FightCamp is run by Matt Easton of Schola Gladiatoria (www.swordfightlondon.com) – a renowned Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) group based in London.

FightCamp has been running since 2004 and has grown from a small informal gathering at an historical site between a handful of groups to one of the largest international HEMA events in the world. In 2010 we moved to a commercial site in the Midlands especially developed for such events. The event now attracts over 20 instructors from Europe and the USA and up to 200 students from across Europe and beyond.

FightCamp is a three day event providing classes, competitions, trading and the opportunity for free exchange of European martial arts and related subjects. Classes cover subjects such as medieval knightly combat - using weapons like longswords, daggers and pollaxes - through to renaissance rapier duelling, Baroque smallsword techniques, Georgian pugilism, Victorian bayonet practice and wrestling, and even modern self-protection and fitness classes.

Unlike other major HEMA events, FightCamp is almost entirely held outdoors (though we do have one indoor training hall and a covered social area), with most attendees camping on site. This creates a unique feel to the event and gives us more freedom than other HEMA events to have things like a permanent sparring arena, melee games, trade demonstrations (eg. bladesmithing), traders and catering on site. There is no running backwards and forwards between different venues and restaurants as at other events. Having camping on site also gives a more communal feel to the event and ultimately allows us to keep the costs down for the students, making FightCamp the most cost-effective major HEMA event you can attend in Europe now (and yet also one of the biggest and most well-known!). Despite the cost being lower than other HEMA events we keep the quality high, with leading instructors from the best known schools giving top notch instruction. Our tournaments also attract some of the best fighters and we get some of the leading HEMA traders in attendance.

The programme provides full activities for three days, starting on Friday morning and ending on Sunday afternoon. Attendees are welcome to come for all three days (recommended to arrive on Thursday evening) or for one or two days. In addition to the scheduled activities, attendees will also find plenty of opportunity if they wish to engage in sparring, exchange training tips and knowledge, or just relax and see what our traders have on offer. Attendees of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome.

There are always a number of official competitions held at FightCamp. In 2011 these were:

• The Eggleton Cup (medieval sidearms)

• The FightCamp Pas d'Armes (cumulative scores from the Sparring Arena over the weekend)

• The FightCamp Assault at Arms (basket-hilted singlestick)

In 2012 we intend to have even more competitions, including the return of the rapier tournament.

The evenings at FightCamp are memorable, with a campfire and a fully licensed bar serving until late. Many attendees bring musical instruments and dress up (though this is optional!). FightCamp offers one of the most unique social experiences of any HEMA event.

FightCamp 2012 will again be held at The Grange, between Coventry and Birmingham. It is a site specialised for airsoft games and HEMA, with ample camping space, bathroom facilities, a cafe/restaurant and bar, and a resident HEMA shop. The site is easy to get to by car, rail or plane. It is a mere 15 minutes drive from Birmingham International airport.

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