Interested in medieval history? Ever wanted to learn how to swordfight? Looking for a fun way to get in shape? Here’s your chance to learn the martial arts of our European ancestors!

The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts is an international non-profit organization dedicated to reconstructing the martial arts of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Using historical fighting manuals and authentic training weapons, we are rediscovering these lost arts.

Areas of study include:

ARMA Provo, sponsored by the BYU Department of Military Science, is the official ARMA study group for Utah Valley and parts of southern Utah. In addition to ongoing training and research, ARMA Provo regularly participates in regional events and activities including workshops, seminars, symposiums, conventions, feature films, music videos, television shows, renaissance festivals, and school assemblies. If you have an activity that ARMA Provo would be suited for, please feel free to contact us.

Beginners are welcome! Send us an e-mail, or drop by a practice, to learn how you can get involved and join us in exploring our fascinating martial heritage.

About ARMA

The word “arma” means "weapon" in Latin, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. ARMA is also the acronym for the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts, the largest organization of its kind in the world. It is dedicated to the interpretation and reconstruction of medieval and renaissance combat systems as a modern martial art.

The foundational weapon in the ARMA curriculum is the longsword, a weapon that teaches the fundamental mechanics of historical fencing. Upon establishing familiarity with the longsword, ARMA’s members expand their training into the sword & buckler, rapier, dagger, unarmed combat & grappling, staff, halberd & other polearms, cut-and-thrust sword, sword & dagger, sword & cloak, messer, dussack, and other period weapons.

With the development of the firearm, the sophisticated systems of historical fencing developed by our European forefathers were lost for centuries with only fragments of knowledge surviving in modern-day boxing and wrestling. Today, with exposure to only sport fencing, choreographed stage combat, and Hollywood-style sword-fighting, the general public is understandably ill-informed about the advanced fighting systems used during 13th through 17th centuries.

With the discovery and translation of dozens of historical fighting manuals, ARMA scholars and other researchers endeavor to understand the teachings of fencing masters and writers such as Johannes Liechtenauer, Hanko Doebringer, Fiore dei Liberi, Sigmund Ringeck, Peter von Danzig, Hans Talhoffer, Philippo Vadi, Pietro Monte, Albrecht Duerer, Joerg Wilhalm, Achille Marozzo, Paulus Hector Mair, Joachim Meyer, Giacomo Di Grassi, Vincentio Saviolo, Sir George Silver, Joseph Swetnam, Salvator Fabris, and Ridolfo Capo Ferro, to name a few.

Membership in ARMA provides access to an unparalleled wealth of knowledge about the historical science of defense; however, anyone is welcome to visit the main ARMA website to explore the public articles and historic manuals.

If you are primarily interested in costumed role-playing or casual play-fighting with heavily padded sword-shaped objects, then there are definitely other groups and organizations better suited for your needs. ARMA embraces both an athletic interpretation—as well as a scholarly approach—to historical fencing. The martial arts of medieval and renaissance Europe were just that: an intense and deadly martial art. It is that martial spirit and heritage that defines ARMA.

We invite you to learn more by also visiting the international ARMA website.