The HEMA Dude

TLDR: In the KdF system (the Liechtenauer tradition of fencing), we do not have either a precise time measuring unit (4 seconds, 1/10th of a minute etc.) for measuring the time it takes to perform Actions in a fight (which would be absurd and useless), or the concept of “Tempo” which is present and quite central to the Italian fencing tradition (and in my opinion is more useful than precise units, but still imprecise because the duration of Actions varies significantly between Action types). We have something better: the concepts of Vor, Nach and Indes, which are tactical TIMING MODES, that work regardless of the specific technique (or Action) performed (and the varying duration of techniques or Actions). Vor, Nach and Indes consist of a combination of Initiative + Threat (always cumulatively!) and if we understand this properly, we should always be able to achieve the wondrous (and historical!) objective of fighting cleanly (hit and don't get hit!). Companion article for this workshop: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kymbgs9HHKQDOPvt9WJ1t1oQX-BF7OlSUYoolSvJqOY/edit?usp=sharing Andrei Chirlesan - TheHemaDude online resources and presence here: https://www.thehemadude.com https://www.facebook.com/TheHEMADudeAndreiChirlesan I'm available for workshops. If you want to have me over at your club or event, don't hesitate to write or call: https://www.thehemadude.com/blank-2 00:00 Intro and a little bit about me. 02:11 TheHemaDude and IWHA General Concepts theory. 17:15 Vor, Nach and Indes specific theory and concepts. 33:28 Drill 1 - Just Nach OR Indes for the Responder. Just Vor for the Initiator. 40:29 Drill 2 - Both Initiator and Responder can make a SECOND ACTION, BUT ONLY AFTER their initial Action has finished. 47:51 Drill 3 - No more defined roles. Both drill participants can choose to be either Initator OR Responder, for EACH exchange. 56:20 Put on FULL GEAR. 56:35 Drill 4 - As the Student, be a Responder, accept losing the Vor. As the Coach, be an Initiator, take the Vor, simply, as fast as possible. 01:02:30 Drill 5 - Coach is still Initiator, keeps trying to take the Vor, as before. Student is still Responder, but is now allowed to fight in Nach (Parry-Riposte). 01:11:34 Drill 6 - Coach is still Initiator, leeps trying to take the Vor, WITH A SIMPLE OBERHAU. Student is still Responder, but can now reply with Parry-Riposte (Nach) or Zornhau (Indes). 01:21:30 Drill 7 - Coach is still Initiator, keeps trying to take the Vor, BUT can do so EITHER with a simple Oberhau OR a Zwerchhau. Student is still Responder, but must now identify what's coming towards them and respond accordingly. 01:28:38 Q&A and end of workshop. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- My name is Andrei Chirlesan, the alter ego of my true self TheHemaDude, which you can find here: https://www.thehemadude.com https://www.facebook.com/TheHEMADudeAndreiChirlesan I'm available for workshops. If you want to have me over at your club or event, don't hesitate to write or call: https://www.thehemadude.com/blank-2 Regarding this video, I was invited to teach at the prestigious HEMA event Winterkamp 2025, where they had ~200 participants(!) and around 25 different(!) workshops and lectures (with a 40 participant / workshop or lecture cap) in the course of 3 days: https://www.facebook.com/events/2126578811056308/ Once again I held a workshop of 1 hour and 30 minutes on a topic that I normally teach in 3 hours. So beware, here be dragons and fast-talking. :) The specific topic of this workshop is the concepts of Vor, Nach and Indes from the Liechtenauer tradition of German Longsword. Which are TACTICAL TIMING MODES (when is the best time to apply one of the 3 BROAD tactics possible in fencing?) consisting of a combination of Initiative + Threat (always cumulatively!) which, if understood correctly enable us to fight cleanly (hit and don't get hit!). But be advised that the video begins with some General Concepts that make up my Longsword framework (TheHemaDude // IWHA). A framework that I created because I felt the need for a modern approach to organize the concepts that are fundamental to fighting with the Longsword, which the early Liechtenauer sources that I study mention nothing about. Things like: Range, Action, Threat and four easily understandable Distances (No Contact, Blade to Blade, Blade to Body and Body to Body). If you're intrigued and want to know more about these, watch the video and read the first 4 companion articles on my site: https://www.thehemadude.com/longsword-framework-articles If not, just skip ahead (see timestamps above). I would like to once again thank the entire organizing team of Winterkamp 2025, for inviting me to teach at their event, Petru Mihalache (Iron Will HEMA Academy) for filming and editing the workshop and, of course, the ~40 participants that attended it. Best of luck in your HEMA adventure, until we meet again!

