From a moment when I was contemplating how best to say something, and realised I say it best with swords. #TransMenareMen #TransWomenareWomen #hema #fencing #londonlongswordfamily #londonlongswordacademy #learnswordfighting #london

“It’s a smallsword, it’s elegant” From the back of the hall “IT’S A F*cking SHANK!”* I’m so glad my descriptors as slipping in. #hema #fencing #londonlongswordacademy *to be used elegantly for shanking

Sabre and Dussack from Paulus Hector Mair and Joachim Meyer, in the Crystal Palace mixed weapons class.❤️⚔️❤️ #hema #learnswordfighting #davidrawlings #londonlongswordacademy #community

I.33 in the sword and buckler class. Lots of tempo work, lots to be proud of.☺️⚔️☺️ #hema #learnswordfighting #davidrawlings #community #londonlongswordacademy

I’m not going to make this about a few choice photos of women in the classes. I’m going to use this as my reminder that we need to work harder for equality. Happy women’s day. #hema #fencing #community #learnswordfighting #londonlongswordacademy

Last lesson going awesome 😂 verdadera destreza Sabre at Sword Saturday. #hema #learnswordfighting #londonlongswordacademy #friassabre #community

Which Lucini are you? #learnswordfighting #hema #londonlongswordacademy #londonlongswordfamily

Krucke! I.33 work in the sword and buckler class. Such a clinical dissection of this play and everyone was superb. And I LOVE Sally’s excellent covering placement in the freeplay. #hema #anonimobolognese #learnswordfighting #londonlongswordacademy #community

Can we cut to the chase and call it ADaveDHD?!? #adhd

From my personal research collection. An original page from Academie de l’Espée the beautiful masterwork of verdadera destreza by Girard Thibault d’Anvers. #hema #learnswordfighting #gerardthibault #londonlongswordacademy #davidrawlings

If you want a longer sword, step closer! I think Robyn needs a tank! #hema #learnswordfighting #warhammer #londonlongswordacademy #londonlongswordfamily

The sword in two hands. Achille Marozzo form work in the a Crystal Palace class. #londonlongswordacademy #learnswordfighting #community #hema #davidrawlings

Find a crew that elevates each other❤️⚔️❤️ Swords, Spears, Sickles, RAVE! #hema #londonlongswordacademy #learnswordfighting #londonlongswordfamily

I’ve been asked to explain this a lot and I always end up trying to do so inside ten minutes, post freeplay when folks are exhausted after trying their best and where it might be taken as criticism, rather than “here is the thing we should remind ourselves of constantly. #hema

The face of the teacher who nipped to the loo mid class to find that the door has locked behind him, who walked around the entire church to find that helpful students have barred the gates but, it will not hold me for long. The ground shakes... drums, drums in the deep.😂

An incredibly focussed sword and buckler class yesterday, working varied measures in I.33, from entering from half shield, to crutch (with added Yoda, cos it helps). Fantastic work from everyone ☺️ #hema #community #learnswordfighting #davidrawlings #londonlongswordacademy

There is something special in a sudden storm, when you find yourself at a crossing. And that slow realisation from the person in front of you that they aren’t as wet as they should be. And maybe a short walk where you make a momentary friend.

Due to the contentious comments on yesterday’s video, Robyn felt it necessary to address Posture of the Straight Line gate. #hema #girardthibault #cats #learnswordfighting #verdaderadestreza

Robyn, our resident our resident expert on La Verdadera Destreza, offers some valuable insight into the works of Girard Thibault. #davidrawlings #hema #learnswordfighting #cats #londonlongswordacademy

I wonder if there is some interdenominational chat that knows me as, Dave who introduces himself as “did you know our earliest fencing manual is a priest teaching swordfighting, and is the first treatise to show a woman fencing and men fencing?”😂

Sometimes the shot doesn’t land, but it’s sooooo fun learning from the misses! Then hitting ☺️⚔️☺️ Freeplay in the smallsword class. #hema #learnswordfighting #domenicoangelo #londonlongswordacademy #community