Walpurgisnacht, an enchanting festival steeped in the mystique of Germanic folklore, enthralls the hearts and minds of those who partake in its time-honored traditions. As the night comes alive with the flickering glow of bonfires and the rhythmic dance of joyous revelers, the veil between the earthly realm and the supernatural world grows thin, inviting a sense of wonder and magic. This celebration not only heralds the triumphant return of spring, but also unites communities in the shared appreciation of their rich cultural heritage. Through Walpurgisnacht, we bear witness to the enduring pow ..read more

Fiore de'i Liberi, a renowned fencing master from the 14th century, developed a comprehensive martial art system known as Fior di Battaglia (Flower of Battle). His teachings encompassed a wide range of armed and unarmed combat techniques, which have become influential in historical European martial arts (HEMA). One of the most important aspects of Fiore's system is his distinct guards or posta, which serve as the foundation for executing techniques and maintaining a strong defense. In this article, we will explore the value and effectiveness of one of Fiore's most famous guards, the Posta di D ..read more

I found a t-shirt that had a line on it that made a parody of That's Amore by Dean Martin: When your sword ends up high and you pummel that guy, that's Fiore And I loved it so much that I decided to rewrite the entire song to be a parody about Fiore. [Intro: Choir] (In Friuli where swords are king) (When edge meets flat) (Here's what they say) [Chorus] When your sword ends up high And you pummel that guy, that’s Fiore When your sword seems to bind And a play comes to mind, that’s Fiore [Bridge] Swords will ring, clang-a-tang-a-tang Clang-a-tang-a-tang and you’ll sing, “Lotta bella” Feet will p ..read more

Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is a rapidly growing community of enthusiasts and scholars dedicated to studying, preserving, and practicing European martial traditions. These martial arts, which were once practiced by knights, soldiers, and civilians alike, have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In this article, we will explore the origins of HEMA, the diverse influences that have shaped its evolution, and the key factors that have contributed to its renaissance. Early Beginnings: The Ancient World The origins of HEMA can be traced back to the ancient world, wher ..read more

To understand why we choose to practice Fiore's system of Abrazare, we need to delve into the context of the formation of the different traditions of sword fighting that emerged around the same time as Fiore. Fiore published the primary work we study, Il Fior Di Battaglia (Getty Version), in 1409 at the behest of the Marquee of Ferrara, Niccolo III d'Este. This work was intended to set Fiore's teachings down into a format that could be used for the recollection of combat techniques and to teach the same system to others without Fiore's presence. This treatise covered unarmed combat, dagger com ..read more

Throughout the last several hundred years, or so, several old manuscripts and treatise that outline different styles of European swordsmanship have been discovered and translated. Some of these have been recovered in a variety of copies and mostly intact, such as Il Fior di Battaglia (The Flower of Battle) written by Fiore Dei Liberi of Italy in around 1409); or sadly only in parts, partly, or mostly, destroyed by war and time, as in the case of MS. I.33 (Known as the Walpurgis Manuscript, outlining a major sword and buckler style). But all of them are first-hand sources of the ancient art of ..read more