The ever present kit issue.

HEMA still isn't big enough to have mass produced "standard" kit.  We're getting there, but there's always going to be issues and the need to cobble together certain things.  Plus... it's quite nice to have a bag that is different to everyone else's.

Sword Bags are a particularly tricky thing to source- Rapiers are much longer than foils, golf bag covers can be a bit bulky and are still a little short. Snowboard and ski bags are a possibility, so are rifle and fishing rod  bags.  I don't think there is one solution that's good for each person, which is why I'm going to recommend Decathlon's physical stores.  The physical stores have a different range to the website- http://www.decathlon.co.uk/

Decathlon is, basically, a giant department store dedicated to sports. You've got archery, riding, canoeing, hunting, hockey, skiing, rollerskating and the mundane stuff that every "sports" store has. This allows you to wander around with a set of requirements in your head and to poke things until you've found the stuff that suits your needs.


I spent £6 on a fishing rod cover which holds 2 long rapiers, a smallsword and a dagger without becoming unnecessarily bulky,. It's thin, ripstop nylon, and durability is a bit of a concern.  However, most of my bags go at the zip and this one doesn't place that along any of the major planes of pressure- so that's promising.

The padding and protection issue can also be, in part, addressed in the same trip.

Congratulating people for hitting you in the face.

Going through my after class analysis I suddenly started to think about something really absurd about HEMA... You know, beyond the obvious stuff.

There is a culture of complimenting people when they hit you (at least in my club and those from the same tree).  This is a brilliant thing, it encourages good grace, stops tempers fraying and helps with acknowledging hits which- as the need for electric sports fencing equipment shows- can be difficult for observers to know.

It does curb the competitive 'edge' as such, but that's why you bring in proper competitions with judges and let them call the hits.

Would any other activity have you saying  "well done" as the trained response to being stabbed in the face?

Swash this weekend.

You have to love a rapier competition that expressly forbids Mortschlags and pommelling.