Jem Burke

Jem Burke is the Founder and Head Instructor at Invirtus, one of the largest HEMA clubs in Belgium with 3 training locations. He has been studying and training HEMA for 18 years, and teaching for 12 years. His main focus is the longsword, though he also has experience teaching Messer, dagger and unarmed combat, and occasionally trains rapier & spear as well.

Jem has also been active in numerous other martial arts, including but not limited to Muay Thai, Kung fu, Jeet kune do, BJJ, Escrima/silat, Capoeira, Wing chun, self-defence systems, etc.

In his day job he is a licensed NASM personal trainer and movement & performance therapy specialist, with a focus on strength, mobility, and rehab. He also teaches kickboxing and is a certified Animal Flow instructor. He incorporates these skills & knowhow in his regular HEMA classes, in order to not only improve technique but also general fitness, reaction speed, strength and explosiveness.

He is currently in the top 4% of the HEMA ratings and has in the past been in the top 100 ( Best placement ever was 75). He does not often participate in tournaments anymore due to other responsibilities and time-constraints, but has previously fought (in the last year) finals and semifinals against opponents such as Joris Jacobs, Maarten van der Auwera and Egon Beyrens, with some wins and some losses.