Stork's Beak: School of Historical Swordplay
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The School is based on teaching, practice and research going back 25 years. We offer Historical Fencing & HEMA instruction in a fun and inclusive environment.
Learn more about historical fencing & HEMA
Stork's Beak
When you join Stork’s Beak, you step into the world of Europe’s rich martial heritage. You’ll learn to handle historical weapons—longsword, sidesword, rapier, and more—using techniques taken directly from medieval and Renaissance fighting manuals.
Training with us is more than just swordplay. You’ll explore the history and philosophy behind these arts while developing practical skills in footwork, timing, and close-combat techniques such as grappling and disarms.
Our classes are friendly, inclusive, and open to all ages and experience levels. No previous martial arts or fitness background is required—you can progress at your own pace, improving your fitness, coordination, and confidence while learning something unique and exciting.
Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of the rapier, the power of the longsword, or simply the thrill of trying something new, Stork’s Beak offers a welcoming environment to experience Europe’s martial past in a fun and engaging way.
The Art of Fencing:
The term martial arts is often incorrectly assumed to refer exclusively to Asian combat traditions. However, Europe possesses a long and sophisticated martial heritage, preserved in a corpus of medieval and Renaissance fighting treatises. These sources attest to a highly developed system of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), encompassing the use of swords, rapiers, daggers, shields, poleaxes, sickles, and numerous other weapons.
Contrary to the crude depictions perpetuated by popular culture, historical European combat was neither chaotic nor purely reliant on brute strength. These martial systems employed refined principles of footwork, timing, distance, and bladework, integrated with grappling, throws, joint manipulation, and disarms. Such methods formed a comprehensive and systematic approach to personal combat.
Distinct from both modern Olympic fencing and the various Asian martial traditions, HEMA represents a unique martial culture, grounded in historical sources and reconstructed through rigorous scholarship and practical interpretation.
About us
At Stork’s Beak, we explore the Art of Fencing in both its physical practice and its historical context. Our training is grounded in the study of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), drawing directly from period treatises. We actively develop and test interpretations, translate historical manuscripts, and encourage our students to contribute to ongoing research projects—helping to expand the understanding of European martial traditions within the wider HEMA community.
We are proud to be part of a growing international network of researchers and practitioners dedicated to historically informed martial arts. Members of Stork’s Beak regularly collaborate with other schools, attend seminars, and share findings that advance both scholarship and practical application.
Our community is open to all ages, genders, and levels of experience. No prior martial arts background or high level of fitness is required—if you wish to improve your fitness, this is an enjoyable and intellectually engaging way to do so. Whether you are interested in martial skill, historical research, or simply trying something new, Stork’s Beak offers a welcoming environment to explore the rich martial heritage of Europe.
How to find us
The School meets at 7-9 pm every Monday & Thursday at St Catherine's, Grange Road, Edinburgh.
2:30-4:00 pm on Sundays: Rapier introductory course & freeplay session, at the Southside Centre on Nicolson Street.
Our approach to swordplay
Our classes are designed to be fun, welcoming, and supportive. You’ll learn step by step, at your own pace, how to use historical weapons like the longsword, sidesword, smallsword, rapier, and sabre. Along the way, you’ll improve your coordination, fitness, and confidence—without even noticing how hard you’re working because you’ll be too busy having fun.
Most importantly, you’ll be learning a genuine historical martial art, based on the same techniques taught by 16th-century masters like Joachim Meyer and Achille Marozzo. Whether you’re interested in the history, the martial challenge, or just the thrill of trying something new, you’ll find a friendly group of people ready to help you get started.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to give this a try, but I’m not sure I’m fit enough or skilled enough,” don’t worry—we all start as beginners, and you might be surprised how quickly you pick things up. All you need is curiosity, comfortable clothes, and a willingness to learn.
