Flashcards HEMA: 7 Powerful Ways To Master Techniques Faster And Actually Remember Them

Why HEMA Flashcards Might Be The Thing You’re Missing

If you train HEMA, you already know the struggle:

• You nail a technique in class
• Two weeks later: “Wait… was it step offline first or cut first?”
• Your notebook is full, your brain is not

This is exactly where flashcards shine — especially if you set them up right and use spaced repetition.

And instead of spending hours making ugly cards in random apps, you can use Flashrecall to turn your HEMA notes, PDFs, and even YouTube videos into smart flashcards in seconds:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Let’s walk through how to use flashcards specifically for HEMA so you actually remember guards, plays, terminology, and footwork — not just while reading, but under pressure in sparring.

What HEMA Stuff Is Actually Worth Turning Into Flashcards?

You don’t need to flashcard everything. Focus on the stuff your brain keeps dropping.

1. Guards, Positions, and Stances

Front of card:

> Q: Describe Vom Tag in the Liechtenauer tradition.

Back of card:

> A: High guard with the sword lifted above the shoulder/head, point generally forward; powerful starting position for descending cuts. (Optionally: add an image.)

You can do this for:

• Liechtenauer: Vom Tag, Ochs, Pflug, Alber
• Fiore: Posta di Donna, Posta Longa, Posta Frontale, etc.
• Sword & buckler: Underarm, High Outside, etc.

In Flashrecall, you can literally:

• Take a photo of your training handout or textbook page
• Let the app auto-generate flashcards from the image
• Quickly edit the cards to match your school’s naming and cues

2. Techniques, Plays, and Sequences

Anything that’s more than 2–3 steps long is perfect flashcard material.

Front:

> Q: From Fiore’s Posta di Donna, describe the basic sequence for a fendente attack with proper footwork.

Back:

> A:

> 1. Start in Posta di Donna (sword on shoulder, weight on rear foot)

> 2. Step forward/offline with front foot

> 3. Deliver a descending fendente with edge, covering centerline

> 4. Finish in a stable guard (e.g., Posta Longa or similar depending on tradition)

You can even break complex plays into multiple cards:

• Card 1: Setup and initial guard
• Card 2: First action / counter
• Card 3: Follow-up / finish

With Flashrecall, spaced repetition is built-in, so:

• You see the play often at first
• Then less and less as you prove you remember it
• Auto reminders bring it back before you forget, so it sticks long-term

No more flipping through a notebook wondering what that scribble “zornhau vs oberhau alt entry” was supposed to mean.

3. Terminology (Because Every Tradition Has Its Own Weird Words)

HEMA vocab is a mess of:

• German terms (Zornhau, Zwerchhau, Winden…)
• Italian (Fendente, Mezzano, Sottano, Ligadura…)
• Latin or weird historical phrases
• Your instructor’s own naming system

Flashcards are perfect for this.

Example:

Front:

> Q: What is Zornhau?

Back:

> A: “Wrath cut” – a powerful diagonal descending cut from the shoulder, often used as both attack and defense in Liechtenauer.

Or reverse it:

Front:

> Q: German term for a diagonal descending “wrath” cut used as attack & parry?

Back:

> A: Zornhau

In Flashrecall, you can:

• Paste vocab lists from a text or PDF
• Let the app auto-generate Q/A pairs
• Or type them manually if you’re picky about wording

4. Principles, Not Just Moves

HEMA isn’t just “do this, then that.” It’s also about:

• Timing (Vor / Nach / Indes)
• Distance (measure)
• Concepts like fuhlen, strong vs weak of the blade, etc.

Make cards like:

Front:

> Q: In Liechtenauer, what does Indes refer to?

Back:

> A: The “in the instant” moment of feeling and reacting during blade contact, allowing you to choose the correct follow-up based on pressure and opening.

These conceptual cards are gold because they help you actually understand why a play works, not just parrot movements.

How To Actually Use HEMA Flashcards Without Burning Out

Making cards is one thing. Using them consistently is where most people fail.

That’s why using a good app matters more than people think.

Why Flashrecall Works Really Well For HEMA

Here’s how Flashrecall fits into HEMA training:

• Spaced repetition built-in

You don’t have to track what to review and when. The app automatically schedules reviews so you see each card right before you’d forget it.

• Active recall by default

It shows you the question, you try to answer from memory, then you rate how hard it was. That “struggle” is exactly what makes the memory stronger.

• Study reminders

Busy with work, tired after sparring? Flashrecall can ping you with gentle reminders so you don’t fall off the wagon.

• Offline support

Training hall with terrible signal? No problem. You can still review your HEMA cards on iPhone or iPad without internet.

