A Step Back, A Leap Forward: HEMA while Inactive

As some of you may know, I recently had to take a break from HEMA due to a much-needed surgery on my ankle. Not being able to participate in this martial art was rather difficult. Along with missing tournaments and events, I missed seeing friends from around the country and catching up on all their adventures.
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That being said, I learned to appreciate and enjoy my recovery time. What better way to restart the blog posts than by reflecting on how I stayed engaged with HEMA while out for an injury? Today, we will discuss some of the things I did to stay motivated. Hopefully, it will help you if you ever need to take some time away from HEMA.

​Revisit Your Motivator

The first thing I recommend is revisiting what got you into HEMA in the first place. For me, it was the Lord of the Rings and video games like the Legend of Zelda. Going on adventures, either through re-reading classics or by virtually exploring the world of Hyrule again, helped me stay motivated, especially early on after the surgery when I was on crutches. 
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I also had the time to play new games like Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 or see the War of the Rohirrim movie (both of which I really enjoyed). It is amazing what you can take for granted when you are in your rhythm, like regular training. By taking the time to remember what got me into HEMA in the first place, I was motivated to focus on the healing process, knowing that even if I was not at practice, I was still taking steps to improve.

​Read the Sources

Along with re-reading the Lord of the Rings, I took the time to deep-dive some of the sources I had not read in some time. While I.33 is a regular read for me, other sources I study such as Fiore or Ringeck have been more neglected. It was nice to sit down and re-read these sources because certain techniques make more sense now that I have multiple years of practice now. 
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This also helped give me a plan for re-practicing specific techniques once I was able to put weight on my leg again. This little addition to physical therapy helped me focus on the specific muscle groups the technique requires and the muscles that needed healing from the surgery.

​Take a Break

There is nothing wrong with taking a break to recharge. HEMA is a demanding activity, both mentally and physically. Sometimes you just need a break. Thankfully, the other officers at Vier Blossen understood why I could not go to practice (both because of the difficulty with crutches and the frustration of being present but not participating).
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 I took the time to learn new recipes to cook, got into new hobbies, and watched more sports. All things that I have wanted to do for a while, but HEMA was preventing me due to the time dedication. Once I returned to my regularly scheduled HEMA activities, I found time to continue the new hobbies and felt rejuvenated overall.

Closing Thoughts

It is nice to be back. However, things feel a little different now than before my surgery. I do not feel guilty about missing competitions or when other obligations prevent me from making it to practice. As a new activity, I started supplementing HEMA tournaments with 5K runs.

And yet, I feel more dedicated to my training than ever. I can feel the difference in my footwork before and after the surgery. I am excited to get back into competing (though I am still taking time before signing up for a tournament again). This time off has given me a nice perspective on why I started HEMA in the first place and broke the rut I found myself in, and I am sure others have as well.
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So, if you ever find yourself stepping away from HEMA for physical or personal reasons, take the time to try new things and re-visit old ones. I cannot wait to see everyone again and look forward to another year of Funky Buckler blogs!