I recently read quite an interesting article about the trap of turning hobbies into hustles. As someone who has turned several hobbies into businesses over the years, I can identify with quite a lot of the sentiment in the article. However, I do …
More thoughts about tricks and systems (in real life too!)
The discussion about tricks and systems in HEMA seems to be recurring quite regularly at the moment. I recently saw something while reading an article about business productivity that gave me a new avenue of ideas to pursue, so I’d like to share …
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The experience of running a full-time HEMA school in Glasgow
Although I’m currently based in Liverpool, I am responsible for all the paperwork and business admin for a full-time training centre that teaches HEMA in Glasgow, as well as offering archery and blacksmithing activities. The Vanguard Centre is …
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Initial thoughts about the proposed Offensive Weapons Bill 2018
Since October last year, Matt Easton and Keith Farrell have been working hard to mobilise the UK HEMA community to respond to the government consultation on the proposed Offensive Weapons Bill. Now that the wording of the proposed bill has become …
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HEMA – A Systematic Approach
This is a guest article by Nial Prince. The subject is one about which Nial has been writing quite often recently, in answer to people’s questions on Facebook. So that the ideas and points of view would be easier to find again in the future, with a …
Some thoughts on corporate sponsorship for the development of the HEMA community
Recently there was a Facebook discussion about corporate sponsorship for individuals in the HEMA community, which was quite an interesting topic. James Conlon posted the following question: "Inside the world of Longsword Fighting" by The New York …
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Your organisation on Facebook: do you need a page or a group?
Most people who run a club or community of some description realise that they really should have some kind of presence on Facebook. But what kind of presence? Is it a “page” you need, or a “group”? What is the difference? …
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The value of HEMA in the modern world
What is the value of HEMA in the modern world? Why is it worth spending so much time (and so much money) in the pursuit of this activity? Why do we undertake such physical and mental exertion to do what we do? Why not just go to the pub directly and …
Doing it right, or just doing it
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on the 1st of January 2016. It has been modified a little for reposting here. One of the ideas that causes problems for a lot of people across the world is the idea that whatever you want to …
5 business lessons from studying longsword
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 27th March 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. For the last several years I have been running my own business. For a few more years, I have been learning Liechtenauer’s …