Since 2009 I have been working on interpreting the polearms section of Joachim Meÿer’s treatise of 1570 entitled “Gründtliche Beschreibung der Adeligen und Ritterlichen Kunst des Fechtens“. This research has evolved into a regular course in Meÿer quarterstaff at Gothenburg Historical Fencing School with me as instructor and parts of the results have been/will be shared at HEMA events around the world.

Part of the research was mirrored against participation in a project by Jogo do Pau master Luis Preto where he aimed to teach through an online site and I found the concept interesting. Furthermore, my research already involves collaborating with the Meyer Frei Fechter Guild and other researchers on Joachim Meÿer’s teachings and I had the idea that this might be possible to combine; to teach and learn from each other.
SO, what I propose is that we initiate a cooperative project/course, where we collectively explore the quarterstaff/halberd teachings of Joachim Meÿer. I can provide a framework with project pages for each group. I will also provide a basic course, and I have interpretations for all of the stuck in the aforementioned treatise. I can also share exercises that we commonly use and I am available for discussion.

People have already expressed an interest in this idea, so I will start working on creating a framework for the whole project. If you are interested in joining in with a “satellite group” then please contact me at [email protected] People who already have expressed an interest are, amongst others: Mike Cartier, Kevin Maurer, Danny J. Hoskins, Bruno Cerkvenik, Roberto Martinez Loyo, Paul Tosetti and Wayne Heinz.

Let’s have some fun, all!
Roger

Meyer’s Four Types of Fencers: How we conceive of them and ourselves

Posted on Oct 28th, 2019 - By James Reilly - 1 Comment

And the first are those who, as soon as they can reach the opponent in the Onset, at once cut and thrust in with violence. The second are somewhat…

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A Wonderful Struggle: The 16th Century Art of Civic Combat, Part 1

Posted on Oct 19th, 2019 - By Adam Franti - 0 Comments

There is a particular tension at play in the modern Historical European Martial Arts community regarding the the early and later period expressions…

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On The Five Words and Withdrawal

Posted on Aug 12th, 2018 - By James Reilly - 0 Comments

Mark, this is that before all things you shall rightly undertake and understand these two things, which are the Before and the After, and thereafter…

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Basic Meyer Quarterstaff Techniques 02: Schnappen & Zucken

Posted on Jun 19th, 2016 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

This video was recorded by the MFFG at the 4th Meyer Symposium in Iowa, USA, 2016 and is yet another small sidetrack from the series.  It shows…

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Basic Meyer Quarterstaff Techniques 01: Ruck & Truck

Posted on Jun 19th, 2016 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

This video was recorded by the MFFG at the 4th Meyer Symposium in Iowa, USA, 2016. It is a small sidetrack from the series and shows two basic…

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Basic Meyer Quarterstaff 02: Long & short edge

Posted on Mar 19th, 2016 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

This second video in the Basic Meyer Quarterstaff series brings up a few topics: First of all the stance and angles of the legs, which has been…

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Basic Meyer Quarterstaff series

Posted on Mar 12th, 2016 - By Roger Norling - 1 Comment

For the last seven years I have dedicated myself to the study of Joachim Meyer's combat arts, and his quarterstaff in particular. In this I have had…

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Meyer Pilgrimage Part 2 – Basel

Posted on Aug 5th, 2015 - By Roger Norling - 2 Comments

Almost exactly a year ago I was lucky enough to be taken on a small journey that has been a long time dream of mine; walking in the footsteps of 16th…

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The Ringen of Joachim Meyer

Posted on Jun 26th, 2015 - By Keith Cotter-Reilly - 3 Comments

This article shall group Joachim Meyer's Ringen into collections of similar throws. Hopefully this will better aid the modern student in learning…

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A key to Meyer’s mechanics & footwork – part 1

Posted on May 12th, 2015 - By Roger Norling - 1 Comment

Here is a rough diagram that tries to explain the core mechanics that go through all of Meyers fencing and which are the foundation for the…

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Introduction to Joachim Meyer’s quarterstaff

Posted on Dec 12th, 2014 - By Roger Norling - 1 Comment

Long overdue I've finally posted my booklet on the Meyer quarterstaff, a weapon also used to train spear and halberd. It is tied to the workshops I…

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The Onion – Basics of European Longsword: Part 9

Posted on Oct 21st, 2014 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

This time I will speak rather briefly about stances and the ideas behind them. This does not just apply to the longsword, but is applicable to…

