York School of Defence

24/09/2026

Broadsword Fest is back for 2026! And we're doing two days!

York, 21st - 22nd of November.

https://broadswordfest.co.uk/

Broadswords are best swords. Come join us!

Home BroadswordFest is a HEMA event dedicated to the most wonderful of weapons; the basket hilted broadsword/backsword. It is jointly organised by Victoria Clow of Saorsa Swords and Chris Halpin of the York School of Defence, and alternates annually between York and Glasgow. BroadswordFest #3 will t...

22/09/2026

New course incoming!

Self Defence for Women! 🥊👊

👍▶️£60 for 6 weeks of training, every Wednesday night 19:00 - 20:30 from the 4th of November.

📖💪Learn a bit about the history of the Suffragettes and their struggle to help put your modern self defence into context.

🎓🤸‍♀Come join us and have some fun whilst training and learning.

✅Physical sklls for modern self-defence
✅De-escalation and avoidance
✅Basic grappling, escape and evasion
✅Meet some awesome people
✅Learn about women's suffrage

🌐Details at yorkschoolofdefence.co.uk/book

Booking Our Suffragette Self-Defence Course for Women is a unique take on modern self defence. Whilst all of the techniques learned are 100% relevant to modern self defence, you’ll also learn some of the history and struggles of the women’s suffrage moment.Each lesson will be led by experienced ...

21/09/2026

Claire Maries made us a thing!

Lovely time at Wild North '26, it's such a friendly event with a great bunch of folk.

Thanks for having us!

20/09/2026

08/09/2026

So happy to be supporting Leeds Roses Ice Hockey Club again and helping out women's hockey in our own little way. Love these folks and watching them play!

We would like to welcome back York School of Defence as a club sponsor this year. 🤝

York School of Defence is sponsoring our scoreboard software which brings a better in game experience for our fans and a customisable screen. 🙌

York School of Defence offers a variety of different martial arts and combative systems. The classes range from medieval longsword and single handed sword, quarterstaff, Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestling, classical pugilism, Bartitsu and Suffrajitsu, self defence, sambo and eskrima.

No experience is necessary to train and all are welcome!

Make sure to check them out here:
https://yorkschoolofdefence.co.uk

We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to growing our partnership further! 💙💛

07/09/2026

Don't forget we're riding the meme weapon wave and actually doing the thing. It'll be a light-hearted one day event at our regular venue in York for twenty of your shiny pounds. We understand that spadroons aren't common in HEMA so feel free to bring a heavy smallsword, light sabre or similar, or borrow some synthetic bits and pieces.

Saturday the 26th in York. Come join us!

https://spadroonfest.co.uk/

We all know that spadroons are the bestest of swords and what happens when a broadsword and smallsword make a baby. They are full of whimsy and fun, and delight everyone who holds them. If you don’t like spadroons then you’re wrong. Come and join your spadroon friends in York for a fun day of le...

28/08/2026

I hope you're all ready for some totally not-at-all serious multi-weapon shenanigans tomorrow!

13/08/2026

A splendid day teaching broadsword organised by the lovely Katie at Crucible Armoury. A bit of Wylde, a bit of Lonnergan, a bit of Page, a bit of McBane. Lovely folks to train with! Thanks for having us!

06/08/2026

EHRC "guidance" is just that... ignore it if you feel able to do so. Submit and file harassment reports if you encouter any problems. This isn't an option for everyone but if you're comfortable doing so please make a fuss, make yourselves heard. If you need help, just ask.

And to all of the non-trans folk reading this page... They're likely coming for you next. All eyes may be focusing on the "T" but they'll be heading right for the LGB next. Cis women's rights will also be on the chopping block... Cis men who aren't stereotypical in their demeanour or appearance? They're coming for you as well. Unless you're a middle class cis white male stereotype you're in the firing line whether you realise it or not.

Support maginalised groups in society, and if you can't bring yourself to do it because morally it's the right thing to do and should be the default for decent human behaviour, do it because they're coming for you at some point in the future unless we work together to stop this.

Everyone benefits from a fair, equal, and unbiased society. Do your bit to make it happen.

31/07/2026

My amazing friend Lucy did a thing, and it's a great thing and you should all go and subscribe for more top content in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhZOqDvIiQA

Most people tell women to pick up a martial art for self defense. B...