Often overlooked and at times contrary to popular opinion, the study of HEMA, WMA or participating in tournaments, competitive or otherwise, is a celebration of historic violence; mutilation, maiming, dismembering, wounding and killing. It was not a sport as we know sports back then, it was the art of war, defense by killing or incapacitating your opponent with lethal force. To ignore or overlook this fact waters down not only our own empathy but fails to honour those who died in battle to bring to us, a largely peaceful society, "toys" and "games" and an art that is a pastime, not a necessity. We should always be mindful that what we do is an art of killing with weapons designed to kill efficiently. If we forget this we will never fully respect the weapons, art or each other's well being. #history #martialarts #hema #wma #kenjitsu