Medieval Martial Arts Equipment Buying Guide
The first puzzle I had to solve as a medieval martial artist was acquiring adequate training equipment. This challenge proved to be more difficult than how it would seem, especially so at the time when I began my training. What I wish I had with me when I was starting was a guide for proper medieval martial arts equipment. Therefore, I am paying it forward by creating a guide myself for future medieval martial artists. The guide is geared toward the solitary martial artist who trains alone or is aiming to open their own martial arts guild in their area. If you belong to a guild already, then I suggest adjusting your purchases to align with the training pillars your guild has established.
Step 1): Decide what the purposes for your training are. Are you studying for sparring, competition, choreography, or are you simply seeking a workout? Are you going to incorporate steel armor into your training? The training pillars you set for your journey will rank the hierarchy of equipment you should be acquiring to start as quickly as possible. The biggest factor to consider is if you plan on sparring early.
Step 2): Decide the time period and setting for your practice. The medieval era does not only encompass Europe. The medieval era spanned across the whole world across many different levels of technology. Focus is key to picking the right equipment for you. I set my training in the late 15th century within the southern regions of the Holy Roman Empire. You don't need to be an expert on the whole medieval era, but having sufficient knowledge of the time and place you wish to study from will help inform your purchases.
Step 3):
If you train alone, purchase a training sword and find an appropriate manuscript. woodenswords.com is the best website in the US for finding high quality training swords. Unlike dulled display swords that are more common, training blades whether they are made of steel or nylon are forged to have the feel and balance of a martial sword and will give you a more accurate idea of how a sword should feel in your hands. Your first sword should never have a sharpened blade. There is a database of historical sword training manuals available on Wiktenauer.com that are freely accessible. I suggest you find two masters from your setting and practice from their texts. It is also beneficial to find a handful of sword martial artist accounts on social media and model your exercise routines off of theirs.
If you a a member of a sword training guild, purchase a gambeson, adequate protective gloves and a fencing mask if your guild participates in sparring. My personal recommendations for personal equipment are the following, all available on woodenswords.com (US):
* Gambeson: SPES AP LIGHT 350N JACKET
* Gloves: SPES LOBSTER V3 (for heavy swords), LEATHER SPARRING GLOVES (for light swords)
* Mask: WUKUSI COBRA FENCING MASK 350N or ABSOLUTE FORCE 350N DELUXE MASK
If your guild has a focus other than sparring then I suggest grabbing your sword and manual as described above. It's important to check in with your guild's organizer to know what equipment is acceptable and what loaner gear is available for use during training.
Miscellaneous equipment: First aid kit, comfortable training attire (rash guards, jogging pants, athletic socks, running shoes), dumbbells, water bottle, sword maintenance items (mineral oil, alan keys, blade tips), personal journal, sword sheathes, equipment bag (addidas defender XL bag recommended)
If you are starting your own guild or seek to train with a friend then you will need to extrapolate the quantity of each purchase to fit your needs. There are deals on bulk orders for items available. I suggest reaching out to your chosen storefront to see what they could work out with you.
