Hello! I'm Alexander Fürgut, a HEMA instructor, author, and community organizer based in Ulm, Germany. I've been practicing German Longsword since 2011, and began training in Italian Rapier in 2020. I specialize in historical fencing within the Liechtenauer tradition and have been teaching HEMA since 2012.
I’m the co-founder and head instructor of Schwabenfedern Ulm, a HEMA club I helped start in 2011. When our first instructor left a year later, I took over both teaching and club leadership, learning the hard way that teaching martial arts and running a club are very different skills. Since then, I’ve been working to improve as an instructor, trainer, and organizer, drawing from modern pedagogy, martial arts methodology, and ongoing community exchange.
I'm also the author of the book The Schielhau in Detail, which explores the structure, function, and application of one of German longsword fencing’s most misunderstood cuts. In addition to writing and teaching, I host the German HEMA podcast Schwertgeflüster and run the event platform HEMA.Events for HEMA events in the German-speaking world.
My teaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that good instruction grows from clarity, awareness, and continuous feedback. I believe that instructors can only correct patterns they recognize and that reading, research, and reflection expand what we’re able to see. I continue to study the craft of instruction with the goal of helping HEMA grow in both quality and accessibility.
Available for Collaboration
I’m open to invitations for:
- Podcasts or YouTube shows (German or English)
- HEMA seminars and workshops (Europe-wide)
- Expertengespräche, Panels oder Beiträge zu Kampfkultur oder historischem Schwertkampf
📧 Contact me at: alexander@hemaguide.com
Media Appearances
Here are some recent interviews and features where I talk about HEMA, historical fencing, and martial arts teaching:
- 🎥 YouTube Talk: Federico Malagutti Interview (2025) – Deep dive into HEMA development, teaching, and rapier fencing
- 🎥 TV Interview: Alexander Fürgut on Kaffee oder Tee (SWR, 2023) – German TV interview on historical fencing and its modern community
- 🎙️ Radio Interview: Radio Free FM – Schwertkampf und Podcast (2022) – Background on my work as a trainer, author, and podcaster
About HEMA Guide
HEMA Guide is my personal project — a resource for instructors and students who want to improve their training, teaching, and understanding of Historical European Martial Arts. It’s where I share insights, book recommendations, and reflections based on my own journey as a practitioner and teacher.
I participate in the Amazon Affiliate program, which allows me to display book covers and occasionally earn small referral fees. These links don’t cost you anything, but they help me keep the site online. (So far, it hasn’t even covered hosting.)
Thanks for visiting and thank you for helping grow better HEMA.
English 
German