Updated June 2026 This is a guide to what equipment you 'need' to get into HEMA, and the costs. I have tried to include links to as many retailers and manufacturers of equipment as I can, giving options for UK, EU and USA (and some elsewhere). Much of the guidance in this blog post is broadly applicable, but do check local competition rules, and with your club. Perhaps controversially, I have tried to set out what the current consensus is on steel swords. This is to help beg

The hierarchy of control is - as I've been informed by a professor who has been involved in safety research for the last 35+ years - one of the few safety models that has actually, demonstrably, improved safety. In short, it simply states that actions taken to control risk are more effective at the top of the hierarchy than those at the bottom. It doesn't mean that actions should not be taken at the bottom of the hierarchy, just that those at the top should be considered fir