Hi!
As the last post on here was in 2022 and this feed has not been updated since- I thought I’d better post something to say that TLA is still very much active and has been all this time. We are a not for profit organisation ran by a committee of volunteers, all of whom lead busy lives outside and so understandably things like website updates tend to fall through the cracks!
However there has been some updates going on in recently to make sure the information on this site is accurate to how the club currently runs. More updates are planned for the future, for example the photos are now several years out of date, you will find more recent pictures on our weekly posts on the Facebook page if you want to see what we are currently up to. Please do get on touch via email or Facebook messenger if you have found this site and what to find out more. Our next free taster session will likely be on January (tbc). Maybe see you there!
Ross
(Co-Secretary, TLA)
Site updates
Give a Girl a Sword (GAGAS) is back for 2022!
Taunton Longswords is once again taking part in an initiative to get more women involved in sword fighting.
The free introductory session is on the 20th April. We will provide everything, just wear loose clothes and bring clean, indoor sport shoes…and begin your sword-master training!
Return to training: Wednesday 19th May, Huzzah!
The Committee had a socially distanced meeting yesterday and agreed we can return to training, with precautions.
Prior to the current lockdown, we operated a 6-person maximum for each room with preregistration required for contact tracing and to ensure numbers do not exceed those permitted. We will do the same again.
We expect to run on both Monday’s [19:00 to 21:00] and Wednesday’s [19:30 to 21:30] but will keep a close watch on numbers and combine into one day only if the attendance is low, otherwise we don’t breakeven/lose money on a session.
It’s been quite some time since we did any swording so it’s back to basics to refresh memories and (more importantly) ease in muscles and bodies to stances and moves (cue sounds of crackling joints and groans)!
Kit: minimal requirements. Face mask (covid type). Fencing mask. Gloves. Drink/hydration.
Sanitised club kit will be available for those without/newbies.
We have a list of people wishing to join and will welcome them along (space depending) on Monday 21st June. If you would like to see what TLA and ‘medieval swording’ is all about, drop us a message or email.
Questions or concerns? Use Facebook messenger or email to get in contact.
Kit, more kit, and very happy TLA members!
Investment in kit is a big deal for any individual, regardless of favoured discipline, and the same is true for clubs. Therefore, with the rational mind tempering instant gratification and an emotional heart screaming for more shiny things and the latest colour options for soft kit… there has been a recent avalanche of kit arriving at TLA!
GDPR Update
You will recall the extensive work-through we blogged about (Digital Privacy: GDPR Guidance* For HEMA Clubs – Deadline Looming!) – well, the deadline is here.
There has been an unbelievably diverse reaction to the Regulations (capital R!) from the comically naive through to “should know better” (the Royal Mail’s guide to GDPR was itself non-compliant! lolz), to the professionally written and clearly understood.
The TLA GDPR statement link is at the end of this article, and included in the website footer. Continue reading
The Bad Guys Won’t Stop Our Members!
A couple of months ago, one of our members who has been with us for less than 18-months had his kit stolen from his locked car. Naturally, it was all hidden with nothing remotely interesting showing – the thought being that they may have believed it was fishing gear, not realising it was something thing far cooler (and less easy to sell-on).
Digital Privacy: GDPR Guidance* For HEMA Clubs – Deadline Looming!
General Data Privacy Regulations (GDPR) – a set of EU-wide regulations that replaces preexisting legislation on data protection and data privacy. Why do you need to know about this? Because it affects every club, group, company, sole-trader, FTSE100 listed company, local charity, village hall…….EVERYONE who has someone’s personal information stored somewhere as part of an official activity. GDPR seeks to identify all information flows from receipt/capture through processing and then reuse back out into the world. Continue reading
Consultation On Knife Crime: December 2017
This is a rather boring post (not much about actual sword related training or fun); however it is quite important.
The UK government is consulting on the modification, and introduction of new legislation, for the existing offensive weapons laws. Consultation closes 9th December 2017.
On the face of it, this is great news. As we are responsible swords-persons, anything that keeps potential weapons out of the hands of those who wish to carry them (let alone use them) without due reason and lawful intent has got to be good…no news headline that involves a knife or sword attack EVER benefits our martial art. Continue reading
TLA now registered with the IMASA
Taunton Longsword Association (TLA) is pleased to be able to announce our application to join the Independent Martial Art Sports Association (IMASA) has been successful and we are certified members! Continue reading
Give A Girl A Sword – A Perfect Success For HEMA!
Sometimes the very best of ideas surpasses every expectation and target one sets themselves. Occasionally one turns on a tap and rather than the expected, a tsunami of goodness appears from nowhere. Such is the story of GAGAS of at Taunton Longswords (TLA).
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