About:
We are Manchester School of Arms, a HEMA club in the Greater Manchester Area.
Last updated: 16/05/2025
Mission Statement:
We are a beginner friendly martial arts club, recreating historical Sword Arts and We focus on diversity, fun, being safe and getting fencing-fit. As such, we seek to provide a safe and accessible space for anyone who would like to become involved in the historical sword arts community. We are seeking for our members to leave a session healthier and happier than before they entered it.
We are also proudly supporting the Esfinges, the Women’s HEMA network and the LGBT+ community.
What?
Our main sources of study are the traditions of Unarmoured Longsword fencing. We are working from a well developed syllabus and students measure their own progress in a workbook. Our weapon of choice is the two-handed longsword. We also offer instruction in Italian Longsword, Quarterstaff, Saber, Wrestling and dagger fencing.
Where and When?
Every Monday & Thursday at 19:00-22:00, Christ Church, Moss Side, Manchester, M14 4GP Classes will be running on the same day, every week, until further notice.
Classes are split into fundamentals & intermediate sessions. Fundamentals sessions are suitable for all, intermediate sessions assume some experience and passing a safety assessment by instructors. Please see the booking schedule here: SCHEDULE CALENDAR
Please note that due to limited spaces and equipment, you MUST book in advance.
We are usually unable to admit walk-ins on an evening unless cleared with our booking officer. Please get in touch and we will reserve a space and equipment for you!
The nearest train station is Oxford Road. There are also regular buses. There are convenience stores & shops on the way. Our hall is the Theatre at the back of the church, through a private drive yard. You will see the hall through the glass front. There is parking available on the premises and the roadside.
Facilities
There are regular and special-access toilets. There are no changing rooms, although the access toilets are spacious and can be used as such. There is also an unused staff bathroom at the back of the hall if more privacy is desired. We will endeavour to provide bottled drinking water and/or disposable cups for sessions, though this is very wasteful. Please try and bring your own drinks and snacks or cups.
What to bring?
You only need to bring yourself initially. We have a small selection of safe training weapons to share. This being a physical activity we recommend comfortable clothes that do not restrict movement. There is no dress code, except that participants should launder their training clothes and not arrive in muddy boots.
Minimum age
We are currently unable to admit anyone under the age of 18 or adults classified as being at-risk. If you are lucky enough to look young enough to pass as such, please can you bring some form of ID.
Fees and Membership
Classes are very affordable. It’s £10 per session and there are beginner discounts and advance booking discounts available on the main page. However, we are also offering concession pricing for members on income support or everyone who’s going through a tough spot. Please reach out in confidence.
Student Insurance currently runs at £4 / year, which includes membership with our umbrella organisation the British Martial Arts and Boxing association.
We are in the process of setting up payment options. Please enquire via email. We are a non-for-profit organisation. Any surplus monies are invested back into the club to purchase more training and safety gear for us to use!
1st taster session is free!
Training & Culture
A bit about what to expect from a typical session:
Last updated: 01/11/2022
- We usually begin with a light and easy warm-up which may involve various mobility exercises, training with light to moderate weights according to ability and some group games. Some of these games may involve gentle contact exercises.
- These are voluntary and the intensity is geared towards individual ability (i.e. as energetic or gentle as desired).
- Afterwards we equip everyone with a training sword simulator and engage in movement drills where partners take turns practicing various sword techniques. The simulators may be padded, synthetic or steel depending on the exercise. The drills are initially clearly scripted and mostly non-contact/cooperative at the beginning. The techniques which the drills are meant to teach follow a number of historical manuals on sword exercise and fencing.
- Students track their progress in our club curriculum and learning tracker. Lessons may cover a number of techniques and concepts, and there is a lot of overlap. If students miss sessions, they can catch up in later lessons covering the same or similar concepts. In this manner, everyone can progress at their own pace.
- Lessons may include combat games and very light touch-sparring with safety gear.
- We encourage people to acquire their own swords & safety gear if they enjoy the activity (such as fencing masks and safety gloves), at which point trainees may engage in free fencing and sparring with other members and and on open sparring days.
- We are not a purely Sparring Club as such, although we support intense sparring and Tournament attendance for those who wish to pursue it. We will help refer to suitable groups and set up sparring meets where there is a desire to increase the intensity of training.
- There is no contract and commitment. People may come and train as they like, however after the 1st month we must insist that students take out membership and student insurance with our umbrella organisation, the BMABA (see above).
COde of COnduct
We expect all members and visitors to follow this at all times.
Last updated: 01/11/2022
- Behave Excellently – our aim is to further the health and happiness of our members through the instruction in historical Sword Arts. We seek to create an inclusive community that upholds the dignity of the individual by offering opportunities for self-empowerment, personal development, and growth.
- Discriminatory behaviour and harassment is prohibited. This includes — but is not limited to — discrimination based on race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic or religious background, and ability.
- When referring to another participant, use their correct personal pronouns (e.g. she/he/they). If you are not sure what pronouns someone uses, ask them. Deliberately using incorrect pronouns for another person is considered harassment and may result in loss of training privileges.
- You may not participate in training or sparring while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Uphold high standards of personal hygiene and ensure your training gear is laundered or cleaned regularly.
- Treat others with respect and patience. We all have different levels of experience, different backgrounds, and different learning and communication needs, and these may not meld with your approach to training.
- All activities are opt-in. You can choose when, and to what extent, you participate in a class or activity. Shaming anyone for not participating or for asking for accommodation is considered harassment and may lead to loss of training privileges.
- You are welcome to ask questions and give each other feedback (especially to help your partner calibrate their resistance level correctly); however, only our coaches may provide instruction. Limit peer coaching to activities where it is explicitly requested.
- You are responsible for your safety and are the best authority on your own physical and psychological limits. You are encouraged to tell your coach(es) and/or training partner(s) about any injuries, disabilities, or other risk factors that may affect your training. If an activity you are participating in feels unsafe or like it’s harming you, you may stop at any time. Your coach will seek to provide a suitable alternative activity.
- You are expected to engage with others in good faith and to care for your training partners’ safety in addition to your own. If you behave in a manner that endangers or harms others, you will be asked to stop, and may be subject to disciplinary action. Please refer to our disciplinary policy.
- Calibrate your level of resistance, force, and aggression to an appropriate level for your training partner and the current activity. If in doubt, ask your partner or instructor what they expect.
- Prior to sparring with a new weapon, you must receive a safety orientation and be cleared to fight by a coach.
- You must follow any club policies, safety rules, and must follow all safety directions from coaches.
MANCHESTER SCHOOL OF ARMS
HISTORICAL SWORD ARTS
We use SQUARESPACE for all our class scheduling.
We recommend registering for an account for ease of use and admin – this will enable you to edit your data and reschedule classes.
Please click the booking button and schedule a registration date.
Our coaches will process your application on this date and respond to you with a booking link for our member sessions.
Please allow approximately a week for your registration to be completed – we are a volunteer run club and have friends and families. =)