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Meyer Pilgrimage Part 1 – Straßburg

Posted on Aug 1st, 2014 - By Roger Norling - 1 Comment

We all share the same love for our personal and shared discoveries of a forgotten European martial arts tradition and studying it we all learn to…

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The Onion – Basics of European Longsword: Part 8

Posted on Jul 18th, 2014 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

Although not originally planned to be included in this series, I decided to add an article on a topic that deserves special treatment, since to…

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Meyer quarterstaff workshop in Florence, Italy

Posted on May 6th, 2014 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1Envup5Ah8 Here's the workshop on Joachim Meyer's quarterstaff held by me and my fellow GHFS member Mattias Moberg…

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Free Fencing exercises

Posted on Apr 1st, 2014 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

In our Meyer staff class we have been forced to develop methods that meet the simple fact that in staff fencing you are actually training with the…

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The Onion – Basics of European Longsword: Part 7

Posted on Feb 15th, 2014 - By Roger Norling - 1 Comment

This week we will be taking advantage of one of the greatest benefits from reading somewhat later masters, like Joachim Meyer and George…

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The Onion – Basics of European Longsword: Part 6

Posted on Dec 6th, 2013 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

Throughout history going all the way back from at least medieval times up until modern military bayonet training a diagram typically depicting four…

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The Onion – Basics of European Longsword: Part 5

Posted on Nov 15th, 2013 - By Roger Norling - 2 Comments

This week's article will be talking about the topic of various ways of counterstriking against an attack. Different masters and traditions handle…

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The Onion – Basics of European Longsword: Part 4

Posted on Nov 8th, 2013 - By Roger Norling - 1 Comment

This time we will start moving into somewhat more unexplored and unmapped territory, working with various clues gathered from different places, to…

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The Onion – Basics of European Longsword: Part 3

Posted on Oct 25th, 2013 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

Time for part 3 in the Onion Article Series, this time taking a closer look at the parts of the weapon and how it relates to handling of distance and…

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The Onion – Basics of European Longsword: Part 2

Posted on Oct 18th, 2013 - By Roger Norling - 7 Comments

Continuing with part 2 in the Onion series of articles we will now focus on the topic of controlling the fight, or lack thereof and regaining it. In…

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The Onion: Basics of European Longsword: Part 1

Posted on Oct 10th, 2013 - By Roger Norling - 2 Comments

For the last year or so I have been working on a group of primarily longsword exercises based on studying fechtmeister Joachim Meyer's…

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Meyer’s masters

Posted on Feb 23rd, 2013 - By Roger Norling - 13 Comments

On this day, 443 years ago, Fechtmeister Joachim Meyer published his magnificent fencing treatise 'Gründliche Beschreibung der Freyen Ritterlichen…

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Doing what we are told or what we are taught?

Posted on May 2nd, 2012 - By Roger Norling - 10 Comments

Here's an old but still always relevant question for us HEMA practitioners to ask ourselves: When we read the old fencing treatises, should we only…

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The history of Joachim Meyer’s fencing treatise to Otto von Solms.

Posted on Mar 21st, 2012 - By Roger Norling - 2 Comments

The Joachim Meyer fechtbuch named MS A.4°.2, a beautiful hand-written and watercolour-illustrated fencing treatise dedicated to Herrn Otto von…

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The tools for the job

Posted on Feb 26th, 2012 - By Roger Norling - 3 Comments

To understand the body mechanics involved in a technique we not only have to train our bodies so we are strong and agile enough, we also need to use…

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Joachim Meÿer Halben Stangen techniques

Posted on Feb 20th, 2012 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

The Guards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2cG-U1mLfI Here are the main guards of Joachim Meÿer's Halben Stangen: 1. Oberhut (left) 2. Gerader…

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Strengthening exercises

Posted on Feb 5th, 2012 - By Roger Norling - 6 Comments

Here are some very crude video clips we shot today of the strengthening exercises we have begun working with in the Meÿer Halben Stangen class at…

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Meyer quarterstaff – A lesson plan

Posted on Jan 21st, 2012 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

I thought it might interest some to see how a typical lesson plan for our Meÿer staff class in GHFS looks like. This is of course too…

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Spinning around Hollywood Style?

Posted on Feb 1st, 2011 - By Roger Norling - 0 Comments

Never ever turn your back against your opponent sounds like a good, solid advice, but is it always so? What do you do for instance, when you face…

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