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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Cutlass is featuring heavily in our workshops and classes at the moment, and it was absolutely wonderful to be invited to teach some cutlass drill to York Sea Cadets on Friday evening. A fantastic bunch with some real talented swordfolk coming through the ranks!

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Today is International Trans Day of Visibility, and it doesn't feel like there's much "happy" about it. Keep on fighting, and know that we'll be there alongside you every step of the way. You can be yourself with us. #transvisbility #transrights #transrightsarehumanrights #tdov #transisbeautiful

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

It isn't all about swords! The 18th/19th Century Fencing class completed a module on Bowie knife fighting just before Christmas. There aren't really any comprehensive period sources so we explored various scenarios taken from newspaper reports and eyewitness accounts. #hema #york #yorkshire

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Learn longsword for International Women's Day! The session itself is free, however we're asking for a donation of whatever you feel like paying, with 100% of all takings going to Solace Women's Aid. Learn more and book now at the link below! yorkschoolofdefence.co.uk/iwd/

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Merry Christmas from the YSD! Thank you all for coming to our little impromptu festive bash. I appreciate that it was a wee bit close to the holidays for many of you to make, I'll make sure it's earlier in the month next year. Enjoy unwrapping your Christmas gifts!

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

We had an absolute blast recently teaching a little bit of self-defence to Leeds Roses Ice Hockey Club. Amazing, fierce, lovely folk. 10/10 would fight with again. Go visit and support your local women's hockey team! #leedsroses #leedsthorns #icehockey #icehockeyuk #selfdefence #martialarts

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Had a blast teaching a self defence seminar to these amazing people. Everyone feels unsafe... Flags are up everywhere, people are voting for bigoted extremists, and people consume things that hurt marginalised groups. We all need to do better. #selfdefence #blm #antifa #lgbtqia #protectthedolls

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

As long as it's safe and meets the kit requirements wear what you like! Don't let anyone bully you into feeling uncomfortable. To celebrate how fabulous HEMA is we're going to offer an extra prize for 2026 to champion being whoever the fuck you want to be.

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

A throwback to sunnier days... A spot of escrima in the shady spot outside our regular training venue. #martialarts #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #escrima #eskrima #kali #arnis #stickfighting #fma #york #yorkshire

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Halloween night at the YSD. The perfect excuse for pirates and skeletal unicorns to fight with sickles. #HEMA #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #martialarts #sicklefighting #paulushectormair #phm #halloween #2spoopy4me #york #yorkshire

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

If you're doing bare knuckle boxing do the sparring bare knuckle! The 4oz MMA mitts have got to go. Ditch the gloves and save your friends brain cells. #boxing #pugilism #bareknuckle #classicalpugilism #oldschoolboxing #martialarts #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #york #yorkshire

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

A splendid weekend at Stramash 2025, ran by Victoria Clow and her wonderful students at Saorsa Swords. The YSD had the pleasure of teaching three sessions over the weekend. Claire taught some longsword, Chris some spadroon, and Lauren some messer. See you all next year!

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

We're super happy to carry on sponsoring the scoreboard for Leeds Roses Ice Hockey Team for their 2025/2026 season! They're great people playing a great sport and we love being able to support them in any way we can. #HockeySeason #WomensHockey #HerGameToo #wnihl2north

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

When the timing hits just right... Some foot tricks from the Folk Wrestling class, Monday evenings at 20:00. #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #martialarts #wrestling #grappling #folkwrestling #sweeptheleg

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Sometimes you've got to give it a whirl in a melee rather than just a one-on-one drill. Putting Riboni's romper and rossette into practice with some fun and games in the 18th & 19th Century Fencing class. #HEMA #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #melee #swords #historicalfencing #wma #westernmartialarts

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

Yesterday we were delighted to be able to celebrate the wedding of YSD coaches Claire Rowland and Matthew Maries, two of the kindest, most wonderful, and most utterly bonkers human beings you will ever meet. Thank you for inviting us and letting us be a part of your special day! :)

