The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe (MARE) is the martial arts form in Europe from the 13th to the 17th century, consisting of Historical swordsmanship, Classical fencing, Sport fencing, Theatrical fencing. Despite the fact there is a more than 2,400-year-old military tradition within the Western civilization of close-combat proficiency, few subjects have received as unfortunate neglect by historians and academics than the martial arts of Western Europe. But a growing amount of modern research has centered on the historical methods of using various types of Medieval and Renaissance swords and weaponry in historically accurate and martially sound manners. This emerging study of historical European martial arts involves a fascinating combination of military history, fencing history, literature, art, language, and archaeology. The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts (ARMA), founded in 1992, has been studying and practicing historical fencing and the exploration and promotion of the Western martial heritage.