Don’t worry, being the biggest doesn’t always mean you win

Saber match, 2023, Washington DC

#HEMA #swords #historicalfencing #sportsphotography #MKDF #saber

Things can get a bit busy when your country embraces fascism and you aren’t happy about it 🫠

Well, if nothing else, it sure helps with anxiety!

The weight in the perspective comes from realistically applying my moral standards in daily life. It’s liberating in that when people do crazy shit it’s because people are generally crazy as shit, so I’m just going to keep doing what I do.

I might say, having renounced a faith I once held paramount, my search for meaning has led me to believe that meaning is beside the point, and as such, the human experience writ large can only be judged as a moral blight upon existence. The best I can do is therefore live up to my own standards.

That is…by far the most thoughtful/respectful response I’ve ever received to that blithe summary of my worldview. Thank you? Not sure I would frame it as looking at specific aspects of the ideas so much as these three concepts can function as a kind of shorthand for my personal moral perspective.

a major lunge in a rapier spar

#HEMA #swords #historicalfencing #sportsphotography #MKDF #rapier #lunge

This is sarcasm, right? Because you realize the most immediate challenges that face America are the WCNs, Nazis, and the broligarchy they brought with them, right? Because you saw how insane these EOs tonight are, right? RIGHT??

A group of kids with their guardian pass the MLK memorial statue in DC.

Which direction are we walking today?

You can wear whatever you want here too, it’s just that sometimes people feel more festive in sport fencing gear.

Two smallsword fencers in Washington, DC in 2022. Smallsword is the precursor to modern sport fencing.

#HEMA #swords #historicalfencing #sportsphotography #MKDF #smallsword

Connor tries to keep Jeff out of measure. Maryland 2024.

#HEMA #swords #historicalfencing #sportsphotography #MKDF #longsword

View over Reynisfjara in Vík, Iceland, January 2025.

Sometimes I post pictures of things that aren’t swords.

#photography #landscapephotography #beach #iceland

That’s because Izzy is a badass.

You should definitely wear full protection in swordfights and in sex

HEMA like it’s hot. PA 12/24.

#HEMA #swords #historicalfencing #sportsphotography #MKDF #longsword

Longsword fighters at Maryland KdF on November 9, 2024.

#HEMA #swords #historicalfencing #sportsphotography #MKDF #longsword

Longsword fencers facing off in front of the mead barrels.

Barfight at Charm City Meadworks this past Saturday, 12/7/24.

#HEMA #HEMAsky #swords #historicalfencing #sportsphotography #MKDF #baltimore

A sword and buckler exchange at the 2023 King’s Cup tournament in Washington, DC

Swords and bucklers, Washington, DC, 2023.

#HEMA #HEMAsky #swords #MHFA #sportsphotography #historicalfencing

A fencer loses his sword.

A longsword fight in Philadelphia, PA 2023.

#HEMA #HEMAsky #longsword #historicalfencing #swords

A replica of an ancient Greek statue offers a cup of wine to the visitor on their way out, hopefully, of the labyrinth

Labyrinth under Buda Castle, Budapest, March 2024.

I’ve actually kind of been leaning into it but my gen z friends don’t understand why I respond JYEAHHHH to every mention of this place

Rookie longsword fighters at the Pinch Point event at Maryland KDF, May 2024.

This is from a longsword teaching tournament my club held this spring where instructors each led a group of rookies through the tournament process to help them with competition readiness. It was a ton of fun, hoping we do another next year!

#HEMA #HEMAsky #MKDF #swords #sportsphotography

Jeff parries a blow in a sword and buckler tournament using an unconventional dhal-and-shamshir combo, showing convergent evolution might apply with martial art too.

Sword and buckler match, King’s Cup tournament 2024. I think I’ll just keep it up with the sword pics!

#HEMAsky #HEMA #swordsky #swords #historicalfencing

Longswords clash at the ARFL regional HEMA tournament at MKDF on November 9th while ref Jonathon nimbly avoids the action

One of my varied and sundry habits is taking pictures of historical European martial arts events. Long time lurker around #archaeosky, first time poster, so let’s get this #HEMAsky going!

Heck yes, love that small world stuff!

Does HEMAsky exist? I’m a mid Atlantic historical fencing photographer (among other things) and I can totally start posting sword pictures here if that’s a thing that anyone would give a shit about