Amy - ‘It was 2005 when I first went along to KDF Nottingham and fell in love with the sword. Ever since then I’ve been practicing HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts). When people ask me what it’s all about I end up describing what it’s not. It’s not: re-enactment, LARP or sport fencing. It is: awesome. HEMA is all about bringing long dead fighting systems back to life. We translate and interpret surviving combat manuals, with the earliest dating back to 1300, and from that we build a modern martial art. But there is no single art. HEMA covers a wide variety of time periods and weapons, through medieval and renaissance, using longsword, dagger, messer, pollaxe, rapier... I could go on. I’ve dabbled across quite a few (even doing a bit mounted!) but I spend most of my time on medieval German longsword. People often seem surprised when they find out I do longsword fighting. It isn’t seen as very “lady like” I suppose, and I’m not exactly built like Brienne of Tarth. But the beauty in this art is that you don’t have to be. There is a wonderful quote from Döbringer’s 1389 manual: “If it were not an art, the strong would always win.” Good technique and structure will prevail over brute strength. And sword fighting should be seen as lady like! I would encourage all the girls out there who want to have a go to pick up a sword. I belong to a fantastic group - Esfinges - who are dedicated to supporting and encouraging women in HEMA. There are hundreds of us across the world. Ladies, swords are for you! For this photo I have my two favourite swords (and my favourite dress!). A blackened longsword from Regenyei Armoury and a swept hilt rapier from Danelli Armouries.’
A woman wielding a sword in front of my camera was definitely something different, and those swords were gorgeous! I have to admit to being impressed that Amy was really struggling with a cold and you just can’t tell. Well done Amy!
