With swords, a number of Indonesians are helping to preserve the traditions of medieval European martial arts in the heart of Jakarta. On Sundays, they do not act out scenes from the TV series Game of Thrones or Robin Hood, but practice fighting in accordance with the techniques used in Europe in the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries and known as historical European martial arts.
After a quick warm-up, the Gwate-e-Majer members take turns demonstrating their sword skills in front of the giant Gelora Bung Karno stadium.
“This training exceeded my expectations, and since we are training with weapons, this fight is more exciting than hand-to-hand combat,” said Jedeh Indra Kresiga, a 23-year-old civil servant.
And behind the founding of Gwyeth e Major in 2016 were a number of Indonesians who admired the English writer J.R.R. Jakarta, or in its branch in the Javanese city of Bandung.
