Finding a Place to Train
by Rebecca Glass
Location, location, location. Once you have decided to start a HEMA club, one of the first things you will need to do is to find somewhere to practice. Let’s look at some of the most common options used by HEMA clubs across the country, and discuss the kinds of area-specific logistical challenges you’ll face when searching for your club’s new home.
Deciding What Kind of Venue You Need
Every HEMA club has different things they need out of a venue. Before you start looking, consider how these three major factors impact you:
Weather
The weather in your area is the biggest factor determining whether you can practice outdoors or not. Clubs in temperate areas can take advantage of outdoor spaces, but for those in areas with severe winters or summers, an outdoor location may only be accessible for part of the year.
While some clubs may be willing to train outdoors in cold or hot weather, keep in mind that extreme weather can make training unsafe and have serious adverse effects on participants’ health. People with certain health conditions cannot handle the cold, and extreme heat creates risks of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Bad winter weather such as snow and ice can also make physically getting to practice dangerous. Rain can also be problematic or cancel practice if you do not have a covered area.
What is the weather like in your area? Are outdoor venues an option, or will you need to be indoors?
Budget
How much do you have to spend on your venue? If your club is new or small, you may need to start with a free or low cost option such as meeting in a park.
As your club grows, you may choose to collect dues to cover the cost of your venue. Consider the amount of dues your club members will be willing to pay and how you are going to structure your club, as well as the likelihood or unlikelihood of retaining your current students. For more on club finances, check out How and When to Start Thinking About Money.
Club Type and Size
The type of club you run and the number of members in the club will also dictate the kind of venue you need. Consider how many participants you have, and what level of growth you expect in the near future. Formal schools will want more formal locations, while smaller study groups may very well just meet up in someone’s yard. For more on this, check out What Kind of HEMA Club Do You Want?
What to Look for In a Venue
When you’re ready to start looking for a venue, make a checklist of things you would like your venue to have. There are some things you may have to compromise on (for instance, it may be tricky for a new club without large financial resources to find a venue in New York City with ample storage space) but you should make sure you have a list of priorities.
Some things you may want to look for include:
Changing rooms and restrooms inside or nearby
Gender-neutral options
Heating and cooling for the weather in your area
Centrality of the location (is it near where your members live?)
Access to public transport
Parking (including limits, permit requirements)
Accessibility (eg. disabled parking spots, ramps, elevators)
Safety (eg. security)
Secure gear storage
Permission to use swords and other HEMA equipment
For indoor venues, also look for:
Ceilings high enough for your practice(eg. are taller fencers likely to hit it with a longsword?)
Hours it’s available
For outdoor venues, also look for:
Adequate lighting at night
Whether or not permits are required for activities like fencing
Common Venue Options
Public Parks
Parks are usually low cost or free, and have no restrictions on ceiling height (unless you’re meeting at a pavilion). There’s usually plenty of parking nearby, and parks can be great for attracting new club members since you’re basically getting free publicity.
The biggest downside, of course, is the weather. Clubs in the northern US may have issues meeting outdoors in the winter, while clubs in Florida, Texas, Arizona and other hot weather states may have more issues in the summer.
You will also have to check your park’s rules and regulations to see if fencing is an allowed activity, and if a permit is needed for groups of certain sizes. If you don’t or can’t reserve a specific area in the park, you may also have to deal with members of the public interfering with your class.
Community Centers and Church Gyms
Community centers and church gyms are often large and spacious, have good accessibility, and may have storage available.
However, they’re likely to cost a little more. Community centers in densely populated areas may already have long-standing reservations with other groups or recreational leagues, making it difficult to secure a timeslot. These gyms also often lack mats or flooring safe for throws, making it your job to bring in all the safety equipment you need.
Martial Arts Dojos and Crossfit Gyms
Dojos and gyms are most likely to have changing rooms and flooring suitable for HEMA grappling, including safety mats and other useful equipment that you might have access to.
Martial arts dojos can be on the smaller side depending on the type of martial art, and they may not have room in their schedule to be able to rent out to another group. Crossfit gyms will have a lot of weights and equipment that it may be necessary to maneuver around, limiting your use of the space
Indoor Sports Fields
Indoor sports fields are similar to Crossfit gyms but may be larger. They usually include high ceilings and extensive facilities, making them a great choice for larger HEMA clubs. However, they come at a cost. Usually only events are held at such gyms because it is cost-prohibitive for regular class for most clubs.
Dance Studios
Dance studies are an option for those in densely populated areas where larger gyms may not be available. They’re usually free of equipment other than a piano (which can be moved to the side). They also generally have large mirrors which are great for checking form, but you will need to cover them before sparring.
The main downside to studio space is that they’re usually fairly small and thus would significantly limit your class size.
Universities
Universities have access to lots of potential students and often have good facilities. However, they usually require institutional contacts and jumping through their bureaucratic requirements, so might not be a viable option unless you already have an association with a particular university.
Your Own HEMA School
The ultimate goal for many clubs is buying their own location. Of course, this requires being well-established and financially able to bear the cost.
The downside of owning your location is being responsible for the entire cost and maintenance of the facility, which will make running a club much closer to an actual job than just a hobby. The bonus, however, is full control over how the space is designed and utilized - changing rooms, gear storage, flooring of choice, etc.
Finding the Right Location for Your Club
HEMA clubs have a wide variety of venue options at their disposal, and finding the right location is one of the biggest tasks involved in starting your club. Consider how weather, budget, club type and size all influence the kind of location that will work for you, and take care to choose a venue where everyone will feel welcome.