Sorry for a bit of a thread necro thingamajig, but I think this is rather relevant for anyone training HEMA. I've done some research. And it really, truly reaffirms that fitness should be a vital part of HEMA.

http://www.hroarr.com/skill-training-vs-stren...mment-5941

Cheers!

Ancient Greek fitness training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=640vhOI7Fu4&playnext=1&list=PL92795F6A19999AFB&feature=results_main Granted pankration is a resurrected martial art, but then so is HEMA. I know I always feel like I'm getting more out of my HEMA training if I have been doing fitness training as well. Think about the men who practiced the art in the past, even if you were a nobleman and not a working soldier, you still rode, walked, hunted and lived a more vigorous life than most do nowadays.

I completely about the importance of fitness/strength/power, but I just wanted to share the sparring experience of doing quite against a inexperienced partner who I'm sure was meaningful stronger at least in terms of push ups and curls. This was with Lance's single-handed sword simulators in George Silver's style, and when I was barely experienced myself. Despite being physically superior and accustomed to other forms of fighting, he considered himself outmatched at swordplay. That might have changed in an earnest contest, but it enhanced my respect for historical martial techniques.

I think people are still missing the point here. It's not a matter of which is more important, because it's a silly argument. It's a matter of fitness enhancing your ability to develop as a martial artist. It's beyond crazy to say that fitness has no role in a martial art. These things are not mutually exclusive. Fitness will help you develop better as a martial artist, period. It's even more crazy to me to note that HEMA is the only martial art that would even consider discussing whether or not fitness is important... Some people are also mistaking fitness as being a super burly competitive weightlifter... again, silly.

Of course the guy with more experience and skill will be superior in a fight to the fit strong gentlemen who's been taking swordfighting lessons for 1 month. But over time, you will not reach your full potential in ANY martial art if fitness is not part of your lifestyle. If people are comfortable being out of shape and unhealthy, that's their prerogative. But if you want to reach your absolute potential in a martial art, you better become acquainted with fitness and nutrition. This applies to any physical sport.

Doing fitness activities that only mimic what you do in that sport is not enough either. Football players don't only play football to get better, they do intense cardio conditioning and hit the weightroom. Boxers don't only throw punches to get better, they also do intense cardio and hit the weightroom. I can go on and on. You're selling yourself short if you don't take fitness seriously and have ambitions to become truly great at what you do.