What is the Iron Door Collective

The Iron Door Collective is a group of Historical European Martial Artists concentrating on long sword fighting and other hand-to-hand techniques of Europe during the medieval and early renaissance periods. Founded in Exeter in 2008, the group is dedicated to reconstructing, experimenting and training in Historical European Martial Arts.

We are participants in a growing international HEMA community, interpreting a variety of surviving historical manuals and intensively practicing the techniques we uncover. The sources we work with are transcriptions and facsimiles of manuscripts from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.

Our main focus is unarmoured longsword fighting according to both the German and Italian traditions. Although we work with material from fencing masters such as Liechtenauer and Dei Liberi, we maintain an eclectic, experimental attitude. We also work with other weapons and draw from other sources as our interests dictate or when they are relevant to our core training. We also attempt to learn from other periods and practice their styles. The forms that we also study include unarmed grappling, pole-arms (spear, poleaxe), sword & shield, and sword & buckler.

Amongst our members we have men and women with backgrounds in sport fencing, jiu jitsu, karate, SCA, escrima and reenactment fighting, but the majority have no martial arts experience at all before they come to train with us. Complete beginners are very welcome to join us at our weekly training sessions in Exeter. We are a friendly, sociable club and frequently retire to the pub after training, which of course is not obligatory, but all are welcome.

What’s going on at the IDC?

Fight Camp 2012 17-19 August. Fight Camp rocked again this year!

Swords & Cyder was another success this year. Thanks to Beech Hill for hosting and to all of those who attended

Class info: We train on Monday evenings. We have just moved back into our winter training location, check the training page for details.