‘We want to be a safe space for everyone’
EDEL Fencing Academy is providing a beginner’s course in the historic sport of longsword at Cathays Community Centre.
The academy practises Historical European Martial Arts and bases its teaching on a selection of writings on different martial arts that date back to the 16th Century.
The classes are run by Jo Alfie Wimborne, and Nick Laing, 28, a couple who live together in Pen-y-Lan.
Jo said: “Myself and Nick worked together, he spent a year saying ‘Jo come to my sword club’ and I eventually gave in. It was the best decision I ever made.
“By the time I left university, I’d taken over doing a lot of the organising of the HEMA club, and I’d found a good bunch of friends I didn’t want to leave.”
Jo and Nick have advertised in areas across Cardiff, aiming to get a more diverse group of people taking part.
“We’re trying to put our advert out to people who may be new to Cardiff and want somewhere that’s not going to be a horrible experience for someone who’s queer or trans, so were definitely a safe space in that regard.”
“We’re trying to get as many people into HEMA as possible, people from all different backgrounds.
“It’s a relatively young sport, but it has been very white male dominated for the past 40 years, and we’re keen for it to not be.”
The main treatise the club works with was written in 1570 by Joachim Meyer, a 16th century fencing master.
It was written in German, and translates as A Thorough Description of the Art of Combat.
Jo and Nick try to interpret the writings into movements and martial arts their members can perform.
Referring to the swords themselves, Jo said: “They’re generally not as heavy as you think they would be.
“A Feder (training longsword) is around 1,400 to 1,700g”.
The classes run once a week in Cathays Community Centre, including a beginner’s course, for which no prior experience is necessary. The course costs £60 for eight weeks.
- For further information @EdelFencingAcademy on Facebook.
