„Fence Like a Woman“ is a unique Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) event exclusively designed for women. Over the course of two days, we offer a rich and diverse program that includes:
- Seminars: Participate in a variety of workshops covering topics such as wrestling, longsword, rapier and cloak, and sickle fighting according to Mair.
- Free Sparring: Take advantage of dedicated spaces for free sparring to immediately apply and deepen what you’ve learned during the seminars.
- Beginner’s Tournament: Engage in a small tournament open to all experience levels, where you also have the opportunity to practice as a coach or referee.
- Equipment Modification Workshop: A special highlight is the workshop focused on customizing and modifying your gear to better suit your needs.
This event is a perfect blend of structured learning and practical experience, offering something for everyone, whether you are new to HEMA or an experienced fencer.
Our Workshop Leaders
Kristine Konsmo – Footwork for Longsword
This seminar will start with a number of drills without the sword and follow with drills with the sword aimed at making you more nimble in the ring. Most of these are applicable for all weapons, but the focus will be on how we move with longsword. Later we will work with some paired drilling and sparring games. Most of the semianr can be done without kit, but towards the end minimim mask and gloves will be requires–full gear if you’de like to do the drills at a higher intensity.
Bio:
Kristine has been a student of HEMA since 2010. She has been active in the tournament scene since 2011 and has earned several medals at international tournaments in various weaponsets since then. Her focus is spread across Sword & Buckler, Rapier & Dagger, Longsword and, most recently, Sabre. A long background in ballet and various other sports informs her approach to footwork and body mecahnics and is a point of interest in understanding how to be more agile in the ring. Kristine is a student and instructor at HEMA Riga in Latvia
Melissa Kleiß – Fencing with Cloak
HEMA in Any Weather
Even today, the cloak remains both elegant and epic. In this workshop, we’ll explore the basics of attacking and defending with the cloak. We’ll start with fundamental handling techniques, then move on to some cool tricks. The motto here: Twirling and throwing can be quite useful!
Equipment Note: A large towel can be used as a cloak.
Bio:
I’m Melissa, and I began my journey in historical fencing in 2021. After attending my first tournament in 2022, I discovered my passion for the sport. Now, I spend almost every weekend at different HEMA events, competing in national and international tournaments. Currently, I’m part of the German national team for both longsword and rapier. I particularly enjoy fencing with one-handed weapons paired with an off-hand tool, such as the cloak.
Franziska Müller – Sickle Fighting according to Mair
Cut Him to the Floor – The Art of Sickle Fighting
Ever tried sickle fighting? No? This workshop is your chance! Paulus Hector Mair, a 16th-century martial artist, didn’t just focus on classic knightly weapons; he also incorporated elements of peasant combat techniques. In this workshop, we’ll explore these elements, specifically focusing on sickle fighting. We’ll cover the basic movement patterns and principles of this peasant weapon in a playful and experiential manner. Given the close combat distance of sickle fighting, we’ll also practice friendly grappling and wrestling.
Bio:
My fencing journey began in the fall of 2019 with the longsword. Since then, I have been training with Schwert & Bogen and have been a coach for over two years. During the pandemic, I started studying sickle combat according to Paulus Hector Mair. Additionally, I’ve gained experience in kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu, which further deepened my passion for fighting. Learning new movement patterns and engaging in physical activity brings me great joy, which I’m excited to share with others.
Jasmin Weichert and Florentine Meyer – Jiu-Jitsu for Beginners
What does a Samurai do without a sword? Jiu-Jitsu!
We, the Dojo Kaizen, warmly invite you to our introductory course. Together, we’ll explore the full spectrum of Jiu-Jitsu: learning how to fall so that we can throw, and engaging in some friendly grappling (Randori) both on the ground and standing up. We’ll also try out some joint lock techniques. We look forward to seeing you!
Jasmin Weichert:
When my mother brought me a flyer for Dojo Kaizen in 2017, I never imagined that this sport would become such a significant part of my life. But after the trial training, I was hooked, and I’ve been training in Jiu-Jitsu in Heidenau ever since. After years of supporting the team, I took over my own children’s group in 2021 and am now responsible for the U10 group in our club. I currently hold the blue belt (2nd Kyu).
Florentine Meyer:
My journey in Budo martial arts began in 2012 in the Judo-AG at my high school. I continued the sport in a club, eventually earning the orange belt (5th Kyu). In 2016, I discovered Jiu-Jitsu. The throws and groundwork I knew from Judo were complemented by strikes, kicks, and joint locks. I currently hold the brown belt (1st Kyu) in Jiu-Jitsu. Since 2017, I have been coaching children and youth in our Ü10 group, and this spring, I also took over one of our adult classes.
Marcjanna Jelińska- Empowering women in HEMA
HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) can sometimes seem like a male-dominated hobby, with a significant disparity in participation between women’s and open categories at tournaments. However, this assumption ignores important factors such as safety in training, marketing decisions by event organizers and clubs, and the lack of knowledge about how to properly train women, who are not just „smaller men.“
In this workshop, Marcjanna Jelińska will guide us in a discussion on how to create a safer, more supportive environment for women in HEMA, both in training and at tournaments. The aim is not to place further expectations on women to compete but to empower them and make this practice more inclusive for everyone. Let’s come together to share our experiences, listen to each other, and find solutions to make HEMA a more welcoming space for all.
Bio:
Marcjanna is a passionate fencer, linguist, and musician with a deep connection to both sport and historical fencing. Originally from Poland, Marcjanna pursued her education in France at Sorbonne University before diving into the world of Polish HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) in 2016. She has trained in numerous fencing clubs across Wrocław and beyond, competing in a variety of weapons including longsword, saber, rapier & dagger, and more.
Though self-taught in rapier, she has won prizes in open categories, even at major international tournaments such as Swordfish and Tyrnhaw. In 2022, Marcjanna joined Akademia Szermierzy in Warsaw, where she now teaches rapier. Currently, she is studying to become a professional fencing coach, bringing together her experience from both HEMA and modern fencing methodologies to help the next generation of fencers.
Contact Information: For more details and to register, please contact us at: Email: frauentag@fencing-club.de
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