The Gathering in an annual international conference held by the Historical African Martial Arts Association in which the community gathers for a weekend of feasting, classes, and a mixed weapon tournament. This event embodies HAMAA’s core principles of Research, Education, Discipline, and Community, as we come together to celebrate Historical African Martial Arts, honour the ancestors that passed these arts to us, and the community that continues the living traditions and brings back to life the ones that have faded into history.

FEAST AND CEREMONY

Enjoy great food, music, and demonstrations of Historical African Martial Arts amid the pomp and ceremony of the first assembly of the Council of the Historical African Martial Arts Association. We celebrate by pouring libations eating, singing, and with light sparring.

CLASSES

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

The Tournament of Champions is a mixed weapons tournament, testing the skill of each combatant by changing the conditions of each encounter. Competitors will pressure test their knowledge, adaptability, and overall fighting skills by bringing a different weapons set into the ring, chosen at random to face an opponent under the same conditions.

Relief plaque showing two officials with raised swords, 16th–17th century_1

The top three competitors will receive awards presented to them by the President of the HAMA Association in recognition of their fighting skills and will be the first names in HAMAA’s Hall of Champions.

The tournament this year will be held IN PERSON.

Please click below to download the tournament rules and guidelines:

HAMAA: The Gathering Tournament of Champions Rules

HAMA Association Risk and Liability Waiver