Fight like the knights once did: German sword fighting master trains in Puchheim

Created: 12/22/2022, 07:00

By: Dieter Metzler

Teacher and student: Philipp Lechner (right) has been practicing medieval sword fighting for around five years.

Under the guidance of Alexander Hollinger (left), he matured into the current German champion with the long sword.

© Dieter Metzler

In Alexander Hollinger's sword fighting school in Puchheim, the German master trains with the long sword Philipp Lechner.

A visit to training.

Puchheim - The swords of the two duelists - both dressed in a mixture of medieval doublet and fencing outfit - clash against each other.

What looks like a battlefield scene from a bygone era is actually just a training session at the Puchheim sword fighting school.

Alexander Hollinger, headmaster and trainer, practices together with his best student – ​​and recently also German champion – Philipp Lechner.

Fencing with the longsword (HEMA, see box) is becoming increasingly popular, says Hollinger.

He must know.

The computer scientist and software developer has been working on the subject for more than 20 years now.

In 2010 he ventured into self-employment and has been working full-time as a swordsman teacher ever since.

And he's not the only one who's been fascinated by medieval swordplay.

"The exact number is not known," says Hollinger.

"But there are probably around 30,000 in Germany who have dedicated themselves to sword fighting."

The techniques are reconstructed using medieval writings

The fact that there aren't more is actually surprising, says the headmaster.

The roots of the knightly struggle lie in Augsburg, Munich and Nuremberg.

Hollinger suspects that these were strongholds of this martial art because fencing manuscripts from that time have survived in the libraries there.

Based on these ancient writings, the old "art of fencing" with the long sword is reconstructed and interpreted today.

"Most fencing publications refer to the German fencing master Johannes Liechtenauer from the 14th century," explains Hollinger.

“The fechtschrift is didactically astonishingly well structured.

With every reading, new inspirations and insights for and about sword fighting arise.”

Training takes place in Hollinger's sword fighting school in Puchheim.

In addition to Puchheim, he also runs schools in Starnberg, Erding, Munich, Einsassen/Gerolsbach, Augsburg and Pleinfeld.

© Dieter Metzler

German champion Philipp Lechner started with HEMA five years ago

In a varied training, these sword techniques are practiced in partner exercises so safely that they can then be used in free combat in a controlled manner.

"In addition to physical fitness, the mental aspects are particularly important in sword fighting, so that really good fencing is only possible in a state of inner calm and absolute presence," explains Hollinger.

This would automatically be transferred to everyday life, so that daily stressful situations can be mastered better.

The newly crowned German champion Philipp Lechner can also confirm this.

He only discovered sword fighting for himself five years ago and is enthusiastic about it.

"I used to do fitness and strength training and then I thought about what kind of martial arts there were." In his search, he came across the art of the sword.

"I wanted to try it out, to see whether it was logical or just a show fight," he says.

"After a trial session, I was so enthusiastic that I stayed with it."

And with success.

The 29-year-old was described as a new star in the HEMA sky when he took first place in the official ranking list of the German umbrella association for historical fencing (DDHF) - at the same time the title of German champion in the long sword.

German umbrella organization for historical fencing dreams of Olympic status

In general, according to the DDHF trade journal, the European School of Swordsmanship from Hollinger and its members have been heating up the tournament scene with good fights and loud support since this year.

"Our success came as a surprise to the rest of the scene," says Hollinger.

"For us it is the first official participation in the tournament season."

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The DDHF is also still a young sports association, which was founded in Melsungen in 2014 and is based in Kassel.

The association currently comprises 72 member groups with around 2500 fencers.

The DDHF was founded with the aim of maintaining, promoting and spreading the historical European martial arts.

Hollinger's school for European swordsmanship with locations in Puchheim, Starnberg, Erding, Munich, Einsassen/Gerolsbach, Augsburg and Pleinfeld also belong to the association.

And according to Hollinger, the DDHF is also aiming for membership in the German Sports Association (DSB).

"Of course we hope that our sport will one day become an Olympic sport." (Dieter Metzler)