Today is International Trans Day of Visibility, and it doesn't feel like there's much "happy" about it. Keep on fighting, and know that we'll be there alongside you every step of the way. You can be yourself with us.
#transvisbility #transrights #transrightsarehumanrights #tdov #transisbeautiful
Thursday night pugilism & savate is where the big kicks live.
#HEMA #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #pugilism #savate #kicking #punching #martialarts #york #yorkshire #thisgirlcan
It isn't all about swords! The 18th/19th Century Fencing class completed a module on Bowie knife fighting just before Christmas. There aren't really any comprehensive period sources so we explored various scenarios taken from newspaper reports and eyewitness accounts.
#hema #york #yorkshire
Learn longsword for International Women's Day!
The session itself is free, however we're asking for a donation of whatever you feel like paying, with 100% of all takings going to Solace Women's Aid.
Learn more and book now at the link below!
yorkschoolofdefence.co.uk/iwd/
Merry Christmas from the YSD! Thank you all for coming to our little impromptu festive bash. I appreciate that it was a wee bit close to the holidays for many of you to make, I'll make sure it's earlier in the month next year. Enjoy unwrapping your Christmas gifts!
We had an absolute blast recently teaching a little bit of self-defence to Leeds Roses Ice Hockey Club. Amazing, fierce, lovely folk. 10/10 would fight with again. Go visit and support your local women's hockey team!
#leedsroses #leedsthorns #icehockey #icehockeyuk #selfdefence #martialarts
Had a blast teaching a self defence seminar to these amazing people. Everyone feels unsafe... Flags are up everywhere, people are voting for bigoted extremists, and people consume things that hurt marginalised groups. We all need to do better. #selfdefence #blm #antifa #lgbtqia #protectthedolls
As long as it's safe and meets the kit requirements wear what you like! Don't let anyone bully you into feeling uncomfortable. To celebrate how fabulous HEMA is we're going to offer an extra prize for 2026 to champion being whoever the fuck you want to be.
A throwback to sunnier days... A spot of escrima in the shady spot outside our regular training venue.
#martialarts #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #escrima #eskrima #kali #arnis #stickfighting #fma #york #yorkshire
Halloween night at the YSD. The perfect excuse for pirates and skeletal unicorns to fight with sickles. #HEMA #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #martialarts #sicklefighting #paulushectormair #phm #halloween #2spoopy4me #york #yorkshire
If you're doing bare knuckle boxing do the sparring bare knuckle! The 4oz MMA mitts have got to go. Ditch the gloves and save your friends brain cells.
#boxing #pugilism #bareknuckle #classicalpugilism #oldschoolboxing #martialarts #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #york #yorkshire
A splendid weekend at Stramash 2025, ran by Victoria Clow and her wonderful students at Saorsa Swords. The YSD had the pleasure of teaching three sessions over the weekend. Claire taught some longsword, Chris some spadroon, and Lauren some messer. See you all next year!
We're super happy to carry on sponsoring the scoreboard for Leeds Roses Ice Hockey Team for their 2025/2026 season! They're great people playing a great sport and we love being able to support them in any way we can.
#HockeySeason #WomensHockey #HerGameToo #wnihl2north
When the timing hits just right... Some foot tricks from the Folk Wrestling class, Monday evenings at 20:00.
#hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #martialarts #wrestling #grappling #folkwrestling #sweeptheleg
It was wonderful to be at the event and to meet you all! :)
Sometimes you've got to give it a whirl in a melee rather than just a one-on-one drill. Putting Riboni's romper and rossette into practice with some fun and games in the 18th & 19th Century Fencing class. #HEMA #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #melee #swords #historicalfencing #wma #westernmartialarts
Yesterday we were delighted to be able to celebrate the wedding of YSD coaches Claire Rowland and Matthew Maries, two of the kindest, most wonderful, and most utterly bonkers human beings you will ever meet.
Thank you for inviting us and letting us be a part of your special day! :)
Pip shows Laura the stabby end. #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #grappling #wrestling #stickfighting #quarterstaff #staff #martialarts #york #yorkshire #martialartsinyork
YSD Alumni Dr. Lauren Stokled visits us regularly for our events and gives some splendid lectures on linguistics and reminds us all that the things we think we don't... We actually don't!
#hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #linguistics #stopmakingshitup #swords #fencing #historicalfencing
The first weekend in June saw the YSD head over to NI to take part in Bladeworks. Lauren taught a messer session, Ella catch wrestling, and yours truly some classical pugilism. We had a lovely time; Bladeworks is on our "must visit" list of HEMA events each year. #wrestling #pugilism #messer #hema
True dat.
Queer folk don't vanish after pride. Make sure everyone is in a safe and tolerant space by excluding the scumbags, bigots, fascists and 'phobes. Explain why you're excluding them, tell them to do better, and exercise your authority to keep your spaces safe, 365 days a year.
A #throwbackthursday picture. If you know, you know. #messer #leckuchner #backgammon #kunstdesfechtens #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #martialarts #swordfighting #grappling #wrestling #langesmesser #york #martialartsinyork #yorkshire
(Big) sticks 'n sun in the Monday night Escrima class. Enjoy the weather while it lasts! #escrima #eskrima #kali #arnis #fma #martialarts #york #yorkshire #lgbtqia #queerfriendly #martialartsforall
The greatest jousting tournament in Yorkshire took place at our annual Art That Adorns You event this year. Yep @royalarmouries.bsky.social , you heard me right.
#hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #jousting #spacehoppers #bestspacehopperer #tothedeath #fencing #swordfighting #york #yorkshire
You're safe with us. You'll never be used as anyone's rehabilitation. You carry on being your awesome selves and we'll carry on fighting bigotry and keeping our space safe.
#transmenaremen #transwomenarewomen #nonbinarypeoplexist #martialartsinyork #martialarts #hema
Many HEMA folks reading this will have attended Colin Fieldhouse's excellent Kings of the North, and you will have met Janine, a member of staff at the venue who worked tirelessly to help everyone feel welcome. Sadly her home has recently been damaged by fire. Please donate!
gofund.me/4a693950
Happy International Trans Day of Visibility! We see you and we love you! You can be yourselves with us!
#InternationalTransDay #TransDayOfVisibility #transgenderdayofvisibility #transgenderawareness #martialarts #Hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #swordfighting #historicalfencing #DEI #lgbtqia
A look back at the superb suffrajitsu seminar taught by Lauren for International Women's Day.
#suffrajitsu #martialarts #iwd #internationalwomensday #jiujitsu #jujutsu #HEMA #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #fightlikeagirl #votesforwomen #suffragette #york #yorkshire #martialartsinyork
Lauren is in her element teaching a suffrajitsu workshop for #internationalwomensday . That's right, votes for women, fucking get over it! #votesforwomen #suffrage #suffragettes #suffragists #feminism #equality #martialarts #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #grappling #jujutsu #jiujitsu