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

YSD Alumni Dr. Lauren Stokled visits us regularly for our events and gives some splendid lectures on linguistics and reminds us all that the things we think we don't... We actually don't! #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #linguistics #stopmakingshitup #swords #fencing #historicalfencing

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

The first weekend in June saw the YSD head over to NI to take part in Bladeworks. Lauren taught a messer session, Ella catch wrestling, and yours truly some classical pugilism. We had a lovely time; Bladeworks is on our "must visit" list of HEMA events each year. #wrestling #pugilism #messer #hema

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Queer folk don't vanish after pride. Make sure everyone is in a safe and tolerant space by excluding the scumbags, bigots, fascists and 'phobes. Explain why you're excluding them, tell them to do better, and exercise your authority to keep your spaces safe, 365 days a year.

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

(Big) sticks 'n sun in the Monday night Escrima class. Enjoy the weather while it lasts! #escrima #eskrima #kali #arnis #fma #martialarts #york #yorkshire #lgbtqia #queerfriendly #martialartsforall

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

The greatest jousting tournament in Yorkshire took place at our annual Art That Adorns You event this year. Yep @royalarmouries.bsky.social , you heard me right. #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #jousting #spacehoppers #bestspacehopperer #tothedeath #fencing #swordfighting #york #yorkshire

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

You're safe with us. You'll never be used as anyone's rehabilitation. You carry on being your awesome selves and we'll carry on fighting bigotry and keeping our space safe. #transmenaremen #transwomenarewomen #nonbinarypeoplexist #martialartsinyork #martialarts #hema

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Many HEMA folks reading this will have attended Colin Fieldhouse's excellent Kings of the North, and you will have met Janine, a member of staff at the venue who worked tirelessly to help everyone feel welcome. Sadly her home has recently been damaged by fire. Please donate! gofund.me/4a693950

gofund.me

Donate to A Little Help For A Big-Hearted Friend Picking Up The Pieces, organised by Rachel Court

Our dear friend Janine, last week her neighbours home caught … Rachel Court needs your support for A Little Help For A Big-Hearted Friend Picking Up The Pieces

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Our destination on Sunday, teaching a small but perfectly formed group from @oxfordswordandstaff the joys of messer, disguising a language lesson as English Longsword and finishing with some suffrajitsu. Top people! Thanks for having us!

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Cut & Thrust is always such a splendid class. If you enjoy your broadswords, backswords, sabres, spadroons, smallswords, rapiers and other assorted stabbing and cutting implements this may be the class for you. Want to get involved? Visit www.yorkschoolofdefence.co.uk

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

The rage is real. This is your friendly neighbourhood reminder to all of our LGBTQIA+ friends around the world that we see you, we hear you, and we love you. You're welcome here and we will fight to defend your right to exist in a safe and free society. Bigots are not welcome here.

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Well, the bigots are at it again. Some hate aimed towards me sent via one of my students who was on the receiving end. Just for me being an ally... I'm a cis het dude, imagine being gay/trans/a woman etc at the moment? The hate is real and is so much worse for them. www.facebook.com/yorkschoolof...

facebook.com

York School of Defence

So... Those of you who know me know that I'm fairly vocal about supporting the gay and trans communities and trying to help women have an equal voice in things. Plenty of people in the HEMASphere...

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

"How do we make the last savate session before Christmas festive?" "The same way we do everything else. Stick balloons on everything..." #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #savate #pugilism #boxing #classicalpugilism #martialarts #christmas2024 #york #yorkshire #yorkmartialarts

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York School of Defence @ysod.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Some splendid leg origami on #leglocktober which will continue into November and December because who doesn't love #leglocks? #catchwrestling every Thursday at the York School of Defence. buff.ly/2Yh09ap #wrestling #grappling #hema #historicaleuropeanmartialarts #catchascatchcan

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