Dear Sword Family: A Love Letter

Through my nearly 10 years of HEMA, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet hundreds, if not thousands, of people who are interested in swords. My experience has not just been limited to HEMA practitioners either. I have had fantastic conversations and interactions with Buhurt combatants who taught me about medieval melees and sources about William Marshal. I have met Living History scholars who possess an extensive knowledge of the medieval world and have offered valid critiques of HEMA. I have discussed at length with SCA Adventurers about the pros and cons of both of our martial training styles. All of you have contributed to my experience in swordsmanship, and I value every interaction we have had. You are all part of the sword family.

Throughout my years in swordsmanship, I have seen numerous scandals, negativity, injuries, unpleasantries, and hate. Recently, I have seen more people being banned from clubs or engaging in reckless behavior that endangered others or even threatening acts towards the lives of our sword family.

However, I believe that the reason I am seeing more news like this is not because our family is getting worse. On the contrary, our family is getting their voice and standing up for one another. We are beginning to solidify in our cultures to the point where we can say “No. That is not acceptable behavior, and we as a sword family have no tolerance for it.” While I know these challenging times can be difficult, I take comfort in the fact that our communities are becoming increasingly connected to the point where we can protect one another and call out bad actors.

Our sword family comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds. Whether that be sexual preference, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, political view, social class, and everything in between, we are all brought together by a simple idea. We all love swords. I have had conversations with strangers from around the world who took the time out of their day to talk to me because they were passionate about swords. In my first club, a teammate of mine once said, “If you like swords, then you are a-okay with me,” and I think our sword family reflects this idea. It is a beautiful thing when all are brought together by a common interest and share a diverse community.

Some members of our family put on a smiling mask while they are around their sword people. In their personal lives, those same members are struggling. Numerous things can bring suffering and hardship into someone’s life. Some of our family members are better at hiding what they are going through than others. Worse off, so many of us connect through social media and it is easy for us to assume we are all alright and happy.

As a sword family, we must care for and love one another. Our family has a fun and unique situation where “liking swords” is the least interesting thing about us, because everyone in our family likes swords! Get to know one another. We have members in our community who are teachers in poverty-stricken areas, going to work every day with the hope of making a difference. We have scientists and engineers working to advance our knowledge of the world, hoping to prevent the next pandemic before it even begins. Small business owners and blue collar workers who work tasks daily and on weekends to make the lives of others better. We have members who are terrific artists inspiring people through their work, and students studying hard to make a brighter future. There are so many interesting people in our sword family, but some are too humble or shy to tell you how interesting they are. Ask. Learn more about each other outside of just the superficial “I like swords” so we can grow and care even more than we already do.

That is the beauty of a family brought together by the simple idea of sharing a passion for swords and a desire to learn more. We must welcome everyone while protecting our family from truly horrific people who would want to harm us, whether by words or by force.  
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I do not know who needs to hear this but know that you are loved and you are welcome in my sword family. There are people around you who care and who will stand at your side when the going gets tough.
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You are not alone and there is always hope.