During the first round of the tournament, I noticed that the arm strapped shield was at a serious disadvantage to the center grip shields and even the buckler I’m used to using for I.33. Using the targe, I was unable to adjust the angle of the shield to respond to off-line attacks, and it was virtually useless for locking down an opponent’s blade. In addition, it offered little to no protection for the sword hand, as nearly all attacks ended up extending beyond the shield. I lost all of my matches in that pool, including one 0-5 route.

For the second round of pools, I switched to a 19-inch, center held buckler made by Cold Steel that the tournament host had available as loner gear. I had an immediate improvement in results and felt far more comfortable while fencing. I was able to utilize techniques I was more familiar with, and covering off-line attacks was far easier when I was able to quickly adjust the angle and position of the shield. With both arms able to extend fully, I was also able to protect my sword hand (vital when using an arming sword) with the buckler instead of being forced to extend past the shield every time I attacked.

That’s not to say that certain limitations didn’t exist using the 19-inch shield. It was certainly much harder to attack around, and even the plastic buckler was tiring to hold extended compared to a steel 12-inch buckler and even the targe.
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I can see where arm strapped shields would be advantageous in a battle line, especially if using a spear or other polearm that would allow the hand to remain back.  However, for one-on-one sword fights (duels or street fights), a center held shield certainly seems to be far more versatile and protective. Given the choice, I’d carry a buckler before a targe or rotella. 

Kyle’s experience is one more data point we can use to continue to explore different manuscripts. George Silver’s ranking of weapon sets has always fascinated me. Thank you, Kyle, for sharing your thoughts and adding to the growing research we have in HEMA!

I’d also like to give a huge thank you to Arena Weapon Arts for hosting a fun tournament that helped us further learn about historical swordsmanship! 

When sparring or in tournaments, have you ever found yourself in an exchange where swords collide, but no hits occur, so you separate? What do we do with this time? How do we best utilize this moment of peace in a stressful situation? Checklists and not just any checklists! Checklists you can do mid-exchange to optimize your fights!
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Today, we will be discussing my advice on maximizing the calm between exchanges: mid-fight checklists. This will kick off a new series I am calling Tournament Tips, a collection of helpful tips and tricks for HEMA tournament participants. 

Before we get started, let’s talk a little bit about a tournament I was just at, Gesellen Fechten 2025! This was my first tournament back since my surgery and it was great to see people and train with old friends. Overall, my club won two medals and I finished 12th  in sword and buckler and 11th in sabre. Longsword was challenging since it was my first Tier A longsword tournament. I finished in the bottom middle of the pack but walked away with plenty of lessons learned to improve going forward.
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The tournament was well run (which I can selfishly say since I was part of the staff). Most importantly, everyone on my team had fun and learned a lot. We had a few fencers who competed in their first or second tournament and they had such a good experience that they plan to continue competing!

​A common mistake I find myself and others making is entering an exchange unprepared or already at a disadvantage. For example, I (featured on the left) started an exchange with my hands too far forward, and I threw them in front of my sword, which got them hit. 

This exchange happened towards the middle of the bout after an exchange where no one got hit. My form loosened up just enough in-between exchanges resulting in me losing the round. This is where Mid-Fight Checklists come in!

Mid-Fight Checklists are a list of quick things you can check before the next exchange. For example, when I disengage from an exchange, I run through the following checklist:

1. Get in a guard
2. Center your feet
3. Check hands

The purpose of the first item on this checklist is to ensure that I am in a fighting position in the event my opponent attacks me. The second item is to provide a foundation so I can attack my opponent. The third item is to ensure my hands are correctly positioned so they do not go ahead of my sword when I attack.

