HEMA
HEMA is the Japanese acronym for Historical European Martial Arts, referring to the study and practice of historical combat systems.
Did you know?
- Because the acronym sounds identical to the Japanese word ヘマ, which means 'a blunder' or 'a clumsy mistake', enthusiasts often use the English spelling 'HEMA' in text to avoid any humorous misunderstanding.
- Practitioners in Japan may use the term seiyō kenjutsu, which frames the practice as a 'Western sword art' by applying the same terminology used for traditional Japanese swordsmanship.
- The term ヘマ is actually a colloquialism in Japanese that likely originated from a contraction, making its resemblance to the English acronym a pure coincidence of phonetic mapping.
Examples in context
- Watashi wa Hema desu. (私はHemaです。)I am Hema.
- Hajimemashite, watashi wa Hema desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. (初めまして、私はHemaです。よろしくお願いします。)Nice to meet you, I am Hema. Please be kind to me.
- HEMAに興味があります。HEMA ni kyoumi ga arimasu.I am interested in HEMA.
- 週末はHEMAの練習をしています。Shuumatsu wa HEMA no renshuu o shiteimasu.I practice HEMA on the weekends.
- 彼はHEMAのクラスに通っています。Kare wa HEMA no kurasu ni kayotteimasu.He attends a HEMA class.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their hobbies at a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くんは最近、何か新しい趣味はある？Hiroto-kun wa saikin, nanika atarashii shumi wa aru?Hiroto, do you have any new hobbies lately?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、HEMAを始めたんだ。Un, HEMA o hajimetanda.Yeah, I started HEMA.
- 陽葵 HimariHEMAって、ヨーロッパの剣術のことだよね？HEMA tte, Yooroppa no kenjutsu no koto da yo ne?HEMA is the study of European swordsmanship, right?
- 大翔 Hirotoそう、すごく面白いよ。Sou, sugoku omoshiroi yo.That's right, it's really interesting.
