection and that your mask has no dents. If you can’t pass gear check you won’t compete. So check in plenty of time in case you need to replace anything. - Bring quick repair gear
Duct tape and elastic string will fix most anything with HEMA gear. Make sure to pack a small scissors as well.
We are active all year around! Classes are done in two terms with free sparring happening between.
Autumn Semester: Start of September to Christmas
Spring Semester: Early Jan until end of May
Training is at either Bergshamraskolan (Q Lan Door) or Hagalund (En Garde Fäktförening Solna)
Winter mode is active from September till 15th of April.
If it’s light and the weather is good – we train outdoors.
You can check our Schedule for planned sessions and training, but the basic schema is as follows:
| What | When | Winter location | Not Winter location |
| Rapier with Andreas | Monday 18:00 – 20:00 | Bergshamra | Hagalund |
| Longsword with Jack and Joakim | Wednesday 18:00 – 20:00 | Bergshamra | Hagalund |
| Longsword with Marta | Thursday 18:00 – 20:00 | Hagalund | Hagalund |
| Poleaxe with Stephan | Saturday 10:00 – 11:00 | Hagalund | Hagalund |
| Open training – all disciplines | Saturday 10:00 – 13:00* | Hagalund | Hagalund |
(!) There are no formal classes in Sabre for the moment.
Saturday Series
The Spiff Saturday Series is an initiative aiming to make it easier to practice or try out fencing in a competitive context.
For several consecutive Saturdays each semester fencers participate via a sign-up-on-the-day basis. Each fencer participating on that particular day then compete in two matches, and referee one match.
Both Steel and foam disciplines are available, as long as at least 3 fencers sign up for the discipline in question.
Remember: For steel disciplines full protective gear is required.
