Art by Pure_Poet

Historical Weapons Guild

An inclusive sword fighting

community teaching people

how to safely hit their ​friends since 2016

What is HEMA?

Bible with Sword

HEMA stands for Historical European Martial Arts. As a whole, ​the community to focus on recreating martial arts systems used ​roughly from the 14th through the 18th century across many ​weapon systems. Historical manuals are the main source of ​information and go into varying levels of detail. These are used ​as a basis for understanding practices and their applications in ​the historical context in which they were created.


At the Historical Weapons Guild schools specifically, we treat the ​historical sources as a guideline for recreating a martial art. We ​pull heavily from Lichtenauer and Meyer though are not limited to ​those sources as we believe in a holistic approach to training that ​employs shared concepts across all weapon systems.


Offerings

Whether you are just starting your sword journey, looking for a place to continue your training ​or ​maybe you want to swing swords for a fun date night or event, we can help!

BEGINNERS

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AUSTIN

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6-week intro course

Cost: $215

During this 6-week course, students aged 16 and up will ​learn the basics of longsword, dagger, rapier, and single ​sword techniques that will prepare them for the exciting ​world of sword fighting. Once this course has been ​completed, students will be able to take part in our regular ​classes as well as open sparring.

What's included:

  • A longsword trainer from Purple Heart Armory
  • A study/training guide


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12112 Anderson Mill Rd Building 9 - Unit B, Austin, TX 78726

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TRAVERSE CITY

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Every Tuesday

Cost per class: ​$30

During this 6-week course, students aged 16 and up will ​learn the basics of longsword, dagger, rapier, and single ​sword techniques that will prepare them for the exciting ​world of sword fighting. Once this course has been ​completed, students will be able to take part in our regular ​classes as well as open sparring.

What's included:

  • A longsword trainer from Purple Heart Armory
  • A study/training guide


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2419 Sybrandt Rd Suite B, Traverse City, MI 49684

PRICING

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AUSTIN

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  • Drop In $30 per class
  • 5 Pack $130
  • 10 Pack $250

UNLIMITED

BASIC

PREMIUM

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$250 Monthly

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8 classes

add’l classes $15

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$115 Monthly

$175 Monthly

Unlimited

Workshops 1/2 ​price

15 classes

add’l classes $15

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12112 Anderson Mill Rd Building 9 - Unit B, Austin, TX 78726

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TRAVERSE CITY

  • Drop In $25 per class
  • 5 Pack $110
  • 10 Pack $200

SUPER +

BASIC

PREMIUM

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$180 Monthly

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5 classes

add’l classes $15

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$80 Monthly

$140 Monthly

10 classes

add’l classes $15

15 classes

add’l classes $15

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2419 Sybrandt Rd Suite B, Traverse City, MI 49684

SCHEDULE

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AUSTIN

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TRAVERSE CITY

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12112 Anderson Mill Rd Building 9 - Unit B, Austin, TX 78726

2419 Sybrandt Rd Suite B, Traverse City, MI 49684

Owners

Anthony Buonomo

Founder/Instructor

Anthony has been studying HEMA since 2014 though his ​martial arts training begins much before that with Eastern ​Martial Arts. He brings a passion to teaching HEMA that ​pulls from both scholarly and movement sensibilities to ​create an empowering experience for students. He ​founded AHWG on the idea that anyone can swordfight.

An​na Beard

Co-Owner/Instructor

Anna has been a sword nerd since 2018 when she took ​her first class at AHWG. Now she partners in the ​operations of the school as well as guides the teacher ​training, teaches a technique drilling class, and has ​brought dance into the mix. With over twenty years of ​dance teaching experience, she is always looking for ​ways to connect her two movement loves.

Instructors

Jon Garcia

Senior Instructor

Jon started his HEMA training with ​AHWG back in 2021 after leading a ​life of a D&D nerd, ren faire visitor, ​and boffer enthusiast. He brings a ​great eye for detail to teaching as ​well as a great big enthusiasm ​aimed at helping others discover ​what they love about sword ​fighting.

James Cooper

Senior Instructor

Drawn to HEMA as a dual pursuit of ​academic knowledge and physical ​discipline, James started studying ​the art with AHWG in 2016. With a ​professional background in ​education, James loves to share ​this passion and his knowledge with ​others while continuing to learn ​himself.

Andreas Fabis

Senior Instructor

Andreas started his sword journey ​with the AHWG in 2018 and has ​been excited about hitting friends ​safely ever since. He enjoys ​teaching and seeing students get ​hooked on a fun and exciting ​martial art. As a native German he ​can pronounce "Schlüssel" ​correctly.



Morgan Sinko

Senior Instructor

Morgan has been training with ​AHWG since 2017, but has been a ​lover of fencing long before. His ​positive attitude and desire to ​facilitate learning makes him a great ​asset to our team. He assists with our ​adult Beginner Courses and helps ​new grackles on their sword journey!

Instructors

Kaitlin ​McClendon

Junior Instructor

Kaitlin joined HEMA in ​2021, where she started ​training at AHWG. As a ​sword and fighting ​enthusiast, she loves ​helping students ​navigate the ​fundamentals while ​hyping up both new and ​veteran Grackles alike!

Eric ​Schweinsberg

Asst Instruc​tor

Purveyor of swift ​moulinets, narrow ​voids, and dumb ​jokes. Eric has been ​studying HEMA since ​2022, focusing on ​singlesword combat ​as well as the ​intersection of form ​and function.

Jessica

Bloodgood

Asst Instructor

Jessica was lured in with ​twords and history when ​she started HEMA in ​2022. She is a self-​proclaimed "museum ​nerd" who reads too ​many fantasy novels and ​loves to welcome new ​grackles into the flock

Giovanni

H​inojosa

Asst Ins​tructor

Giovanni is a history nerd ​who has wanted to fight ​since quite young; Since ​starting HEMA 3 years ​ago, he’s enjoyed working ​in multiple weapon ​systems and helping ​students grow in their ​personal fighting goals

Lenore

He​llman

Asst Instr​uctor

Lenore, a movement-​enthusiast, started HEMA ​in 2022. She loves ​exploring the motion and ​quality of body ​mechanics with a sword, ​influenced by her years ​of yoga and social dance ​instruction.

Shop HWG Merch

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and More

Press

The Austin Chronicle was ​nice enough to chat with ​us about swords and what ​makes hitting your friends ​so​ special.

More swords in more ​states! We were pleased ​to chat with Northern ​Express about bringing ​HEMA to northern M​ichigan.​

9 & 10 News

We had fun showing how ​swords are accessible to ​anyone and everyone! ​We appreciate the local ​news taking the plunge ​with ​us.

There have been many ​weapons explored on this ​show over the years from ​longword to pop can flail​ vs​ ham.

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WEIRD OPEN

2025

If you’re new to the WEIRD Open ​or events in general, check out ​this short docu-style video from ​last year to get a feel for our vibe ​and why holding an event like ​this is important to us. We hope ​you choose to come be WEIRD ​with us in Austin 2025!



Video and art by Pure_Po​et

Contact Us!

Carrier Pigeon

historicalweaponsguild@gmail.com

Discord