Getting Started with HEMA

How to Start a HEMA Club From Scratch

By HILT Official · Jan 28, 2026 · 12 min read

A practical, step-by-step guide to founding a HEMA study group, from finding a venue to getting your first 10 members.

You Don't Need Permission Here's something nobody tells you: there's no HEMA licensing board. No franchise fee. No minimum black belt requirement. If you have 3 people, a park, and some synthetic wasters, you have a HEMA club. Everything else is refinement. That said, "refinement" is the difference between a study group that fizzles out after 6 months and a club that's still running a decade later. Here's how to do it right. Step 1: Find Your Core Group You need 3–5 committed people. Not 3–5 people who say "yeah that sounds cool" at a party. You need people who will show up every Tuesday at…

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What Is HEMA? A Complete Introduction Historical European Martial Arts explained: what it is, where it comes from, and why thousands of people are picking up longswords.
Your First HEMA Gear: A Buying Guide What to buy, what to skip, and how to avoid spending €2,000 before your first tournament.
Finding a HEMA Club Near You: A Beginner's Guide How to find Historical European Martial Arts clubs and study groups in your area, what to expect at your first visit, and how to evaluate if a club is right for you.

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