Flashcards HEMA: The Ultimate Way To Master Sword Techniques Faster Than Sparring Alone – Learn Every Guard, Cut, And Play Without Forgetting The Details

Why HEMA Flashcards Might Be The Missing Piece In Your Training

If you’re into HEMA, you already know the struggle:

• You drill a play in class…
• It makes sense at the time…
• Two days later: “Wait, was it Zornhau → Winden → thrust… or something else?”

That’s exactly where flashcards shine.

Instead of only relying on sparring and occasional drilling, you can train your brain between sessions using flashcards – especially if you’re juggling multiple traditions (Liechtenauer, Fiore, Bolognese, etc.).

And this is where an app like Flashrecall becomes stupidly useful.

You can grab it here:

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

Flashrecall lets you turn images, PDFs, YouTube videos, and your own notes into flashcards in seconds, then uses spaced repetition to make sure you actually remember everything.

Let’s break down how to use flashcards specifically for HEMA and how to set them up in a way that actually helps you fence better.

Why Flashcards Work So Well For HEMA

HEMA isn’t just physical – it’s insanely cognitive:

• You’re remembering terminology (Zornhau, Krumphau, Fendente, Mezza Spada…)
• You’re tracking plays/sequences
• You’re recalling principles and rules (e.g., “Always threaten with the point”, “Strong vs weak of the blade”)
• You’re comparing source interpretations

Flashcards + spaced repetition = you don’t have to re-learn this stuff every few months.

What Flashcards Are Actually Good For In HEMA

You can use flashcards to drill:

• Terminology: Names of guards, cuts, thrusts, positions
• Plays/techniques: Step-by-step sequences in text or images
• Principles & theory: “What is Indes?”, “What is Fühlen?”
• Source references: “Which folio shows this play?”
• Translations: Original German/Italian → your language
• Tactical concepts: “What do you do if your Zornhau is parried strongly on your weak?”

You don’t need to be a nerd about it (unless you want to). Even a simple deck like “Basic Longsword Guards” can make your training feel way more solid.

Why Use Flashrecall Instead Of Just Paper Cards?

You can use paper cards, but for HEMA, digital flashcards are just way more practical.

• You can snap photos from manuals or class notes and it auto-generates flashcards
• You can import from PDFs or YouTube class videos and make cards from them
• It has built-in spaced repetition, so you don’t have to plan your reviews
• It works offline, so you can review at the club, on the train, or between bouts at a tournament
• You can chat with your cards if you’re unsure about something and want a quick explanation
• It’s free to start, fast, and works on iPhone and iPad

Grab it here if you want to follow along while reading:

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

How To Structure HEMA Flashcards So They Actually Help

Let’s make this practical. Here’s how I’d set up HEMA decks inside Flashrecall.

1. Deck Ideas For HEMA

You could create separate decks like:

• Longsword – Basics
• Longsword – Guards & Positions
• Longsword – Plays From [Your Tradition]
• Rapier – Guards & Terminology
• Fiore – Armizare (Dagger / Wrestling / Sword)
• Tournament Prep – Mistakes & Lessons Learned
• Theory & Principles – Timing, Measure, Fühlen, Indes, etc.

This way you’re not overwhelmed, and you can focus on what you’re currently training.

2. Good Flashcard Types For HEMA

Here are some card patterns that work really well:

Front:

> What is this guard called in German longsword?

Back:

• Photo or drawing of Ochs
• Short description: “Hands high, point at opponent’s face, strong covers head.”

In Flashrecall, you can literally:

• Take a photo of yourself or a training partner in the guard
• Or screenshot from a manual PDF and turn it into a card instantly

Front:

> Name this guard (Fiore longsword)

Back:

• “Posta di Donna Destra”
• Plus quick reminder of its use: “Powerful starting guard for cuts, threatens from above.”

This direction is important because in sparring, you see the position first.

Front:

> Describe the basic Zornhau Ort from the bind.

Back:

1. From Vom Tag, step offline and deliver Zornhau to their incoming strike

2. Bind on their blade, feel pressure (Fühlen)

3. If they’re hard in the bind, wind the hilt up, point into their face

4. Thrust with a step forward

You can keep it short, but clear.

Front:

> What is “Fühlen” in German longsword?

Back:

• Feeling through the bind whether the opponent is strong or weak
• Used to decide whether to wind, disengage, or cut around

This is perfect for active recall – the core of Flashrecall’s design.

