This past weekend we had the unmitigated pleasure to host an event, the first class in a four-part series we're calling "Being a She-Wolf." Each four-hour class is designed to help women feel more empowered about themselves by using Longsword skills as almost an analog for life in general. We asked Rebecca Glass, from NYHFA, to prepare and present the class, and it was absolutely wonderful to watch it unfold.
Let me give you a little background on this series. This course developed from my own work (well, my non-HEMA work!) as a psychotherapist. I spend an awful lot of time talking to people who are anxious, but more than merely being worried about things they are, fundamentally, fearful of life. I have come to the point where I personally and professionally despise fear because, like Frank Herbert called it, fear is "the little death" that makes people's lives far less than they could be, less than they should be.
I can't tell you how many times I've sat across from someone who is telling me all the reasons they can't do this because they're too scared or they can't do that because they fear the (highly unrealistic!) consequences -- and yet the "this" and "that" is exactly what they need to free themselves of the chains that have bound them for so long. It's at times like this that I can't help but think, You really need HEMA in your life. Nothing like having a Longsword come winging at your head, and to block it deftly, to lose that fear!
But as recruiting your patients to join a martial arts club you run is generally frowned upon I sadly don't ever actually say those words, though I do think them. Being a She-Wolf was, to a certain extent, born out of that frustration. I realized the opportunity HEMA has to uplift and empower people because you can't do any of our various martial arts fearfully, and the more you can do in HEMA fearlessly the more you can live your life fearlessly, which is the ultimate path towards empowerment. I've planned for some time to develop a course using Longsword as a way to help people overcome anxiety generally, but I also realized women, in particular, could benefit from a HEMA empowerment course.
So in November, I reached out to Rebecca who graciously agreed to develop and present the course, which is being done as a four-part workshop. The course she developed hinges on the women, first, identifying some of the things that keep them back from being the best versions of themselves they can be, and then developing the Longsword skills to be able to compete in front of others.
Let me give you a little background on this series. This course developed from my own work (well, my non-HEMA work!) as a psychotherapist. I spend an awful lot of time talking to people who are anxious, but more than merely being worried about things they are, fundamentally, fearful of life. I have come to the point where I personally and professionally despise fear because, like Frank Herbert called it, fear is "the little death" that makes people's lives far less than they could be, less than they should be.
I can't tell you how many times I've sat across from someone who is telling me all the reasons they can't do this because they're too scared or they can't do that because they fear the (highly unrealistic!) consequences -- and yet the "this" and "that" is exactly what they need to free themselves of the chains that have bound them for so long. It's at times like this that I can't help but think, You really need HEMA in your life. Nothing like having a Longsword come winging at your head, and to block it deftly, to lose that fear!
But as recruiting your patients to join a martial arts club you run is generally frowned upon I sadly don't ever actually say those words, though I do think them. Being a She-Wolf was, to a certain extent, born out of that frustration. I realized the opportunity HEMA has to uplift and empower people because you can't do any of our various martial arts fearfully, and the more you can do in HEMA fearlessly the more you can live your life fearlessly, which is the ultimate path towards empowerment. I've planned for some time to develop a course using Longsword as a way to help people overcome anxiety generally, but I also realized women, in particular, could benefit from a HEMA empowerment course.
So in November, I reached out to Rebecca who graciously agreed to develop and present the course, which is being done as a four-part workshop. The course she developed hinges on the women, first, identifying some of the things that keep them back from being the best versions of themselves they can be, and then developing the Longsword skills to be able to compete in front of others.
Now, in this context, "compete" means being comfortable with sparring in front of others, but then also working up to the point where there will be a course-ending in-house tournament. The overarching goal of all of this is to help women develop the confidence being themselves, being the best HEMA fighters (or whatever) and not being fearful of what others think. So after discussing and exploring some of the unique things that may perhaps keep them from blossoming into their full selves, the women worked on some drills, played some sparring games, and eventually parred against each other.
Here's why I'm sharing this with you, and the reason I am so proud and so pleased with this course: It's because this is us using HEMA to go beyond mere martial arts. Please understand, I am no way knocking HEMA here. I utterly love HEMA, I want to do it as much as possible, and want to be the best fencer I can be; but, boiled down to its essence, HEMA is a martial art that has some limited applicability to modern living, or it is a sport, or it is a way to exercise or just a past time. When we apply it like we did with the She-Wolves it becomes something more, something greater.
When we do something like this HEMA becomes a life-changing thing. It is something that allows people to develop a wisdom they might not have had otherwise, it allows them to feel something (other than sore shoulders and stretched leg muscles!) that they may have never felt before in their lives. Something like Being a She Wolf allows us to take the physical skills of HEMA and almost translate them or transfigure them into something bigger, something better, something that can change lives forever.
If given the chance, consider developing a course along these lines to help change the lives of people in your community. Even if you aren't directly involved in taking the course, as I was not, you will love HEMA even more just because of the great potential it has to improve lives.
There are three more classes scheduled for this year in the three remaining quarters. I look forward to seeing how the She-Wolves grow in that time and will be back to discuss developments with you here.
Until then, stay loose and train hard!
-- Scott
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