The most important detail of these mid-fight checklists is that they are quick and straightforward to execute. The second most important part is that they are tailored to the fencer. Some fencers may have an exceptional foundation in wrestling or Olympic fencing, so they never have to worry about their feet. In that case, maybe they do not need the second item and can focus on their guards and hand positioning.
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This is where practice and training come in. The goal is to minimize the number of things you need to check for yourself mid-fight. For example, at this point in sword and buckler, after a disengage, I almost always bring my sword hand behind my buckler. I do not actively check that with mid-fight checklists. However, I do have a habit of disengaging and loosening up my guards, which leads me to check still to make sure my form is correct. Funny enough, some fencers who have sparred me have seen me do this and describe it as me “calibrating live”.

Mid-Fight Checklists are not just things you write down and never think about again. They must be drilled to ensure they are automatic when the event arises. However, once you get into the habit of checking your form between exchanges, you may notice that snappy and panicky actions are reduced. Something is calming when you take the time to re-establish your form before the next bout of swords.
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So what are your ideas for mid-fight checklists? I would love to hear your thoughts and things you need to check to ensure your exchanges always end in your favor.

Through my nearly 10 years of HEMA, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet hundreds, if not thousands, of people who are interested in swords. My experience has not just been limited to HEMA practitioners either. I have had fantastic conversations and interactions with Buhurt combatants who taught me about medieval melees and sources about William Marshal. I have met Living History scholars who possess an extensive knowledge of the medieval world and have offered valid critiques of HEMA. I have discussed at length with SCA Adventurers about the pros and cons of both of our martial training styles. All of you have contributed to my experience in swordsmanship, and I value every interaction we have had. You are all part of the sword family.

Throughout my years in swordsmanship, I have seen numerous scandals, negativity, injuries, unpleasantries, and hate. Recently, I have seen more people being banned from clubs or engaging in reckless behavior that endangered others or even threatening acts towards the lives of our sword family.

However, I believe that the reason I am seeing more news like this is not because our family is getting worse. On the contrary, our family is getting their voice and standing up for one another. We are beginning to solidify in our cultures to the point where we can say “No. That is not acceptable behavior, and we as a sword family have no tolerance for it.” While I know these challenging times can be difficult, I take comfort in the fact that our communities are becoming increasingly connected to the point where we can protect one another and call out bad actors.

Our sword family comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds. Whether that be sexual preference, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, political view, social class, and everything in between, we are all brought together by a simple idea. We all love swords. I have had conversations with strangers from around the world who took the time out of their day to talk to me because they were passionate about swords. In my first club, a teammate of mine once said, “If you like swords, then you are a-okay with me,” and I think our sword family reflects this idea. It is a beautiful thing when all are brought together by a common interest and share a diverse community.

Some members of our family put on a smiling mask while they are around their sword people. In their personal lives, those same members are struggling. Numerous things can bring suffering and hardship into someone’s life. Some of our family members are better at hiding what they are going through than others. Worse off, so many of us connect through social media and it is easy for us to assume we are all alright and happy.

As a sword family, we must care for and love one another. Our family has a fun and unique situation where “liking swords” is the least interesting thing about us, because everyone in our family likes swords! Get to know one another. We have members in our community who are teachers in poverty-stricken areas, going to work every day with the hope of making a difference. We have scientists and engineers working to advance our knowledge of the world, hoping to prevent the next pandemic before it even begins. Small business owners and blue collar workers who work tasks daily and on weekends to make the lives of others better. We have members who are terrific artists inspiring people through their work, and students studying hard to make a brighter future. There are so many interesting people in our sword family, but some are too humble or shy to tell you how interesting they are. Ask. Learn more about each other outside of just the superficial “I like swords” so we can grow and care even more than we already do.

That is the beauty of a family brought together by the simple idea of sharing a passion for swords and a desire to learn more. We must welcome everyone while protecting our family from truly horrific people who would want to harm us, whether by words or by force.  
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I do not know who needs to hear this but know that you are loved and you are welcome in my sword family. There are people around you who care and who will stand at your side when the going gets tough.
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You are not alone and there is always hope.