It's a new year. I will be starting at a new HEMA club. While I miss my previous school dearly, I am looking forward to the new challenges and vastly different training environment I am sure to find myself in. This club has a far broader range of styles taught than the previous one - something that is both daunting and exciting. I had enough trouble at a school that taught only sabre - I wonder how I'll go with learning longsword, singlesword, unarmed... probably some other things I haven't yet conceived of... Yikes.
I had my first go at longsword at this club's final class last year; it was like my very first HEMA class all over again. Couldn't figure out where to put my limbs. It was somewhat disheartening to feel as though the skills I had been learning the previous six months were now useless (they aren't, but it certainly felt that way at the time). Six months doesn't sound like a long time, on paper. But for me - a person who has never really done any kind of sport or martial art before - it's the longest I've committed to something of this nature.
When I left my old club last year, I spent some time convinced that I would give it up for good. I was in a shitty place mentally and emotionally. For certain (and respectfully unspecified) reasons, HEMA now carried with it some negative and upsetting connotations. I really didn't think I could continue with it, and I remained convinced of this for weeks and weeks - feeling sorry for myself that I had to let go of something that had been quickly becoming a passion. But, slowly but surely, a fog lifted - and I realized that I wasn't willing to let it go after all.
I had started something that terrified me, something I was entirely unfamiliar with. I didn't only start it - I kept it up for half a year. And I realized it was something I really, really enjoyed doing. Why would I quit now? So I didn't. And, if I may be allowed a little moment of self-congratulation, I'm a bit proud of myself for that.
Okay, mushy stuff done. So, where are we now?
Dolphin jousting. That's where. (Image credit: GLECA)
The weekend's itinerary consisted of varied weapons workshops, a crash course in marching, near-excessive barbecuing, and the battling of inflatable dolphins in the ocean. I couldn't stay for the entire camp but I thoroughly enjoyed what I could be there for. This club has an incredible sense of community and camaraderie - it's really quite touching to see. I look forward to getting to know these guys as the year progresses. I am thoroughly sunburnt and my muscles still ache from the workshops, but it was a fantastic pre-semester introduction.
Class starts in earnest next week and I am excited to start this new chapter in my (still rather new) martial arts career. Go swords.
