The studies in Historical European Martial Arts span multiple disciplines, and have so far lacked a unified methodology and a way to formally manage and assess results of theoretical and practical research. To fill this niche we are aiming to create a state-of-the-art multi-platform solution, currently named “Project Fightbook”.
As HEMA researchers ourselves we understand sometimes gargantuan amount of work required to produce a piece of publishable research. We also noticed that a lot of this work, especially in preliminary phases, is often needlessly duplicated, which considerably slows the process down, and makes it harder for beginning researchers to contribute to the field. The same questions are periodically asked again and new researchers keep finding the same answers, because the knowledge had never been properly documented, and numerous projects are abandoned mid-way without reaching the final publication stage. Some projects are later found without proper attribution.
Project Fightbook is our answer to these challenges.
Contrary to other services that focus mostly on providing source information and research results, Project Fightbook focuses on facilitation and documentation of the actual research process. We are mostly interested in reducing the redundancy, making collaborative efforts seamless, frictionless and micro-contributions feasible, as well as providing a platform for crowd-sourcing of practical hypothesis testing. Access to resources, references, information, on-going projects and constantly growing knowledge database are simply byproducts and results of the process itself.
Content curation will be partially managed by content authors, and partially by our editorial team, presenting to the general public information that was verified at various stages of the research process. The final quality will be vetted by SHEMAS and granted their Stamp of Approval to meet academic standards. Through affiliation with Acta Periodica Duellatorum we also intend to provide an easier way to publish results and important commentaries that go beyond the scope of Project Fightbook.
Please contact us at info@fightbook.eu, if you have any questions, suggestions or want to become part of the project. You may also fill out our “Collaboration in HEMA Research” questionnaire if you have not yet done so.
Project Fightbook Team