About Us

PDX Longsword is focused on being a place for HEMA enthusiasts of all weapons to come together to share knowledge and welcome anyone who wants to learn about the History of Martial Arts in Europe.

PDX-Longsword schools

There are three schools who banded together to form PDX-Longsword. These schools are:

For information on other schools in the area or to find out which school might suit your needs best, please check out the PDX-Longsword facebook group.

PDX-Longsword members are dedicated to the study and practice of Historical European Martial Arts, or HEMA. Also known as as Western Martial Arts, or WMA, HEMA schools focus on martial arts that were practiced in Europe in ages past. These arts were recorded in texts written by practitioners many centuries ago and modern HEMA practitioners work with them to interperate and test out the techniques that they contain. Disciplines studied can include:

  • Grappling (Ringe, Glima, or Abrazare)
  • Dagger
  • swordplay such as:
    • Longsword
    • Arming sword (with or without buckler or shield)
    • Rapier
    • Sabre
    • Dussack
    • messer
    • greatsword, (also known as Zweihander, Montante, or Spadone)
  • Spear
  • Axe
  • Armoured combat
  • Mounted combat
  • Traditional Archery