Learning & Resources

This section of the website is designed to present students, researchers and casual inquirers with a variety of resources to explore the vast, exciting, and sometimes confusing world of Western Martial Arts (WMA), also known as Historical European Martial Artist (HEMA).

Articles  CFAA’s collective membership brings a vast array of background and experience with Western Martial Arts in general and Historical European Martial Arts in particular; many having been involved in researching these topics for two to three decades!

Video and Media will take you to embedded media, links to our ever growing YouTube channel where we curate video lessons, training tips and examples of free-play (sparring) from member schools.

Suppliers is a listing of swordmakers, training gear retailers, publishers and other vendors whose product lines are specifically designed for training in European martial arts.

In addition we recommend the following resources for further exploring what our community has to offer.

On-Line Manuscripts and Books 

 Wiktenauer is the largest online repository of medieval and renaissance armed and unarmed combat manuscripts available today.

The Academy of European Martial Arts Library also hosts an extensive online roster of 14th – 17th century texts.

The purpose of the Destreza Translation and Research Project  is to rediscover the Spanish art of swordplay and to share that information with the public. Maintained by CFAA member the Sacramento Sword School

CFAA Member Hammaborg has transcribed an extensive number of medieval German texts.

HROARR maintains a valuable library of not only historical “manuals of arms”, but also related, supporting documentation.

Valuable Blogs and Content-Sites

HROARR – The HROARR site focuses on different aspects of Historical European Martial Arts. It is meant to serve both as a help to active practitioners and as a source of inspiration for people that are unfamiliar with this form of Martial Arts. At its core the HROARR site is a free online HEMA magazine with contributions from the whole community. It is also a neutral meeting ground where we can all connect, share and learn from each other using the tools provided by the site.

Destreza Blog – is an ongoing blog attached to the Destreza Translation and Research Project.

Ragion della Spada – A frequently updated blog containing the advice and martial musings of CFAA member, Guy Windsor of the School of European Swordsmanship.

Hans Talhoffer  Blog – Jens P. Kleinau maintains an excellent blog of original research into German martial arts, named for the 15th-c Master.

Marozzo.com – an extensive blog-site for the study of Bolognese Swordsmanship

The Order of the Seven Hearts maintains an extensive array of articles relating to 15th – 19th c martial arts.