Turning Manuals, PDFs, And YouTube Into HEMA Flashcards

This is where Flashrecall gets really powerful for HEMA.

From PDFs (Like Translations Or Facsimiles)

If you’ve got manuals or translations in PDF form:

1. Import or screenshot the relevant page/section

2. Drop it into Flashrecall

3. Let Flashrecall auto-generate flashcards from the text or image

4. Edit them to match your interpretation or notes

You can turn a dense page of Fiore or Ringeck into 5–10 clean, memorable cards in minutes.

From YouTube Tutorials

Say your club has a YouTube channel or you follow HEMA instructors online.

With Flashrecall, you can:

1. Paste the YouTube link

2. Have it generate cards from the key points or transcript

3. Add your own wording, screenshots, or corrections

Now that “cool longsword breakdown you watched once” becomes something you’ll actually remember and use.

How Spaced Repetition Helps You Remember HEMA Long-Term

The big problem with HEMA knowledge is decay:

• You go deep into longsword for 3 months
• Then switch to dagger or wrestling
• Suddenly half your longsword details are fuzzy

Flashrecall uses spaced repetition automatically:

• If you remember a card easily → it shows it less often
• If you struggle → it shows it again sooner
• You get study reminders, so you don’t forget to review

That means you can:

• Keep longsword sharp while focusing on rapier
• Maintain old material while learning new plays
• Stay tournament-ready on theory and tactics without cramming

You don’t have to think about scheduling; the app handles it.

Example: A Simple HEMA Flashcard Setup In Flashrecall

Let’s say you’re training German longsword as a beginner.

You might create these decks:

Deck 1: Longsword – Guards

Cards like:

• Front: “Name this guard (image)”

Back: “Pflug – point at chest, hands low, strong for thrusts.”

• Front: “What is Alber used for?”

Back: “Inviting guard; looks open, baits attacks to counter.”

Deck 2: Longsword – Basic Cuts

• Front: “List the five master cuts in German longsword.”

Back: “Zornhau, Krumphau, Zwerchhau, Schielhau, Scheitelhau.”

• Front: “What is Zwerchhau used against?”

Back: “Against high attacks like Oberhau or Vom Tag; cuts horizontally with the short edge.”

Deck 3: Plays From Class

After each training:

• Take a photo of your notebook or the whiteboard
• Drop it into Flashrecall
• Let it generate cards
• Clean them up into steps like:

Front:

> Basic Zornhau counter from tonight’s class

Back:

1. Opponent cuts from Vom Tag

2. Step offline to the right, deliver Zornhau to their attack

3. Maintain strong on their weak

4. Thrust to face with a passing step

Now, instead of forgetting that class by next week, you review it in under 5 minutes on your phone.

Using “Chat With Your Flashcard” When You’re Confused

One cool bonus in Flashrecall:

If you’re not sure you fully understand a concept (like Fühlen, Indes, or a specific play), you can chat with the flashcard.

You can ask things like:

• “Explain this in simpler words.”
• “Give me an example of this in a sparring situation.”
• “How does this compare to Fiore’s version?”

It’s like having a tiny training partner in your pocket helping you process the theory.

How To Fit Flashcards Into Your HEMA Routine

You don’t need to turn this into a second job. Keep it light:

• 5–10 minutes a day is enough
• Review while commuting, having coffee, or before training
• Add new cards right after class while everything is fresh

A simple routine could be:

• Before training: Quick review of today’s focus (e.g., guards, specific plays)
• After training: Add 3–10 cards from what you just learned
• On rest days: Review whatever Flashrecall gives you via spaced repetition

Over a few weeks, you’ll notice:

• You remember terminology without thinking
• You can recall plays from months ago
• You spend less time in class going “Wait, what was that thing again?”

Ready To Level Up Your HEMA Memory?

Flashcards won’t replace sparring, drilling, or coaching.

But they massively upgrade how much of your training actually sticks.

If you want:

• Cleaner recall of guards, cuts, and plays
• Better understanding of theory and source material
• A way to keep multiple weapons/styles fresh at once

Then setting up some HEMA flashcards in Flashrecall is honestly one of the easiest wins you can get.

You can:

• Make cards from images, text, audio, PDFs, and YouTube
• Use built-in active recall + spaced repetition
• Study offline on iPhone or iPad
• Start for free and build your decks over time

Grab Flashrecall here and start turning your HEMA notes into real, usable knowledge:

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

Train your body at the club.

Train your brain on the way home.

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.

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