About Jake
Jake Free is the Lead Instructor and Founder of Schwertschule Chur. He is a British HEMA instructor that has lived and founded clubs in Wales, England, The Netherlands and Switzerland. Jake has lived in Switzerland since 2020.
Expertise
Jake’s Journey to HEMA
Jake’s interest in historical European history began when he was seventeen and joined the Company of Chivalry. He quickly forged a specialism in historical swordsmanship through studying historical manuscripts and practising these techniques.
In 2007 Jake joined the HEMA school Messengers (now SMART HEMA) and subsequently the Academy of Historical Fencing, where he specialised in longsword as a scholar and was club champion in 2009. He went on to study with masters across Europe, including with Ties at HVN and participated Sword Fish, Dreynevent, and taught at events such as Fight Camp, Swords and Cider, and the May Melee.
In 2010 Jake founded Virtus Sword School in Cardiff, Forest of Dean and Bath and also the Bath Sparring Group in the UK. He also went on to establish and run the annual May Melee. After moving to the Netherlands in 2016, Jake founded Virtus Sword School The Hague. He later moved to Switzerland and in 2022 he founded Schwertschule Chur.
Philosophy
Jake is an educator through and through. He is qualified teacher of mathematics, forest school practitioner and sports instructor. He has an inclusive approach to teaching and is experienced in bringing communities together to learn, practise and develop understanding of HEMA; and to have lots of fun along the way!
Schwertschule Chur🇨🇭 