Learn how to improve your HEMA footwork. In this quick and practical guide, we’ll cover the essential movement principles for historical European martial arts. Whether you're a beginner or experienced fencer, mastering your stance and movement can drastically improve your performance in sparring and tournaments. What you’ll learn in this video: - The most efficient stance for HEMA (vs. traditional & Olympic styles) - How to step forward, backward, and sideways with control - When to use passing steps, lunges, and the flash - How to retreat fast while keeping your structure - Why proper footwork wins fights – and what most fighters get wrong This video is based on real tournament experience and training observations. If you’ve ever felt slow, off-balance, or constantly getting tagged, your footwork might be the reason why. 00:00 – Why Footwork Matters 00:34 – The Perfect HEMA Stance 01:38 – Basic Steps: Forward, Backward, Sideways 03:13 – Closing the Distance: Lunge, Flash & Passing Step 04:10 – Creating Space: Retreat Options & Structure 05:15 – Outro