SAVANNAH LONGSWORD FENCING CLUB

Frequently Asked Questions

We get asked a lot of questions about what we do, so below are a list of the most common ones. If you have a question that you don’t see here, fill out our contact form at the button below or email us at ssg.sav@gmail.com.

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Want to Join? Click here for everything you need:
  • Step 1: Pick a Monday. We hold intro classes from 6:30-7:30 on Mondays, so choose an upcoming Monday you’re available to come try a class!
  • Steps 2 + 3: Contact us and sign your waivers! Fill out our Contact Form and let us know what Monday you’d like to come out, as well as the emails + full names of each individual coming to the class. We’ll send everyone a class waiver accordingly and everyone attending can fill the waiver out prior to the class.
    • Note: Our intro classes typically do not involve sparring, as sparring requires you register and pay for a Schola Saint George membership, detailed in the step below.
  • Step 4: Register a $35 yearly membership with our parent organization. If you’re still interested after your intro and want to come back, register with Schola Saint George, our parent org, and pay the $35 yearly membership fee for each individual that wants to continue fencing.
  • Step 5: Pay monthly club dues. Our local monthly club dues are $80, which covers our rent to Savannah Pickleball Academy, our gracious club space host, as well as our supply of loaner equipment and other club related expenses. Dues are payable at the bottom of this page and cover every M/W/F fencing class for a calendar month.
  • Step 6: Come fence, that’s it! (Groin protection recommended)
  • For Youth Classes: If you are interested in enrolling a child age 12-16 for our youth class program, the process is very similar with some minor differences. Please fill out our Contact Form and we’ll get back to you with everything you need!
What does it cost?

Our adult club dues are $80 a month, our youth class rates are $20 a class, and all members pay a yearly organization fee of $35/yr. More information about membership pricing (as well as how to pay) can be found on our membership page.

When/Where do you guys meet?

Our adult classes are 6:30-8:30 PM M/W/F and our youth classes are 6:30-7:30 PM on Fridays at 4102 Meding St (Savannah Pickleball Academy). We hold class at the outdoor covered court, visible from the parking lot!

What age groups do you offer classes for?

We have classes for any aspiring student! Our adult classes are open to anyone 18 and older, and our youth classes are open to students ages 12–16. If you have questions about whether HEMA is a good fit for your child, feel free to reach out to us.

Is this a sport? Can I join without prior experience?

HEMA is both a martial art and a sport with tournaments held all around the world. All members are encouraged to compete if they want, and you can absolutely join without any prior experience in any sport! We teach swordplay from the ground up to be as beginner friendly as possible.

Does you do weapons other than longswords?

Yes! While our club focuses on the longsword, we do have members that fence with other weapons. This includes, but is not limited to, saber, sword & buckler, rapier, and messer. We devote some of our time to the other weapons on Fridays!

Do I need to buy any of my own gear before joining?

No! If you’re new, we recommend you do not purchase any gear until you’ve had a chance to try it out and decide if HEMA is right for you. We have loaner gear for students who are just starting out.

For those it applies to, groin protection is recommended for sparring and should be purchased before your first sparring session.

What gear do I need to have eventually?

HEMA is a full contact sport, and we wear a lot of protective equipment. You don’t need your own gear right away, but we do recommend you purchase your own equipment eventually (but gradually). The following pieces are required by our club, and all gear should be HEMA-rated (note: youth members have different gear requirements).

For adult members (in order of importance):

  1. A HEMA fencing mask with back of head protection (can be purchased separately or built-in),
  2. HEMA tournament rated gloves,
  3. HEMA rated throat protection (also called a gorget),
  4. A HEMA rated sparring jacket,
  5. HEMA rated elbow protection.

For youth members (also in order of importance):

  1. A HEMA fencing mask (back of head protection is not required),
  2. A padded training longsword (instructors can provide more specifics)
  3. Light HEMA gloves (preferred) or lacrosse gloves.

If you need more information, please contact us and let us know!

Is there a ranking/belt system?

The short answer is no. HEMA is not centralized in any way, so each club has its own take on how to measure progress. Our club does not have a formal ranking system and we don’t use belts or titles.

Is attending class mandatory?

No! We do encourage attendance and would love for you to be a dedicated member, but you’re not required to attend every single class. Just come as often as you can!

Are there other people that do this?

Yes! HEMA is a growing movement around the world. You can find lots of historical fencing on YouTube and there are new clubs being founded all the time! HEMA Alliance offers a club finder to search for HEMA clubs near you.

Have other questions? Give us a shout below and we’ll try to get back to you in a timely manner (and feel free to bother us again if we don’t).

What exactly is historical fencing?

Historical fencing is the practice of recreating fencing with real weapons and real techniques that existed in the past. This is usually done with a historical source, often a combat manual written by a master who lived in the past. Using historical weapons and historical sources separates HEMA from other fields such as LARP and Modern Olympic Fencing.

In our club, we primarily use the longsword. The longsword is a type of European sword designed to be used in two hands, most popular between the 14th and 16th centuries. It was a weapon used for by nobles for duels and other types of combat, and is the most popular weapon in HEMA today. If you’re unfamiliar with what the longsword looks like in a fight, this is a great video showcasing some high level longsword fencing.

Do you guys use real/sharp swords?

No. Our swords are authentic, but they are not sharp. We primarily use blunt steel feders and padded foam swords for our youth classes.

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