• Turn anything into cards
• Screenshot a YouTube HEMA breakdown → Flashrecall makes cards
• Import a PDF of a historical treatise → generate cards from the important sections
• Take photos of your instructor’s whiteboard notes
• Paste text from Discord / club docs / Google Docs

Link again so you don’t scroll back:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Free to start, fast, and modern — so you’re not fighting the app while trying to remember your plays.

Concrete HEMA Flashcard Examples You Can Steal

Here are some ready-to-use patterns you can adapt to your own system.

Guard Recognition

Front:

> (Image of you or a diagram in Ochs)

Back:

> A: Ochs – point forward, hands high, blade angled, strong covering upper line.

You can do this easily in Flashrecall:

• Take a photo of yourself in guard
• Add it to a card as the front
• Type the name and key details on the back

“What Do I Do From Here?” Cards

Front:

> Q: Opponent throws an Oberhau to your left side. According to Zornhau Ort, what’s your response?

Back:

> A:

> - Step slightly offline

> - Throw your own Zornhau diagonally, meeting their blade with the strong of yours

> - Immediately thrust (Ort) into the opening created

This trains your decision-making, not just vocabulary.

Footwork Patterns

Front:

> Q: Describe a basic passing step with longsword and one key detail to avoid.

Back:

> A:

> - Move rear foot forward past lead foot while maintaining balance

> - Keep upper body stable, don’t overreach or lean

> - Sword and body move together; avoid crossing feet or losing structure

You can even add:

• A short audio note in Flashrecall of your coach explaining it
• Or a quick photo sequence of the steps

Safety & Rules (For Tournaments or Club Standards)

Front:

> Q: List 3 key safety rules for freeplay in our club.

Back:

> A:

> - Controlled contact only, no full-power hits

> - Stop immediately if mask/gear is dislodged

> - Call “Halt!” loudly if you lose sight of opponent or feel unsafe

Useful if you’re prepping for tournaments with specific rule sets too.

Using Flashcards Around Your Actual Training

Here’s a simple, realistic routine:

Before Class (5–10 minutes)

• Open Flashrecall while commuting or changing
• Review:
• Today’s focus: e.g., guards, a specific play, or footwork
• A few concept cards (timing, measure, etc.)

You walk into class with the material fresh in your head.

After Class (10 minutes)

• Jot quick notes: what you learned, corrections you got
• In Flashrecall:
• Turn those notes into 3–10 new cards
• Or snap a photo of the whiteboard and let the app generate cards

Now that session doesn’t just live in your muscles — it’s stored in your brain too.

On Off Days (5 minutes)

• Let spaced repetition do its thing
• Flashrecall shows you only what needs reviewing today
• You hit “Done” in a few minutes and go live your life

This is how you build months and years of HEMA knowledge without constantly re-learning the same basics.

“But I Already Use Anki / Paper Cards / My Notes…”

Totally fair. Here’s how Flashrecall compares in the HEMA context:

• Versus paper cards
• Paper is great… until you lose them, or they get sweaty in your gear bag.
• No auto reminders, no spaced repetition. You have to manage all that yourself.
• Versus generic flashcard apps
• Many don’t handle images, PDFs, YouTube, or audio well.
• Some feel clunky, outdated, or annoying to use daily.
• Versus Anki specifically
• Anki is powerful but can be overwhelming: decks, plugins, syncing, card types…
• Flashrecall is designed to be fast, modern, and simple on iPhone and iPad.
• You can literally point it at your HEMA material (images, text, PDFs, videos), and it helps you turn that into cards instantly.
• Built-in chat with your flashcards: if you’re unsure about a concept, you can “chat” with the card to get more explanation or context. That’s insanely useful for tricky historical concepts.

If you like the idea of spaced repetition but hate babysitting a complex system, Flashrecall is much more “open app → study → done.”

Putting It All Together

If you:

• Keep forgetting guards, plays, or terminology
• Feel like every class is “new” because nothing sticks
• Want your sparring brain to keep up with your reading brain

Then HEMA flashcards are honestly one of the easiest upgrades you can make.

And if you want:

• Automatic spaced repetition
• Super fast card creation from images, text, PDFs, YouTube, and audio
• Offline study on iPhone and iPad
• Simple, modern design that doesn’t get in your way

Then try Flashrecall:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Turn your HEMA notes into a system that actually helps you remember — so you can stop re-learning the basics and start really fighting with what you know.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

What's the best way to learn vocabulary?

Research shows that combining flashcards with spaced repetition and active recall is highly effective. Flashrecall automates this process, generating cards from your study materials and scheduling reviews at optimal intervals.

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