What we do
Tampere School of Arms is a historical fencing club founded in 2020, where historical European combat (HEMA) is practiced according to the Bolognese tradition of the 16th century. The Bolognese fencing tradition includes several weapons and weapon combinations, which are practiced regularly in the club’s weekly classes. The current selection of teaching includes e.g. two-handed sword, partisan, one-handed sword and combinations of one-handed sword and shield, dagger or second sword.
PANÒPLIA NORDICA 26.-28.6.2026 in TAMPERE - REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Historical fencing online study group
One-handed sword seminar: Manciolino's core method of fencing on Sunday 29.3.2026, Tampere
Historiallinen miekkailu lapsille Tampereella
Historiallisen miekkailun peruskurssi Tampereella // Historical Fencing beginner course in Tampere
Patreon: Premium Student tier 50% off
The new book is out!
I am very happy to finally announce the publication of my first book, The Foundations of Bolognese Fencing, Volume I: A Practical Framework for Training and Teaching.
The book will be free for all members of the Patreon Instructor & Study Group tier.
This book is the result of many years of studying, practising, and teaching Bolognese fencing. During that time, one of the recurring challenges has been finding a practical way to organise the enormous amount of material preserved in the historical sources into a coherent method of training.
This volume is my attempt to provide such a framework.
Rather than presenting a collection of individual techniques, the book approaches Bolognese fencing as a complete martial system. It begins with the fundamental elements of sword use, guards, footwork, and movement, and progressively develops these through measure, tempo, tactical relationships, partner exercises, and ultimately the first steps to freeplay.
The aim is to provide both students and instructors with a practical structure through which the historical material can be studied, trained, tested, and gradually developed into functional fencing.
The book also includes accompanying video material, accessible through QR codes throughout the volume.
Weekly Program
The weekly program for adults includes four normal training sessions and two small group training sessions. The club’s weekly training sessions include two-handed sword, one-handed sword, and combination of one-handed sword and dagger; the weekly small group sessions include combinations of one-handed sword and rotella and fencing with two swords.
In the children’s classes, fencing with a two-handed sword is practiced once a week. Training takes place with soft swords intended for children’s training.
Events
Tampere School of Arms regularly participates in various events in Finland, such as various medieval or other historical events, martial arts events, park events, festivals and children’s events. At events, the school presents the historical martial arts in the form of demonstrations, exhibits and lectures.
Seminars
The Tampere School of Arms regularly organizes seminars on various aspects of the Bolognese tradition of combat. The seminars typically deal with either different aspects of fighting, such as bodywork, footwork and free fencing, or the use of different weapons or combinations of weapons in accordance with the teachings of the Bolognese martial arts tradition.
Newsletter
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Esko Ronimus
Esko Ronimus is a professional martial arts instructor, teaching traditional Chinese martial arts and historical European martial arts as a full-time job. He has a background of over 25 years in Chinese martial arts and six years in historical fencing.
