Longsword

In Historical European Martial Arts, the longsword is a versatile two-handed weapon studied through surviving medieval and Renaissance fencing manuals. Training emphasizes distance, timing, footwork, structure, blade control, and the ability to transition between cuts, thrusts, guards, grappling, and close-range techniques. HEMA longsword systems often draw from German traditions such as Liechtenauer and Joachim Meyer, as well as Italian masters such as Fiore dei Liberi. Modern HEMA longswords are blunt training weapons designed for technical practice, controlled sparring, and competition while preserving the handling and tactical qualities of historical swords.