In mid October 2025 I visited Scotland for the very first time. Suit of Swords in Glasgow is Scotland’s Premier URG focused HEMA event and I was honoured to be invited to teach not just one but two classes at their inaugural launch.
Being the diligent reporter I am, I also took the opportunity to interview the principal organisers: Rose Jones and Madeleine Thompson.
It was a truly excellent weekend, day one being filled to the brim with a variety of workshops from international URG instructors. The second day was tournaments, with rated Sabre and Longsword, followed by a more relaxed “Lady/ser Luck” mixed weapon competition.
In this interview we talk about the intricacies of organising events, the importance of representation in HEMA, and the unique challenges facing URG fencers and martial artists.
Fingers crossed they host this next year: don’t miss out if you get the chance to go!
We are proud to partner with new HEMA gear supplier Historical Combat Armory in Canada.
To celebrate we are offering all attendees of our monthly meet ups the chance to win a discount coupon of $30, in addition to a 10% discount available to all members of our WhatsApp community who place group orders.
9 things you were praised for as a girl that can make learning difficult as a woman.
Little girls are praised for all kinds of qualities and behaviours. What we carry into adulthood from this praise and these internal values can stymie our learning.
What these all have in common that makes them dangerous for you is they require you to have no boundaries. As women we are encouraged to give more and more of our time and energy, the driving force is often ourselves. Make sure you put some of that energy into keeping your boundaries and working on your own needs.
Please support my work on Patreon or Ko-Fi to get benefits and help me reach more listeners. Just leaving a review will make a big impact. Thank you.
I’m fully aware of the significance of my own exception in HEMA as a woman of colour in a leadership position. Ever since i joined I’ve been railing against the leaky pipeline. I only discovered today that it has a name.
Key Aspects of the Leaky Pipeline: • Continuous Loss: The term “pipeline” describes the typical fencing career progression: from beginner, to student, to instructor and/or competitor, and the “leakiness” signifies that women are leaving the path at multiple stages, unlike men.
• Gender Gap: This loss results in a significant gender gap, with a disproportionately small number of women holding senior positions.
• Transitions: Significant numbers of women leave HEMA at key transition points, such as moving from beginner to student or from student to instructor roles.
• Contributing Factors: Reasons for women leaving include: • Domestic Responsibilities: The burden of domestic duties can disproportionately affect women, leading to breaks or exits. • Lack of Support and Mentorship:Inadequate support systems and limited opportunities for advancement contribute to women’s departure from HEMA. • Culture and Biases:Negative stereotypes about women’s competence, lack of appropriate policies, and the presence of toxic environments (including sexual harassment) play a role in women leaving HEMA. • Work-Life Balance Issues: Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be challenging, leading women to opt out of demanding hobbies.
These factors highlight why we can’t treat everybody the same. I’ve started organising monthly meet ups specifically to deal with the lack of support for URG fencers. Let’s face it, if we had gender parity in HEMA classes it wouldn’t be necessary. So taking affirmative action is one way to address the leaks.
Representation matters, and I fully believe that seeing women and URG fencers, and in particular instructors, makes all the difference in a non male deciding to join a club.
By the Sword 