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About Us
The Vanguard Centre is the UK’s first (and for the longest time, only) full-time venue for both HEMA and archery. Established in 2015, we have now been open and running for more than 10 years.
We specialise in instruction and coaching of historical European swordfighting from the medieval, renaissance, and revolution eras of history, and indoor target archery. We have a fully equipped hall with all the bows, arrows, swords, safety gear, targets, pads, and other training accessories you could ask for.
Our instructing team and staff have years of experience and international recognition in their fields, and are dedicated to providing the best education and enjoyment of martial arts and shooting that we can.
About archery
Our indoor archery range is a fully equipped space for the instruction, practice, perfection, and enjoyment of traditional shooting. We have a variety of opportunities for getting involved with archery, be it a casual drop-in, regular sport coaching, one-on-one tuition, or a bespoke group party.
We can provide all the equipment necessary with a variety of recurve bows for archers of all different shapes, sizes, or strengths, and a selection of different targets and games to enhance your practice at different distances.
We also run an informal daily league to see how our archers are getting on and improving personally and socially, as well as seasonal formal tournaments to sort the best from the rest.
Check out our events calendar for more competition information! Archery sessions are run regularly at different times, every day of the week.
Book in here for archery session.
About HEMA
Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is the study and practice of the authentic fighting systems of Europe, using the books and manuscripts of the fencing masters of previous centuries, along with other historical resources that have survived the centuries.
Not Olympic Fencing, not re-enactment, not stage fighting, not MMA, but something adjacent to and in between all of those; The Real Fighting Stuff, as it has been described.
Be it the secret arts of the two hand longsword from the knightly orders of medieval chivalry, to the parade ground drill of soldiers fighting in the Napoleonic wars, if it can be researched, studied, and put to the test in the field of training, we can teach it!
In our HEMA classes, all equipment, instruction, coaching, and supervision is provided to get started, get competent, and get combative with nearly 1000 years of life-or-death fighting arts from European history.