TLDR: Minimizing threat to you in a Longsword fight is all about navigating Blade to Blade distance safely and in control, so you can deliver a clean hit to your opponent from your Blade to Body distance. But "safely and in control" means adopting various tactical modes and mindsets to achieve your objective, which can be taking the Vor, accepting the Nach, or fighting Indes. 00:00 Intro and a little bit about me. 00:35 TheHemaDude // IWHA General Concepts theory. 15:33 Exercise 1. Find your MAXIMUM Range (lunge). 19:36 Exercise 2. Find you COMFORTABLE Range and compare to your Maximum range. This Comfortable Range is the one you should use in sparring most often. Reserving the Maximum Range (lunge) for rare occasions. 21:17 Exercise 3. Find the 4 HemaDude // IWHA Distances, relative to a target (your opponent), for your particular anatomy. 30:01 Discussion and some "revelations" on the 4 Distances. 31:26 What are tactics? 32:24 The 5 TheHemaDude // IWHA Tactical Modes that you can be in (which are also in accord with the Liechtenauer tradition of Longsword fencing). 33:56 Drill 1 - Mode 1: Retreat; Voiding. 37:02 Drill 2 - Switching between Mode 1 (Retreat; Voiding) and Mode 3 (Taking the Vor Safely [Simple Attack When Opening Presents Itself]). 39:54 Drill 3 - Switching between Mode 2 (Accepting the Nach [Parry-Riposte]) and Mode 3 (Taking the Vor Safely [Shortening Distance]). 50:07 Drill 4 - Switching between Mode 4 (Invitations) and Mode 3 (Taking the Vor Safely [either by Simple Attack When Opening Presents Itself, OR by Chasing A Retreating Opponent, OR by Working In The Bind) and Mode 2 (Accepting the Nach [Parry-Riposte]). 58:44 Discussion on Drill 4 and Tactics to Minimize Risks in general. 1:01:09 Brief mention only of Mode 5 (High Risk/High Reward Tactics; focus only on taking the Vor [either by Compound Attacks OR by Counterattacks or Indes Actions: Schiessen, Absetzen, Zornhau, Zwerchhau, Schielhau, Krumphau). 1:03:07 End of workshop. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For those who like more context and details: I took the risky decision of accepting to hold a workshop of 1 hour and 30 minutes on a topic that I normally teach in 3 hours. Now I'm taking the riskier decision of putting it on the Internet. So, brace yourselves for some fast talking and lots of info and let the flame wars begin! :) What you can see in the video is the application of most of the main concepts that make up my Longsword framework. A framework that I created because I felt the need for a modern approach to organize the concepts that are fundamental to fighting with the Longsword, which the early Liechtenauer sources that I study mention nothing about. Things like: Range, Action, Threat and four easily understandable Distances (No Contact, Blade to Blade, Blade to Body and Body to Body). If you're intrigued and want to know more about these, watch the video and read the first 4 companion articles on my site: https://www.thehemadude.com/longsword-framework-articles The first half of the video (up to 31:28) deals with the theoretical part and some exercises to help understand the main concepts. The second half (from 31:28 onwards) is full gear, steel drills to practically train some ways of minimizing threat to you when you fight with the Longsword. So, if you're only interested in the drills, you can skip the theoretical part and go directly to where you see us in full gear. If you don't understand some concepts that we're using, you can backtrack to the first half, or to the companion articles on the site. The concepts and drills I present in this video are easy to pick up, regardless of your level and fencing experience. And I hope they will help you in your HEMA journey. Especially by reducing the number of those pesky Doubles and Afterblows, amirite?! I would like to once again thank the people at KdF Kronstadt and 7 Swords HEMA Bucuresti for inviting me to teach at their event, Borislav Krustev (of Fechtschule Sofia) for filming and editing the workshop and of course, the ~60 participants that attended it in total, in the 2 days it was taught. It felt great being there and teaching. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon! Cheers. Workshop location: Siebenburger Historischer Schwertkampf, organized by KdF Kronstadt and 7 Swords HEMA Bucharest, at Dumbraveni, Romania. Video (filming and editing): Borislav Krustev, Instructor and Founder at Fechtschule Sofia, Bulgaria.

A HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) demo video on an alternative interpretation for the "move left and strike with right" passage in the pseudo-Dobringer manuscript. The so-called Dobringer Shuffle type of footwork that features a combination of what I call a Pre-step + a Passing Step. The gist of this alternative interpretation being that (for a right handed fencer) perhaps Dobringer is advising us to first move to OUR left (via that pre-step), then take a "normal" Passing Step to OUR right, as we strike from OUR right side at the opponent.

A HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) demo video on efficient vs. inefficient toe orientation when cutting with a Passing Step.

A HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) demo video on efficient vs. inefficient start of step and landing, via the adjustment of the angle of the tip of the foot, when advancing with a Line Step or a Passing Step.

A HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) demo video on the Traverse Step type of footwork.

A HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) demo video on the Gathered Step type of footwork.

A HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) demo video on the Passing Step type of footwork.