Historical European Martial Arts
Longsword, sword and buckler, messer and wrestling, studied from period fight books and tested in free play.
Клуб H.E.M.A. фехтування та історичної реконструкції
HEMA fencing and historical reconstruction club · Kyiv, Ukraine · Ireland
Longsword, spear and dusack in the training hall; armour, camps and festivals in the field. The medieval Ruthenian world, studied from the sources and tested in practice.
Chapter I — Discover
From the past, through research and reconstruction, to experience
We are not a fantasy troupe and not a costume company. Atira Ruthenia stands at the intersection of history, research, martial culture, craftsmanship and community. Everything we present in public begins in written sources, archaeological reports and museum collections — and only then becomes an object, a technique or a camp.
Our historical framework runs from the 10th to the 15th century, with the closest attention on the High and Late Middle Ages of Rus' and Ruthenia, the Ruthenian principalities and the neighbouring worlds of Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Bohemia, the Baltic and the Holy Roman Empire.
ResearchReconstructionHEMALiving HistoryEducation
Arms & Armour
Reconstruction of mail, plate, helmets and shields from archaeological finds and manuscript evidence.
Historical Crafts
Metalwork, leatherwork, woodworking and textiles — the skills that produced the objects we study.
Research
Work with primary sources, archaeology and museum collections, published back to the community.
Living History
Camps, cooking, everyday material culture and experimental archaeology in the field.
Education
Lectures, school and museum programmes, workshops and demonstrations for the public.
Chapter II — Practice
Study the sources.
Learn the technique.
Test it in practice.
Historical European Martial Arts is the reconstruction of real fighting systems from the manuscripts that recorded them. We train longsword, sword and buckler, messer, dagger and grappling — as a martial art, a research discipline and a physical practice, not as a combat sport.
- Structured beginner courses, several times a year
- Source study sessions alongside floor training
- Loan equipment for newcomers, in Ukraine and Ireland
Chapter III — Reconstruct
Understanding history through the objects, skills and lives of the people who created it
Reconstruction is not costume play. Every garment, buckle, seam and rivet is argued from evidence: a find, a depiction, an inventory, a comparable object in a collection. Where the evidence runs out, we say so — and experiment carefully.
Clothing & textiles
Armour & weapons
Footwear & leather
Tents & camp kit
Metalwork
Woodworking
Chapter IV — Experience
Festivals, camps, demonstrations and workshops
The public side of our work: historical festivals, museum and heritage-site programmes, school visits, lectures and open training. Come and watch, or come and take part.
04Sep 2026
HEMA
Open Longsword Training
Dublin, Ireland
12Sep 2026
FESTIVAL
Tustan Rock Fortress — Historical Festival
Urych, Lviv Oblast
26Sep 2026
WORKSHOP
Workshop: Riveted Mail from the Ground Up
Lviv, Ukraine
Watch
Films from the hall, the camp and the festival
Chapter V — Community
Two branches, one community
Branch I
Ukraine
Our historical home. Reconstruction, HEMA, archaeology and material culture rooted in the Ruthenian landscape — fortresses, museums, festivals and workshops, with a community of craftspeople and researchers behind it.
Branch II
Ireland
Ruthenian and European medieval culture in an Irish setting: training halls, castle and heritage-site events, festivals and public programmes — the same standards of research, a new audience.
Ancient roots. Living history. Modern community.