Espada Negra - HEMA Study Group

17/06/2026

Who would've thought that Sieur de La Touche was actually a sabreur... and a lefty. If you're missing these references you should take a look at Rui's instagram to know more about Leon.
He went through the whole event collecting lefties and apparently one of Rui's buttons too!
Terrific fencer who kept Rui on his toes from start to finish.
Next time it'll have to be with smallsword!
P.S.: If you look closely you'll see Rui wearing the Fenice gloves which he'll be reviewing in the channel after some thorough testing.

Who would've thought that Sieur de La Touche was actually a sabreur...

16/06/2026

First and foremost apologies for the initial caption, since we used the previous video as template we completely botched the name.
This time rapier took the stage at Dijon, and right before Jordan's workshop which you can see later in the video looming. It was also the first bout after Rui's Senese workshop where he really needed to unwind after all the pressure was off.
It's also the first time we actually get to see Rui throw someone, in rapier no less. But that doesn't take away anything from Christian's fencing especially with all those nasty hits straight to Rui's face.
Hope you'll enjoy this one and we'll see you on the next!

First and foremost apologies for the initial caption, since we used...

15/06/2026

This past sunday Espada Negra was present at the 4th edition of Espatários - Esgrima com História, organised by our good friends over at Esgrima Sadina and by Museu Municipal de Palmela as well as Palmela Município.
We'd like to thank the organisation for once again providing us with such an excellent gathering putting together clubs from all across the country in a sparring only event.
We'll be leaving some photos of our presence at the event, but not without thanking Esgrima Sadina once more because we know how much effort goes into organising this, and for mobilising so many clubs under a single event. It's always a pleasure to be a part of it, to allow more members to enjoy others fencing with a good spirit of camaraderie and above all friendship. May it continue for many more years to come.

15/06/2026

11/06/2026

We still have so much yet to share from Dijon that we'll have content for the next set of weeks while Rui prepares something special behind the scenes.
Here we had the magpie, Marine from C'Chartres Médiévale taking up the sabre against Rui.
Marine is quite a fun fencer with a reach that often caught Rui by surprise, as well as some very solid and fast hand/arm snipes that really took him off his game.
More to come soon, stay tuned for more!

We still have so much yet to share from Dijon that we'll have conte...

07/06/2026

Sunday classes are getting pretty crowded. Half way through rapier block with going over thrusting against cutting from Capo Ferro and some variations.

05/06/2026

And the last video from Rick Brandes and Fran Lacuata from The School of the Sword visit to Porto, finally after years of friendship Rick and Rui took it to the spadroon.
Both used very different swords with a different set of advantages each despite both being categorised as spadroons, that being light cut and thrust swords of the napoelonic period and earlier.
Some fast exchanges and some thigh hits for good measure, a great way to end the weekend with such a great bout between these two fencers.

And the last video from Rick and Fran's visit to Porto, finally aft...

04/06/2026

Rui will be writing this one:
Michael Silva and I met some 12 years ago when we first started HEMA, that original footage was some clandestine stuff from way back when. Michael was also one of the founding members of Espada Negra and while our lives may have lead us through different paths (Michael is now an instructor at HADU - Historicae Artes Dimicationis Ustrachenses) , we still reminisce about those days and we still shared wonderful experiences throughout all these years of friendship.
11 years later we finally met yet again with sabre in hand, this time steel, and it was impressive to see how much we've both grown since.
Hope you'll enjoy this one, and see you next time for more Dijon footage.

Rui will be writing this one: Michael and I met some 12 years ago ...

03/06/2026

Last Sunday we had the opportunity of taking our class outdoors at the invitation of Município do Seixal for Agita Seixal 2026 while also being able to represent what has been our home for the past 6 years Sociedade Filarmónica União Seixalense, "Os Prussianos".
Gratitude for allowing us this space to promote and showcase a little of what we love doing the most.