Historical European Martial Arts
The sword has been an object of interest throughout the course of history. At times it has been the symbol of government and power in the hands of a ruler; at times it has symbolized the warrior and survival through skill of the wrist; at other times it has fired our imagination as a mystical and magical tool
Surprisingly enough, the sword as a weapon of legend possessing such a place in oral and written history, has become more of a symbol than a tool after having been deposed by the advent of firearms. Over time the knowledge and techniques concerning the use of the sword have faded away.
Much about the sword was facing extinction until a group of aristocrats decided to resurrect historical sword combat techniques towards the end of the 19th century. Small but influential societies made up mainly of academic researchers particularly in Germany, Britain and Italy, worked hard to breathe life back into the historical combat arts. In time these societies began to be known as HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) societies. Ancient hand-written texts were taken out of collections and depots and work began on interpreting them. At the same time the information learned from these sources was put into practice and thus long-forgotten techniques were brought back into the light of day. The manuscripts about sword combat techniques written by the German sword-master Hans Talhoffer in the 15th century and his 14th century Italian colleague Fiore Dei Liberi showed the way ahead for people eager to learn the sword at the beginning of the 1900s.
Kuzgun Academy
The Kuzgun Historical Combat Arts Union (Kuzgun TSSB) is the first society in Turkey to study and teach the theory and practice of sword combat taking as its role models the societies in Europe and America that have developed over the years and become well-established institutions today. Kuzgun Historical Combat Arts Society, founded in Ankara in May 2007 by Ilker Can Karagülle, conducts research into the historical weapons and inventories of Europe and Asia before the advent of firearms, it compiles reference materials in these fields, and it teaches interested people how to use various types of sword using tried and tested training methods. This society also provides choreography for armed and unarmed stage and theater combat, and teaches actors in this field.
What Can This Sport Do For Me?
The sport of sword combat, as yet unknown in this country and first introduced by Kuzgun TSSB, is not just a hobby activity to satisfy the curiosity of people curious about history and the era before firearms, it is also a sporting activity that can be of benefit to everyday life thanks to its positive qualities of mental and physical development.
These activities are recommended for the reasons below by many institutions not just for people interested in history and swordplay in European countries and America, and they are taught as additional skills in acting and film schools. Here is a short list of the benefits of Historical Sword sports:
* Mental-physical coordination
* Improved focus, attention and reflexes
* Improved self-respect, self-confidence and resolve
* Physical health and fitness
* Timely reflexes and controlled balance
How and Where Does Training Take Place?
.jpg)