Beginner Courses

What is HEMA

Since the middle ages fencing masters created complex systems of fighting that were practiced by knights, mercenaries and merchant patricians looking to defend themselves. All that is left of these rich fighting traditions are the books these fencing masters wrote.

The Historical European Martial Arts community translates manuscripts written by historical masters. Researchers interpret these texts into physical movements, fighters train the interpretations and then gather at international competitions to test these interpretations against other fighters.

HEMA, Where Academics meets full contact fighting.

Who are the Goats

Goats Head Historical Fencing was founded in 2013, training in a church overlooking Passage East under the watchful eye of the mountain goats that live on the rocky slope.

Today Goats Head is Irelands foremost historical fencing club, with it’s fencers medalling in international competitions around the globe and performing as stuntmen and women. In 2019 it was the only club in the world with 2 representatives in the top 8 at the European games. It also leads the way in research with more than a dozen peer reviewed journal articles by it’s members.

Goats Head is a place where you can BAAAAA the best you can BAAAAA!

What you will Learn

Our beginner course will help you with whatever system you wish to study. The course is focused on teaching you, fitness, basic parries, attacks and counter attacks. The goal is to get you using these competently in sparring. Practice will include technical solo exercises as well as sparring and introductions to specific fencing masters.