Medieval/Renaissance martial arts groups in the UK

[Andrei Alechin]

*first post, and a Limey to boot* <img src="/forum/images/icons/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hi, there!

I've had an interest in European/Western martial arts for a good year now, since finding your website, but I've only now registered on your forums. My interests in this field are largely research/theoretical at the moment, basically for literary/role-playing character design in my pet projects.

This is comparatively frivolous, yes, but I thought that I should get sound advice and information anyway to prevent the mountains of mis-information and dross that's floating around getting into my designs* (I'm just like that with some things). I'd be greatful for any good reading you can recommend, or other online forums like this one (preferrable in the UK).

*I'm guessing many of you feel similarly annoyed by this situation. The inaccuracies of Hollywood aside, I get the impression that the general public has an obsession with all things Japanese (it's foreign and has ninjas, therefore it's cool... <img src="/forum/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" /> ) and has attached to the katana the status of Lightsabre. This is not to say that the sword is bad, by any stretch of the imagination, merely over-rated in the eyes of the public.

[Rabbe J.O. Laine]

Since you are located in London, your best bet might be to contact Matt Easton of Schola Gladiatoria: http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/intro/

You can also find links to other UK-based HEMA groups on the site.

Rabbe

[Shane Smith]

I have trained with Matt Easton once in London.He is a good guy and is doing some very good work over there in my opinion.