About Us

Over the last decade, Historical European Martial Arts has developed and grown beyond many of our expectations. Much of this growth is wonderful to see, with clubs and tournaments popping up (and selling out) all over the world, and a large wealth of high quality translations available to practitioners. But the pace of growth has brought growing pains with it. Too many problems – like equipment and community standards, injury research or information sharing – get put in the “too difficult” box, leaving organisers to find their way in the dark. I set up Historical Fencing Research Ltd to tackle these problems head on and help make sure that HEMA remains a safe, inclusive and fun hobby even as it becomes a global phenomenon.

Jamie MacIver – Director

I started HEMA back in 2014. My wife gave me a simple birthday present: a longsword and a set of 4 classes so that I’d learn how to use it. Neither of us knew the degree that one gift would change my life.

For most of that time, as well as training and sparring regularly, and being an active competitor both in the UK and internationally I have also been involved in running HEMA organisations with a strong commitment to ensuring they are run well. In 2016, several of us formed the London Historical Fencing Club with a mission to ensure we had a safe, inclusive HEMA club with quality instruction in the heart of London. Not only do I teach, but I have trained others to join the instructor team and helped the club grow. We now sit at over 120 active members and since 2024 have had our own permanent venue.

I also joined the Wessex League committee in 2018, becoming one of the main organisers from 2019. With the addition of Albion Cup (which I don’t organise), the Wessex team has delivered most of the largest HEMA tournaments in the UK in the last 5 years.

Outside of HEMA, I have 12 years experience working in data analysis, design, governance and standards – including changing processes to be driven by that data.  I want to use my professional experience to help HEMA grow to its next stage of development and ensure our community works together to keep each other safe. 

This led to the creation of Historical Fencing Research Ltd. Too many safety decisions are made on personal experience alone – because that’s all we’ve ever had to go on. My goal is to ensure that there is quality, open-access research to help understand and manage the inherent risks involved in hitting your friends with swords. It’s important to me that this research is open and independent, so we need the financial support of the community to make sure that HEMA practitioners around the world can benefit from our findings.